Happy New Year! I hope that you and your Wildcat are energized by the potential this new year and new semester holds for us all. Whether your Wildcat is on the cusp of a new slate of interesting classes, beginning a study abroad experience, starting an internship or stepping into their final semester on campus, Villanova staff and faculty are here to walk with them as they begin anew.

As the pace of life picks up this month after a long winter break, keep in mind that academic support is in place through the Provost’s Office, with a wealth of services for tutoring, learning support and assistance in writing, math, speaking and presentation. From a health and wellness perspective, the offices comprising Student Health Services are accessible when your student needs care. As a reminder, these appointments are available via online request, telephone or walk-in access.

Campus activities are already underway—your Wildcat may have already joined the Office of Student Involvement (OSI) and the Campus Activities Team (CAT) for events like "Dinner and a Movie" or Make-Your-Own-Tote-Bag, or on their trip to Philadelphia to see the Sixers take on the Nova (er, New York) Knicks. And there's even more fun on the way! In the coming weeks, students can enjoy the January Jamboree, the Winter Gala, game nights, movie screenings, trips, game watches and more. Encourage your Wildcat to get back in the habit of reading their weekly "This Week on Campus" email, and check out the OSI calendar for information and registration details for these and other great opportunities. 

Carita Geib '98, P'26, '28 | Director, Parent and Family Relations
parents@villanova.edu | 610-519-6212

On Saturday, Jan. 18, Villanova's 18th Annual MLK Jr. Day of Service celebrated and honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Villanovans volunteered at service sites within the Greater Philadelphia area as part of their ongoing mission to improve lives, bridge social barriers and move our nation closer to the "beloved community" that Dr. King envisioned. 

Students are encouraged to continue the celebration of Dr. King's legacy throughout the week and are welcome to attend:

Student Life is pleased to once again host the Winter Gala on Friday, Feb. 7 from 9 p.m.-midnight in Connelly Center. This free, annual event gathers undergraduate students from every class year for a great evening of music, dancing, food and games (Villanovans aged 21+ will be served alcohol upon request). We recommend students wear formal attire, which can look different for everyone—a nice shirt and slacks, cocktail dresses or gowns, or suit and tie. Student replies are requested by Friday, Jan. 31 and can be submitted via the Winter Gala registration page. 

As your Wildcat returns to campus, the Office of Student Involvement is here to help them try something new, cultivate their interests and meet new people while having fun. Encourage your student to attend the Student Involvement Fair on Monday, Jan. 27 from 4-7 p.m. in Connelly Center's Villanova Room. The fair is a great opportunity for all students, particularly first years, to learn firsthand about many of Villanova's student organizations, talk with others involved in these organizations and sign up to receive more information. 

The Villanova Leadership Program (VLP) will welcome John Kruk—a three-time all-star first baseman and current broadcaster for the Philadelphia Phillies—as their featured speaker at the annual Rev. John P. Stack, OSA Leadership Series Lecture on Thursday, Jan. 30. Kruk will speak about sports leadership at the event. 

The Rev. John P. Stack, OSA Leadership Series is presented by VLP, the Office of Student Involvement and the Campus Activities Team in honor of Fr. Stack, who served as Dean of Students and then as Vice President for Student Life for more than 40 years at Villanova. The series, now in its 13th year, is designed to inspire leadership and bring the campus community together.

The date has been set and you can mark your calendars: Family Weekend will be held on campus September 26-28, 2025! As the schedule for this fun family weekend evolves, we will update our events page with details about campus activities and the Wildcats football game. This is one of the University's busiest weekends on campus, bringing together students and families from around the world and across all class years. We're looking forward to a great weekend for everyone! 

January is National Financial Wellness Month! Villanova is committed to a holistic approach to education and preparing our Wildcats for success beyond their four years with us, and one important part of that preparation is education about financial wellness. Through its financial wellness initiative, the University aims to provide resources for community members to increase their understanding of key concepts and conversations about financial decisions, build confidence in managing finances and create a sense of personal well-being. 

To that end, the University is proud to offer iGrad, a secure, interactive, online personal finance platform, vetted and financed by Villanova. iGrad is open to all students with a Villanova email. Encourage your student to learn more and create their account by visiting villanova.igrad.com. Once their account has been established, iGrad assesses students' finances and spending habits and recommends tools, content and courses to help them reach their financial goals. This financial platform can help students make informed financial decisions and be empowered to take charge of their personal financial future. 

Great professional opportunities lie ahead for our Wildcats throughout the Spring semester! They can look forward to a full slate of events, including Biotech Bootcamp on Friday, Jan. 31; the Liberal Arts & Business and STEM Career Fairs on Wednesday, Feb. 5; Breaking into Big Tech on Wednesday, March 19; Wall Street Meetups and more! 

Students can also stay engaged by exploring the events through Handshake and Career Connections and by following the Career Center's Instagram and Facebook pages for updates. As a reminder, your support and advocacy for career services can make a significant difference in your student's future professional success.

The start of the semester is a good time to think about ways to stay safe on and off campus. Villanova frequently shares important safety information with the campus community, but we find it helpful for families to also be aware of these points so they can continue the conversation with their students. 

Officer Amy Lenahan of the Department of Public Safety shares the following safety tips for students: 

Check out Villanova's Public Safety information page for more helpful tips and information about campus resources. 

VU Seniors Moving to NYC Spring Information Night

On Thursday, Jan. 30 from 5-6:15 p.m. ET, learn alongside members of the Class of 2025 for valuable insights on navigating the move to New York City. The online event is sponsored by the Villanova University Alumni Association (VUAA) and hosted by Charlie Saunders '02, a Villanova alum and real estate broker operating in the New York area. Parents, family members and students from other class years are also welcome to attend. Click here to register.

Crossroads Senior Retreat

Graduation can pull together a mixture of emotions for students. Whether your Wildcat is excited and ready to launch or hesitant to leave college behind, encourage them to consider joining their classmates at Crossroads. This senior retreat—held off-campus from Friday, Jan. 31-Sunday, Feb. 2—is facilitated by Villanova faculty, staff and alumni. The retreat creates space for students to escape the busyness of the semester, reflect and share what the University has meant to them. Students and families can learn more about this event on the Retreats page.

Yearbook Graduation Ads

Senior families can celebrate their Wildcat's achievements by creating a “grad ad” in the 2025 Belle Air Yearbook. Ads are available in full-page, half-page, quarter-page and eighth-page options and can be purchased through the Balfour website until Saturday, Feb. 1.

Family Commencement Webinar

The Office of Parent and Family Relations and the Office of the President will co-host a Commencement Webinar for family members on Tuesday, April 15 at 7 p.m. ET (details, including a Zoom link, will be provided in the future). As May approaches, we will continue to share important information families in this newsletter. In the meantime, we recommend bookmarking the Villanova Commencement webpage, as well as following @novagraduation and @villanovaparentandfamily on Instagram. 

Villanova University Office of Parent and Family Relations

Phone: 610-519-6212

Email: parents@villanova.edu