̾Ƶ’s global community includes not only students with over 100 nationalities between them, but also their families and friends from every corner of the planet. On October 27–28, 2022, the University opened its doors to its extended family by welcoming parents, family members and friends of students to campus for ̾Ƶ Family Weekend, a two-day event designed to give attendees a glimpse into what their students experience in their daily lives in Paris.
The weekend’s packed schedule included a lecture from ̾Ƶ professor James Ward, a tour of local Parisian museums by Professor Emerita Kathleen Chevalier, and even a sightseeing boat ride down the Seine. There were also various social events and éDz, meaning families could enjoy immersion in the ̾Ƶ experience and the 7th arrondissement neighborhood that students call their home away from home. President Sonya Stephens was also on hand to welcome ̾Ƶ families to Paris and share with them her vision for the University’s future.
The family resource workshops were an important opportunity to better understand the services available to ̾Ƶ students and their families. Two such workshops were organized, one covering the important topic of health and wellness at ̾Ƶ, which emphasized the importance of students taking advantage of the mental health resources on offer, and another discussing academic services available to students and ways in which they can best manage their studies.
“̾Ƶ Family Weekend was a fantastic opportunity to get to know many of our students’ parents and family members and appreciate just how global our community can be,” says Dana Pasic-Callaghan, ̾Ƶ’s Parent Relations Manager, who is herself a parent to two ̾Ƶ undergraduates. “Parents and families play a vital role in supporting students as they discover life away from home. It’s a pleasure to welcome them to Paris to help them see things through the eyes of their global explorers.”
Parents and families also have the chance to stay in contact with ̾Ƶ throughout the year by joining the ̾Ƶ Parent and Family Café Society, which organizes social events and volunteer opportunities and shares regular news from the University. Meetings are held virtually four times a year. For more information including how to sign up, click the button below.