Welcome to new families and welcome back to current families. It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to an end, and the start of the fall 2023 semester is upon us. Advising, tuition, financial aid, housing and move-in, parking, books, meal plans….are all converging in these last few weeks leading up to the first day of classes on August 28. Whether you’re venturing into uncharted territory as an incoming family, or “getting back to business” as a current family, you and your student are likely experiencing a range of emotions and a few stressful moments.

This time of the year reminds me of an episode of one of my favorite tv shows from back in the day. One of the main characters (a well-to-do southern belle who was always poised and put-together) was having trouble dealing with the stress and anxiety in her life. So, she sought help from a therapist who taught her a coping tool marked by repeating the mantra “Relax, Relate, Release!” while invoking a series of jerky body movements. After that, anytime the character would feel the onset of a stressful moment, she would begin the silly-looking body movements, and with her thick southern accent, would belt out “Relax, Relate, Release!” until she felt better. It made for hilarious and memorable tv scenes, but that mantra really stuck with me over the years, even coming to mind during my own moments of stress!

As you navigate the diverse moments of the next few weeks, take a moment and RELAX. Take a deep breath, have gratitude and embrace the changes happening in your family’s life. Be understanding of your student’s feelings, communicate often and support each other with kindness and love. Next, connect to Parent and Family Services, and build a network with other families who can RELATE to what you are experiencing. Lastly, use the information and resources we provide to help you slowly RELEASE your student into this next season of life. With your support, and our partnership, your student will have a successful semester. Now say it with me: Relax! Relate! Release! (quirky body movements are optional, but encouraged!)

- by Heather Hampton, UofM Parent and Family Services

How do you deal with stressful moments? Let us know at parents@memphis.edu. 

(watch a video clip of "Relax, Relate, Release" - from "A Different World")

Fall move-in is an exciting time for your family. As you help your student get settled into their new campus home, we encourage you to stop by the Parent and Family Welcome tent from 10am - 12pm for a refreshing cold beverage and treats. We are happy to answer your questions, or simply provide a quick respite from move-in duties. 

Catch Us:

Joining the Parent and Family Association (PFA) is your next step towards deeper connection and engagement with the UofM. Membership gives you an opportunity to network with other Tiger families and provides you with an additional layer of information to support your student's learning and growth. If you haven't joined yet, there's still time to join and take advantage of the benefits of membership!

PFA members receive:

Purchase a Hug From Home and Finals Care Package for Your Student!

A tangible gesture of kindness can make all the difference during life's challenges. The Parent and Family Send Some Love campaign includes Hugs From Home and Finals Care Packages, and is a prime opportunity to support your student in a tangible way. Each purchase includes a branded reusable container filled with candy or snacks, UofM memorabilia items and a personalized note from you. 

Buy them separately, or purchase a bundle to save time!

Sales for Hugs From Home and the Send Some Love Bundle end on September 10, 2023. Distribution for Hugs From Home will be the week of September 18. Sales and distribution of Finals Care Packages will be held later in the semester.

The Parent and Family Services website was created to serve the parents and families of current and future students. We hope that you will find all the information you need to help you help your student during their first year, final year and everything in between at the University of Memphis. Some of the things you can find on our site include:

Tuesday, September 5, 2023 from 6-7pm

Parents and families are invited to attend a virtual open house hosted by Disability Resources for Students (DRS). Staff as well as current parents of DRS students will be available to answer any questions you may have about transitioning accommodations from K-12 to college and working with their office.

If you anticipate any barriers to your participation, would like to request an accommodation, or have any questions about the event, please contact Amanda Rodino at arodino@memphis.edu or 901.678.2880. Requests made by 4:30pm on August 30 will allow us to provide seamless access.

Zoom Meeting ID: 834 1928 7770
Passcode: 234820

Campus Recreation offers family-friendly cooking classes this fall!

The Tiger Food Lab teaching kitchen allows the University of Memphis to provide courses and programming to teach cooking fundamentals to the campus and community, with a focus on healthy eating, nutrition for training, women’s health, nutrition throughout the lifespan and more. 

Lunch and dinner classes are open to students, faculty and staff. Dinner classes are also open to families and children 8+ (with an accompanying adult). 

Click the button below to view the class dates and to register!

Tuesday, August 29, 2023 - 12pm-3pm, UC Ballroom

Career Services and Student Leadership and Involvement are co-hosting a job fair designed to connect students with on-campus employment opportunities.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 - 10am - 3pm, UC Ballroom

Students can meet and connect with major employers to explore full-time career and internship opportunities. The career fair is open to current UofM students and alumni with an Alumni TigerLink account. Business Professional attire is strongly recommended.

Career Services and the Office of First-Gen Student Success are partnering to host The UC Take Over on Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 10am - 6pm in the UC Atrium. This is a unique opportunity for students to receive a professional resume review, network with employers, and receive FREE professional attire....all in preparation for the Fall All-Majors Career Fair on 9/20/23. Encourage your student to attend.

The Center for Writing and Communication (CWC) is a combined writing and speaking center that offers free, one-on-one consultations with a trained staff  available to offer students feedback on their writing and speaking assignments at any stage in the process. 

Make an appointment >>

Contact: cwc@memphis.edu or 901-678-1694

Is your student undecided on a major, or looking to to change or add-on another major? On Thursday, September 28, 2023, from 9am - 2pm in the UC Ballroom, over 50 academic departments will be available to discuss majors, minors, and other opportunities.  Additionally, a Health Professions Fair and Law School Fair will both be held concurrently on the 3rd floor of the UC.  Encourage your student to make plans to attend.

TRIO is seeking UofM first-generation and students with disabilities to be a part of a unique federally-funded undergraduate experience inclusive of personalized coaching, financial aid/scholarship assistance, access to a learning lab, cultural enrichment and more. Participation slots are limited, so don’t delay.

