Nearly 3,500 parents, siblings and other family members will flock to UA’s campus on Friday for the Office of Parent Program’s annual Family Weekend.

“The weekend is designed for families to spend time with their student and also get to know the University at a more personal level,” said Jesse King, program assistant in the Office of Parent Programs.

The weekend-long event provides multiple activities and events for parents to get involved and know the University better.

According to a recent Office of Parent Programs press release, these activities include a beach bash at the Recreation Center pool, a brunch with Student Affairs and the Tuscaloosa Alumni Chapter’s riverboat cruise on the Black Warrior River.

In addition, parents have the opportunity to purchase tickets for Saturday’s football game against North Texas and are invited to the official Family Weekend tailgate in Presidential Park. Participating families can also take part in a community service project.

“The project is called Families Helping Families, and they will be working with Habitat for Humanity by helping with exterior painting and light yard work for two Tuscaloosa families in need,” King said.

According to King, families always enjoy their time at the University, no matter what they end up doing.

“They definitely are always pleased and are excited about coming to see their student and spending more time around them,” King said. “They really get a lot out of meeting the University staff and getting to know them – it kind of brings them in and makes them feel like a part of the University, as well.”

There has been overwhelming interest and positive response to the events planned for this year’s Family Weekend, Jessica Criswell, assistant director of Parent Programs, said in the release.

“This is the ideal time for parents and families to come to UA and experience what campus life is like for their student, while also establishing a personal connection with the UA campus and family,” she said.

The Office of Parent Programs is part of the Division of Student Affairs. According to Alex McNair, a UA junior who has worked as a Parent Ambassador for the past two summers, Parent Programs works to assist parents and families year-round.

“We view parents as partners, so we act as a resource for parents and family members,” McNair said. “During the summer, we host Parent Orientation, seeing around 6,000 parents each summer. Throughout the year, we have several other events like Family Weekend.”

For most parents, the weekend will be filled with quality time with their students and will give them a peek into what life is like here at the Capstone.

“Through the weekend’s activities, parents will be able to get a glimpse into the life that their student is living,” McNair said. “Many parents are still worried about their student being away at school. We hope that returning for Family Weekend gives them the reassurance that The University of Alabama is indeed the place for their student and that their student is adjusting just fine.”

In addition to the University-wide Family Weekend, the College of Communication and Information Sciences will host its first Family Weekend Reception this week to welcome students and families of the college.

The event will be held Friday, Sept. 16 from 2-4 p.m. in the Reese Phifer Rotunda.

“It’s going to be a friendly, open-house welcome,” said Shelby Chandler, CCIS program assistant.

The reception will feature a time for student questions to be answered, and tours will be given per request, she said. Brochures about individual majors and programs will also be available.

Light refreshments will also be served.

Misty Mathews, the college’s communications specialist, said this is the first year the college will host its own affair as part of the University’s Family Weekend.

She said UA contacted the college, as well as several other colleges, to see if they would be interested in hosting their own, more intimate reception for students directly involved in communications.

CIS eagerly accepted the invitation, she said, as a way to show students that it is a community, and family and students are always welcome to come talk or ask questions.

Faculty and staff, as well as student organizations such as the Student Executive Council (SEC), will be in attendance.

Mathews said the college expects about 200 guests, mainly comprised of freshmen. Students in the college, as well as their families, are invited to come at any time during the reception.