Welcome to Spring, Villanova Families!

With the change of season and a refreshing sense of renewal, I share with you our latest eNewsletter. You'll find a cross-section of helpful information as your Villanovan navigates the second half of the semester. In our next several editions, we'll not only share helpful insights, but we'll also introduce you to the programs and people playing an instrumental role in the support and growth of your Villanovan.

Let me share an overview of the new Office of Parent and Family Relations and introduce myself to you as the inaugural director. The Office serves to engage with our families with effective and proactive communication, provide information and connect them to resources so that they can better support the holistic growth and success of your child–our student. In short–I'm here! I'm a resource for large and small questions and an ear to listen to your suggestions. We're in the process of identifying and building family resources and events that will help you support your Villanovan–look forward to their launch in the near future. In the meantime, please look for me at events, email me or call me directly at 610-519-6212.

As director, these last six months have been a beautiful whirlwind in which I've learned a tremendous amount, not only from my colleagues and the students here on campus, but also from the conversations and emails I've had with so many families. As a long-time employee, an alumnus and a first-year parent, I look forward to growing the Office of Parent and Family Relations and creating space for families to engage and grow with their students.

Sincerely, 

Carita Geib
Director, Office of Parent and Family Relations 

Throughout the year, Villanova hosts opportunities for students to discover and cultivate new skills and unlock interests. On Monday, March 27 at 7 p.m., Villanova proudly hosts the 2023 Spotlight on Leadership speaker, Linda Hancock, FNP, PhD, who will present "Leadership, Curiosity and Community Care." The evening focuses on developing awareness, cultivating curiosity and breaking tough habit loops (anxiety, anger, overeating, vaping, shopping, screens, etc). Encourage students to attend this evening event, where they can learn how to grow in the care of themselves and others. No registration required–this is a great night to grow and learn in a fun, relaxed setting! 

The Nova Nook provides supplemental personal necessities to Villanova students in need. Our goal is to create a safe and discreet space to distribute basic toiletries and food items to students in our community who may struggle to manage these costs on their own. Located in Dougherty Hall Room 217, with normal operating hours of 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, the Nova Nook is stocked with a wide variety of items and has essential items such as toiletries, non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies and other necessities. Additionally, the Nook has a supply of laundry detergent and small donations that can be added to NovaBucks accounts for campus laundry. Nova Nook is maintained primarily through personal donations; for more information, please visit the website. 

As you know, we have incredibly talented musicians, singers, actors and artists at Villanova. This spring, many of these students will be showcasing their talents at events that are open to the community. Visit the Performing Arts website for a complete schedule, ticketing information and live stream links (when available).

Parents and family members are encouraged to sign up for Nova Alert, the University's emergency alert system, which updates users via the registered cell phone and/or email address on file. Further information, including the steps to follow to register or update your contact information, can be found on the NOVA Alert page.

The Emergency Procedures page on the Department of Public Safety’s website gives members of the University community a ready reference on how to respond in case of an emergency situation on or near the campus. Visit this webpage to see emergency procedures, watch the University's safety videos and review important safety and security tips.

March wraps up National Nutrition Month at Villanova. Programs offered throughout the month focused on helping students to build nutritious options on- and off-campus. As we step into April, Health Promotion brings Sexual Assault Awareness month to the foreground. Programming will help students learn more about what healthy relationships look and feel like and how to identify ways to support others in unhealthy or abusive relationships. A complete listing of events is available on the Health Promotion website.

Families are often interested in learning more about summer storage options for their students, particularly if the family lives far from campus. The University has contracted with four approved vendors that provide residence hall pick-up after students depart from campus, storage during the summer months, and delivery to students’ new residence hall locations before they return to campus. These are the only vendors approved to come to campus to provide these services. The University's approval for these companies to come on campus does not confer preferred vendor status.

Students and family members are free to use other vendors to provide storage services, but any vendors other than the four noted on the Housing Services webpage will not be permitted to enter residence halls or other locations on campus. Students and families will be responsible for delivering their belongings to any of these storage facilities. For more information, please visit the Housing Services webpage. 

When a student's room is in need of maintenance (light not working, broken blinds, etc.), the student should submit their request directly to Facilities using our online Maintenance Request Form. If the issue is an emergency, they may call Facilities Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at 610-519-4420. Emergency requests at any other time, including over weekends, should be directed to Public Safety by calling 610-519-6979. Step-by-step instructions may be found on Residence Life's Maintenance Requests page.

As Holy Week approaches, the Office of Mission and Ministry offers Catholic liturgies and celebrations during Palm Sunday weekend and throughout Holy Week, including parish Masses on Easter Sunday. Students who plan to remain on campus and who celebrate Easter are welcome to attend any of the services on campus in the Villanova Church. A complete list of services can be found on the website. 

As a reminder, students planning to stay on campus for Easter break must register with Residence Life.

Sophomore, junior and senior students of all faith identities may register for the Search Retreat, which will be held April 14-16. The off-site weekend is led by juniors, seniors and graduate students and focuses on how agape, or unconditional love, is present in our everyday lives. Interested students may register by April 4 on the Campus Ministry Retreat page.

Class of 2023 - Commencement is on the horizon! Join us Tuesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. ET for a one-hour webinar hosted by Carita Geib, director of Parent and Family Relations, and Nick Tumolo, the University's director of Events and Initiatives, as they walk participants through all things Commencement. Use this link to access the event. If you have questions in advance, feel free to send them to commencement@villanova.edu.

Full-time undergraduate students interested in being considered for need-based financial assistance must complete the financial aid process by May 1. As a reminder, full-time undergraduate students must reapply to be considered for financial aid each year. Please visit the Office of Financial Assistance website for step-by-step instructions.

Villanova University Office of Parent and Family Relations

Phone: 610-519-6212

Email: parents@villanova.edu