Welcome Spring! As students leave for Easter Recess, there is a renewed energy on campus as our Wildcats attend class outdoors, study beneath the trees or play a game of intramural softball. The semester will move quickly when students return and prepare for the end of classes at the beginning of May. I hope the information below will help you plan and make suggestions as the year nears its close.

Carita Geib '98, P'26 | Director, Office of Parent and Family Relations
parents@villanova.edu | 610.519.6212

The Office of Intercultural Affairs (OIA) is now the Office of Belonging and Inclusion (OBI)! Last week, OBI opened the doors to its new home in Corr Hall, across from the chapel, continuing its mission to create and support programming that fosters and sustains a community of respect and inclusion for Villanovans, with a special focus on our underrepresented students. OBI staff will oversee The SUITE (Space for Underrepresented Identities Together for Empowerment), also located in Corr Hall. The SUITE features a student lounge, conference/meeting spaces, a kitchen and more amenities designed to enhance the experiences of students with underrepresented identities.

University Counseling Center Director Nathalie Edmond, PsyD, leads families through a thoughtful discussion and exploration of supportive strategies for parents, caregivers and young adults during the transition to college. All are welcome to join us on Wednesday, April 10 at noon Eastern time. Pre-registration is not required; simply save this link and join us on the 10th! 

Families are often interested in learning more about summer storage options for their students, particularly if they live far from campus. The University has contracted with five 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 to 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 five 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. 

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.

As course registration is about to begin for Fall 2024, you may hear your Villanovan mention Degree Works as they consider and map out their classes with their advisors. This newly implemented tool at Villanova provides students with an academic roadmap that lays out their required courses, tracks credits earned and updates their cumulative GPA status each semester. When used, this online tool will help your student track academic progress towards completion of their degree.

Join us Tuesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. Eastern time for a one-hour webinar co-hosted by Parent and Family Relations and the Office of the President, walking you through all things Commencement. Please save this link to access the event on the 16th. If you have questions in advance, feel free to send them to commencement@villanova.edu. 

You've been connected to Villanova in different ways for many years. Can you share a bit about your growth and work here at Villanova?
I have been connected with Villanova for over 35 years. I learned a great deal as an undergraduate as I balanced academics and athletics. The knowledge base, leadership skills and work ethic I established during my four years in college has served me well through graduate school and my career. I earned master’s and doctoral degrees in Psychology, focusing on the mental health needs of adolescents. My interest in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) compelled me to seek opportunities to teach and conduct research on how racial and cultural differences play a role in how one experiences the world and how one perceives psychological services.

I practiced psychology for many years prior to returning to Villanova in 2016 to be the founding director of the Office of Intercultural Affairs (OIA), now known as the Office of Belonging and Inclusion (OBI). 

As an Assistant Vice President in the Division of Student Life, I am responsible for supporting the offices that focus on inclusion, specifically OBI, the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) and the Office of Disability Services (ODS). I work with the Associate Vice President and Vice President of Student Life to make decisions about issues that will impact students and Student Life staff. I also work with the interim Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion to oversee the Climate Concern Reporting Process for the University and I oversee the initiatives within the Division that focus on DEI. In addition, I sit on the standing Aequitas Committee, the Presidential Task Force that focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice for the University.

Recently, the Office of Intercultural Affairs changed its name to the Office of Belonging and Inclusion (OBI). Can you describe what the change means and how it better represents the work you do to support students?
The Office of Belonging and Inclusion (OBI) supports students with underrepresented identities by providing direct services that support and celebrate them. Also, OBI, often in conjunction with student groups we support, provides DEI learning experiences with the goal of making Villanova an inclusive campus where every student can experience a sense of belonging.  

How can students get involved or learn about OBI programming? 
Students can get involved with OBI in many ways. We have ambassadors and student workers who support our work, and beginning in Fall 2024, OBI will have a peer mentoring program for incoming students with underrepresented identities to help them get acclimated to life at Villanova. If interested in DEI topics, students can go to the OBI website to access trainings and workshops. OBI staff often work with student organizations and groups throughout the academic year. Our support can be requested at any time and we work with the student organization or group to tailor our services to meet their needs.   

When not working with students, where can we find you on campus?
My favorite place on campus is anywhere you can find a basketball court. Even though I no longer play, the court will always be my home. I really enjoy being able to attend the women’s basketball games and other related events and getting to know the current players. 

Villanova University Office of Parent and Family Relations

Phone: 610-519-6212

Email: parents@villanova.edu