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Campus Opens Doors to Families as Part of ‘New Tradition’

More than 1,000 people turn out to learn more about college experience

Christine Clark | October 26, 2009

Photo of Chancellor Fox and Vice Chancellor- Student Affairs Penny Rue
Chancellor Marye Anne Fox and Vice Chancellor- Student Affairs Penny Rue welcomed family members after they enjoyed a continental breakfast and student performance. Credit: UCSD Photo Club.
View a photo slideshow of Family Weekend.

Exploration was the theme of UC San Diego's second annual All-Campus Family Weekend held Oct. 23-25.  More than 1,000 parents, grandparents, and other family members came together to explore UC San Diego's landmarks, works of art, new transfer housing, music hall and sustainability projects.

"This is a new tradition for the campus," Chancellor Marye Anne Fox told visiting family members at a welcome breakfast. "And we hope it will be a new tradition for your family as well."

Photo of family members in the Price Center
Fox, Rue and Warren College Provost Steven Adler addressed family members in the Price Center
Saturday morning. Credit: UCSD Photo Club.

The weekend was established last year by a Vice Chancellor - Student Affairs initiative to help strengthen parent and family engagement and build a community that will help students have a more successful college experience. Due to the positive response from families last year, Family Weekend was expanded to three days and featured several new and diverse events, such as a comedy night at The Loft, a campus sustainability tour, financial aid consultations and faculty lectures. Although the activities were more extensive this year, organizers were sensitive to the current economic climate and worked to reduce ticket prices from $40 last year to $25 per non-student this year.

Family Weekend kicked off with the Chancellor's 5k on Friday afternoon and was followed by three faculty lectures, called "Classes without Quizzes." Topics featured included a discussion on the history of Supreme Court justice selection by history professor Michael Parrish, an introduction to holocaust survivors through the Holocaust visual history archive by history professor Deborah Hertz, and a presentation on dark matter by physics professor Kim Griest. 

Sixth College freshmen John Vivio and his family said they enjoyed Griest’s lecture. "It was an interesting way to start off the weekend," said Vivio, a computer science engineering major.

Photo of The Daughters of Triton
The Daughters of Triton (DOTs), an all-woman’s a cappella group performed for family members
Saturday morning. Credit: UCSD Photo Club.

On Saturday morning, Chancellor Fox welcomed family members after they enjoyed a continental breakfast and student performance from the Daughters of Triton (DOTs), an all-woman’s a cappella group. "This weekend is an opportunity to visit and reconnect with your UC San Diego students, and see them in their college environment," she said. "As a family member, you are a part of the university community and your involvement in your college student's life is so important. Research shows that students are more successful when parents and family members are involved in their student's college experience."

Fox went on to address the economic challenges the university is facing. "Our dedication to excellence in education, research and innovation has not, and will not waiver, even in the face of this difficult economic climate," she said. "This year, the state cut our budget by 20 percent — not a small reduction by any means. We know this is not only a tough time for the university, but also for parents sending their children to college. So, I encourage you to make your voices heard, especially if you have friends in the legislature."

Following Fox's remarks, Warren College Provost Steven Adler gave family members a brief introduction to UCSD's college system. "The colleges function on more than one level," Adler said. "We offer students a variety of programs that encourage their development as citizens and scholars with a keen sense of ethics." Adler introduced Vice Chancellor-Student Affairs Penny Rue, who encouraged families to explore the campus. "Our university was founded with a spirit of exploration," she said. "We hope this spirit captures you and your families this weekend."

Photo of Stephan Howard and his twin brother
John Muir College freshmen Stephan Howard and his twin brother, Thurgood Marshall College freshmen Ian Howard, dined at Thurgood Marshall's Ocean View Terrace with their parents, grandmother and great aunt.

Following the breakfast, each of UC San Diego's six colleges welcomed families by hosting guest speakers, student performances, lunches, and more. At Sixth College, families learned how sustainability intersected with the college's theme of culture, art, and technology through faculty presentations, student panels, and staff engagement. "Sustainability is very important to me and many people on this campus," Sixth College Provost Naomi Oreskes said. Sixth College resident advisors also participated in a question and answer session where they gave family members a first-hand account of what it is like to be a student at UC San Diego.

At noon, families enjoyed lunch in the various college dining facilities, adding to the unique experience of learning more about what it's like to be a college student at UCSD.

John Muir College freshmen Stephan Howard and his twin brother, Thurgood Marshall College freshmen Ian Howard, dined at Thurgood Marshall's Ocean View Terrace with their parents, grandmother and great aunt. "I'm amazed at this campus," Karin Dett, the Howards’ grandmother, said. "I wish I was a student again."

In addition to attending the welcome breakfast, the family enjoyed a tour of the residence halls and were planning to take a tour of RIMAC arena. "We loved the breakfast hearing from the administrators," the twins’ mother, Jeanette, said, "And it's also nice to see where they get to live. This campus is beautiful."

Photo of Blake Cole and his parents
Later Saturday afternoon, some 500 parents and families visited the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, one of the weekend's highlights for Thurgood Marshall sophomore Blake Cole and his parents.

Later Saturday afternoon, some 500 parents and families visited the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, one of the weekend's highlights for Thurgood Marshall sophomore Blake Cole and his parents. "The whole experience has been nice," said Blake’s father, Tony. "We really enjoy feeling a part of our son's college community. This morning we went to the financial aid office and it was very informative. We appreciate them meeting with us on a Saturday."

Others got a chance to interact with next-generation technology in nanomedicine, telematics, and cellular technology at the Calit2 demonstrations. They took a virtual reality tour visiting the StarCAVE and Varrier (Immersive Visualization Lab). Some families also took advantage of the free cooking class, where Chef Scott Reed of Whole Foods market prepared easy snacks and nutritious meals that busy families and students can make.

Thurgood Marshall College freshmen Debbie Leung and her mom decided to participate in the campus sustainability tour from 2 to 5 p.m. They visited campus sustainability projects, including the super-efficient co-generation plant, one of the innovative solar groves, a "green roof," and the super-energy-efficient San Diego Supercomputer Center. "My mom is interested in sustainability," she said. "I have seen how we're sustainable in the dining halls, but I wanted to learn more. I'm amazed at how efficient some of our projects are."

Photo of Calit2 demonstrations (Photo Credit/ Lester Cacho
Families got a chance to interact with next-generation technology in nanomedicine, telematics, and cellular technology at the Calit2 demonstrations Saturday afternoon.

Family members also had the opportunity to get a guided a tour of the campus and take a walking tour of the university's Stuart Collection. Also a part of Saturday's schedule, was a student health services open house, an interactive presentation for transfer students by Student Legal Services and Admissions and Enrollment Services, a snack time at the Cross-Cultural Center, and a Triton happy hour at The Loft.

Sunday morning, families enjoyed a "green eggs and ham" family brunch at the Faculty Club, where they celebrated one of the universities' great benefactors, Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss. The weekend capped off with an evening ArtPower! performance by the Emerson String Quartet in the new Conrad Prebys Music Center.

Although there was no shortage of activities, Anson Kwan said he planned to go to a few events with his son, Allan. "We liked going to the movies and the aquarium," he said "This is my first visit since he started school; it's nice to see how he's adjusting. It's really an opportunity to bond again."

 

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