With Thanksgiving next week, I wanted to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Villanova Family. The care and interest you demonstrate in our students—as well as this University—is meaningful, and it is felt and it is heard by this office and so many across the University.

With just a short, busy couple of weeks between the end of Thanksgiving break and the start of finals, this issue of Parent & Family Connection contains important information regarding the end of the semester and the support that is in place for your Wildcats.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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

As the Fall semester comes to a close, students are managing a lot: classwork, activities, studying, presentations and fun. As a key piece of your Wildcat's support system, we wanted to remind you of the University's academic and health and well-being resources that are in place throughout the year, but especially during this busy time. When help is needed, please encourage your Villanovan to reach out, to take initiative and to start the conversation by contacting their advisor, their professors or their Dean's office. Additionally, here is a listing of some other offices that may also be helpful to your Wildcat:

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life (OFSL) opened Spring 2025 Interfraternity and Panhellenic recruitment registration on Friday, Nov. 1. If your Wildcat is interested in recruitment, it's important for families and students to understand the process and resources and to have information about Villanova's recognized fraternities and sororities and unrecognized organizations.

Recognized fraternities and sororities receive direct oversight from Villanova staff to ensure adherence to University and national standards and policies, while providing membership experiences focused on personal growth, safety, leadership and civic engagement/responsibility. In contrast, unrecognized organizations are not connected to Villanova University and do not follow these guidelines. Recently, the University and the International Fraternity Council removed recognition from Sigma Chi Fraternity. Sigma Chi may no longer operate as a fraternity at Villanova nor use the brand, images and trademarks associated with Sigma Chi International Fraternity. During the recruitment process, families are encouraged to help their Villanovans to make informed choices about their involvement in fraternity and sorority life and play a key role in ensuring students join recognized organizations

OFSL prioritizes student health and well-being in every aspect of the Fraternity and Sorority Life experience, especially during recruitment and the new member process. For additional information regarding recognized chapters and unrecognized organizations, please refer to the OFSL Chapters at Villanova page. OFSL asks individuals to report unrecognized organization activities, concerns or violations through the University's confidential reporting options. If you have further questions, please contact ofsl@villanova.edu.

Our Villanovans are wildly talented and we'd love for you to enjoy the energy and performances planned over the next few weeks! Visit the "Upcoming Events" link on the Student Performing Arts page for a complete listing of events. If you're unable to attend in person, plan on joining the show virtually! A schedule of livestream and recorded performances are also available on the page.

Resident Assistants (RAs) play an integral role within our University community. If your Villanovan has a passion for helping others, building community and enhancing their leadership skills, please encourage them to consider this excellent opportunity. To learn more about the role, benefits and expectations and the application process, please visit the Resident Assistant webpage. Students can also attend information sessions and talk with current RAs to learn more about the role (dates are listed here under the "RA Selection Timeline" section). Applications for the 2025-26 Academic Year are due by Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.

The Meal Plan portal will be open from Tuesday, Dec. 2-Tuesday, Jan. 21 for Villanovans to make changes to their current meal plans in advance of the Spring 2025 semester. If your student is interested in making changes, complete plan descriptions and pricing information can be found on Dining's Meal Plan page.

As the holidays approach, all are invited to join in the joy of the season! Beginning Friday, Nov. 22 through Thursday, Dec. 12, events will be held throughout campus, including concerts (some require ticket purchase), religious celebrations, the University Tree Lighting, the Holiday Village and Night Market, sung Vespers and a Multifaith Celebration of Light. Details for these events and others are available on the Christmas at Villanova page. 

Villanova’s Office for Mission and Ministry offers Advent Reflections written by members of our community. Please complete this form to receive daily email reflections during Advent 2024, Sunday, Dec. 1-Tuesday, Dec. 24.

On Saturday, January 18, Villanova's MLK Jr. Day of Service will host its 18th annual day of organized activity to celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There will be multiple service sites in the Greater Philadelphia area where Villanovans can come together with classmates and friends to improve lives, bridge social barriers and move our nation closer to the "beloved community" that Dr. King envisioned. 

On Thursday, Jan. 23, the Center for Peace and Justice will host Villanova's annual Freedom School, a one-day event where students, faculty and staff are invited to present on topics focused on Dr. King's vision and work. This is a tremendous opportunity for Villanovans to cultivate their areas of interest and further develop their presentation skills while exploring Dr. King's legacy. Encourage your Wildcat to learn more and submit a presentation proposal for consideration by Friday, Dec. 6. 

As you begin to plan 2025, remember that our Villanova families are invited to attend events planned by the Villanova University Alumni Association! Through the Alumni Association, you can: 

There are plenty of events, online and in person, to connect you to the University. Check out their calendar and start making plans today! 

The Baccalaureate Mass and Bachelor's Degree Commencement and Recognition Ceremony for the Class of 2026 will take place on Tuesday, May 19.

Typically, Villanova’s Commencement Exercises take place on Friday and Saturday and were originally scheduled for May 15-16, 2026. However, that weekend, nearby Aronimink Golf Club is hosting the 2026 PGA Championship, which is expected to bring more than 200,000 people to this area. Given anticipated traffic conditions, and to ensure our graduates and guests could secure hotel accommodations and reservations, the University felt it was best to adjust the date.

The new dates were posted on the Academic Calendar in spring 2024 and published in our Parent and Family Connection e-newsletter in May. For more information, please visit Villanova’s Commencement webpage, which will be updated after May 2025 with additional details about the Class of 2026 Commencement. If you have questions, please email commencement@villanova.edu.

Senior Portraits 

Our senior Wildcats have been photographed for senior portraits since the beginning of the academic year, and these shoots will wrap up on Friday, Nov. 22. Your Villanovan's portrait will be featured in the 2025 Belle Air yearbook and packages will be available for purchase. If your student has not scheduled their sitting, please encourage them to schedule ASAP using this booking page with the unique client ID emailed to them by Lauren Studios. Lauren Studios photographers will return in January to accommodate seniors who are studying abroad or away from campus this semester.

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 early January.

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 Tuesday, Jan. 21-Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025—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.

Villanova University Office of Parent and Family Relations

Phone: 610-519-6212

Email: parents@villanova.edu