Family Weekend brings students’ loved ones to campus
A festive atmosphere with nearly 50 events supported by staff and faculty marked the annual weekend
Students welcomed loved ones to campus and shared a bit of the magic of Richmond during Family Weekend, Sept. 25–27. More than 1,200 families gathered for a weekend to connect, explore, and celebrate the University community.
From faculty-led master classes and student performances to open houses across campus and home games for Spider football and soccer, nearly 50 events gave families a peek at the many facets of their students’ lives.
“Family Weekend helps parents and families experience firsthand the transformative power of a UR experience,” said Julie Tucker, assistant vice president and chief of staff for student development, which organized the event. “It provides parents with a glimpse into what it’s like to be a UR student.”
That glimpse was made possible through a tremendous campuswide effort. More than 90 staff members were involved in the delivery of a variety of sessions, while another 50 or so helped with logistics, check-in, advanced preparation, or behind-the-scenes work.
“It was truly a whole campus approach to the weekend, and its success was due to the outpouring of support, creativity, and excitement across our faculty and staff,” Tucker said. “We're deeply grateful to our many campus partners who were so eager and excited to participate in this year’s Family Weekend and offer new experiences for our families. Family Weekend is a showcase of the very best of UR — and this breadth and vivacity of the schedule are a testament to the specialness of our community.”
Beyond the scheduled events, over the course of three days, families had the opportunity to meet the friends, mentors, and faculty they’ve heard all about, sample the award-winning D-Hall, and, most importantly, enjoy time with their students. It was a chance to feel a little more connected to the place their students call home.
“Families are Spiders too, and Family Weekend is a great opportunity to come together to celebrate UR and our community and welcome them into our Web,” Tucker said.