Campus Holds First Universitywide
Family Weekend, Offers Tours from Art Collection to Outback Climbing
Pat JaCoby | October 20, 2008
An open house at the Cross-Cultural Center is among many activities planned for Family Weekend.
Family Weekend Volunteers Wanted
UCSD needs volunteers for the inaugural
Family Weekend on Oct. 25, with an orientation Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. Call (858) 822-4790, for an interest form.
Events ranging from a “Green Eggs and Ham Brunch” to tours of the Birch Aquarium will be featured Oct. 25-26 as UC San Diego holds its first campuswide Family Weekend.
While individual family weekends have been held by the campus' six undergraduate colleges in the past, this is the first time UC San Diego has held a centralized event. The Univeristy of California recently developed an initiative for all 10 UC campuses to hold a campuswide event for parents.
Cara Appel-Silbaugh, director of Parent Relations and Programs in Student Affairs, said more than 800 parents, grandparents, guardians and other family members are expected to attend Family Weekend at UCSD.
“The weekend allows families to experience together the rich diversity of life at UC San Diego, familiarize themselves with the many resources available to students, and develop a sense of the intellectual activity that fuels UC San Diego,” Appel-Silbaugh said.
Events begin at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 25 in the Price Center East ballroom with a greeting by Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. Visits to undergraduate colleges will follow.
Options for campus exploration include the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Calit2 demonstrations, Student Affairs Resource Fair, Stuart Art Collection, Cross Cultural Center open house, and the Outback Adventures Climbing Center.
Optional evening activities include a Triton Happy Hour in The Loft, men’s soccer vs. Seattle, women’s volleyball vs. Cal State-Monterey Bay, a performance at La Jolla Playhouse or a classical musical performance in Mandeville Recital Hall.
Family members can enjoy a “Green Eggs and Ham” brunch at the Faculty Club or a performance of “Tobacco Road” at La Jolla Playhouse on Oct. 26.
For further information please visit the Family Weekend website or call 858 534-7273.
Campus Launches Parent Program
Judy Piercey | October 20, 2008
Directing UC San Diego’s newly-launched Parents Program are (left to right) Toni Tschann, director of development for Parent Giving, and Cara Appel-Silbaugh, director of Parent Relations.
UC San Diego’s Oct. 25-26 Family Weekend is the first in a series of events and traditions to be established under the university’s new Parent Program. As part of the UC System’s initiative to strengthen parent engagement, the program is designed to build a community of parents to help students have a more successful college experience, as well as to provide opportunities for support and advocacy on behalf of the university.
Results from a 2007 National Survey of Student Engagement—one of the nation’s most respected college surveys—show that students with involved parents are more successful and satisfied at college.
“A higher level of engagement from parents and family members helps to support students, both academically and socially,” said Penny Rue, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. “The more we keep parents informed and connected, the more their students will feel that they belong here. We have a place on our campus for parents, and their involvement is very much appreciated.”
One UC San Diego parent who is open to further engagement is Wendy Lane, whose son, Jeffrey, is a Sixth College student. “My husband and I are really looking forward to going to Family Weekend, and we’re bringing my parents—I can’t wait to show them the campus. As the parent of a freshman student, getting to know the campus and feeling comfortable with it has been extremely helpful in the ‘letting go’ process. We still miss Jeffrey, but we feel he’s in great hands at this amazing, world-class university.”
Recently coming on board to help implement the fundraising side of the campus’ Parent Program is Toni Tschann, director of development for Parent Giving. Her key responsibilities include motivating parents to support programs that will enrich their student’s college experience and teach the value of philanthropy by example.
Working closely with Tschann to launch the Parent Program is Cara Appel-Silbaugh, the new director of Parent Relations, whose focus is on developing programs to involve and engage parents. Most recently, she was assistant dean and director of student conduct at Chapman University; prior to that, she was assistant dean of student affairs at UC San Diego’s Eleanor Roosevelt College. For more information about parent involvement at UC San Diego, please visit parents.ucsd.edu.
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