Apply at https://www.memphis.edu/trio/apply/index.php

Weeks of Welcome (WOW) is the official beginning of your student's time as a Memphis Tiger where all new and returning students will gather together to learn more about the University of Memphis, attend fun events, and get to know fellow students. WOW Events and programs kick off Wednesday August 23 and continue through the 2nd week of classes.

If your student is interested in becoming a UofM fraternity member or sorority member, registration for fall recruitment is now open! Students must register for the formal recruitment process.

For questions regarding Fraternity & Sorority Life, contact Logan Albert, Coordinator or Fraternity and Sorority Life at 901.678.8679 or ltalbert@memphis.edu. 

Your student can discover unique opportunities for engagement and connection at the UofM in the Tiger Zone portal. Tiger Zone can be used to search for student organizations, find events and activities, and track engagement and involvement. 

TigerZone Mobile App

SLI has just launched the TigerZone Mobile app for on-the-go searching for engagement opportunities. Your student can download the app in the App Store, Google Play or go online.

Ask Your Student: "What organizations and events in TigerZone are most interesting to you, and when do they meet?"

Join the club that lets your student eat EVERYWHERE on campus – Club Eats!

Eating on campus is not just about the food. Our dining program focuses on nutrition and health while creating an atmosphere where students can relax and enjoy themed meals and special events with friends. 

Every full-time student receives $325 in Tiger Eat$ funds to use at dining facilities on campus. However, the biggest bang for your buck comes when you upgrade to a meal plan! When you purchase a Meal Plan, your student gets to participate in a program that provides them with a VIP experience - convenient locations that open early and stay open late, access to all-you-can-eat options at The Tiger Den Eatery, plus meal plan Flex Bucks they can use at the University Center and across campus (excluding Starbucks and vending).

Check out meal plan options, and take the Meal Plan Quiz to see which plan fits your student best. If you have questions or need advice on which plan best suits your needs, please contact UofM Dining at dining@memphis.edu today!

Tiger Nation stand up! The first home football game is Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 6pm against Bethune-Cookman.

View the Tiger Athletics calendar to see when Tigers across all sports are scheduled to compete, then make plans to attend a game in person or tune in via various media outlets. Remember, students get FREE ENTRY into all home games. For information on student tickets, visit gotigersgo.com/students. 

To stay up-to-date with all upcoming dates, deadlines and events, please check out the Parent & Family Calendar.  

[* POT = Part-of-Term]

AUGUST

August 14 - Initial fee payment deadline (4:30 p.m.) for students who register through Aug 14 for Fall 2023 courses

Aug 21

- Financial Aid Disbursement begins

- Last Day of regular registration (1st POT)

- Residence Hall Move-in begins. Learn More>>

 - First day of class (TN eCampus ONLY!)

Aug 24 - 

-Fall 2023 eRefunds (direct deposit) begin to post to students' bank accounts
-Deadline to sign up for eRefunds (direct deposit) on TigerXpress 

Aug 27 -  Last day of regular registration (Full Term)

Aug 28 -

-First day of Fall 2023 classes (Full term, 1st POT)

-Late Registration Fee Begins ($200 late fee assessed for all new initial enrollments through Sept. 1)

SEPTEMBER

September 1 - 

-Last Day to Add or Change Sections (Full Term)

-1st Installment Fee Payment Deadline (IPP)

 - Last Day to Register for Parent & Family Weekend 2023. Go Here>>

September 4 - Labor Day (No classes. University CLOSED.)

September 6 -

-Final Fee Payment Deadline for Fall 2023 (pay by 4:30pm or sign up for Installment plan)

-Last Day to sign up for the Installment Payment Plan (IPP) (sign up before 4:30pm. $50 enrollment fee.)

-Meal Plan upgrade period closes. 

September 8 -

- Last day to receive 100% Fee Adjustment for dropped courses. (Full Term)

- Last Day to opt-out of the fall Tiger Smart Start book program

September 10 - Last Day to Drop a Course with No Grade Assigned/Not on transcript [Full term; 1st POT].

September 11 - Withdrawal Period Begins (Full Term, 1st POT. Courses dropped during this period will have "W" grades assigned and will appear on the student's transcript.)

September 15 - 

-Last day to receive 50% Fee Adjustment for dropped courses.

September 16 - 0% Fee Adjustment period (for dropped Full Term courses) begins (ends Dec. 8)

September 20 -

- All Majors Career Fair (10am - 3pm, UC Ballroom) Learn More>>

- Study Abroad Fair (11am - 3pm, Rose Theatre) Learn More>>

September 29 - Oct. 1 - Parent and Family Weekend 2023 (Sept. 29 - Oct. 1) View Schedule>>

OCTOBER

October 1 - 2nd Installment Fee Payment Deadline (IPP)

October 14-17 - Fall Break - No Classes (University is OPEN)

October 18 - First day of classes (2nd POT)

NOVEMBER

November 1 - 3rd (final) Installment Fee Payment Deadline

November 4 - Homecoming (Football vs. So. Florida)

November 13 - Spring 2024 course registration period opens for current students

November 23-26 - Thanksgiving Break (No Classes, Admin offices OPEN Wed.; University & all Administrative offices CLOSED Thurs. - Sunday.)

DECEMBER

December 6 - Last Day of Classes

December 7 - Study Day (No Classes. Administrative offices OPEN.)

December 8-14 - Fall 2023 Final Exams begin (Dec. 8 - Dec. 14)

December 17 - Fall Commencement

December 21 -Final official grades available (Full Term, 2nd POT)

To view an exhaustive list of dates and deadlines, please click the buttons below: