Dear Villanova Families,  

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I am filled with gratitude for our community—especially for you, our parents and family members. Thank you for the care and interest you show and your continued partnership as we support the growth of our students and University.

When your Wildcats return to campus after Thanksgiving, we have just a short time before finals and Winter Break. This issue contains helpful information regarding the end of the semester, the support that is in place for your students and some upcoming deadlines you may want to consider.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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

Your Villanovan may feel that they are managing a lot right now: 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. 

Here are some other offices that may also be helpful to your Wildcat:

As students prepare to travel home, our friends and colleagues in the Student Health Center have shared some helpful reminders with students as they finish the semester strong, and as some travel home during the well-deserved break.

As a reminder, your Villanovan can make an appointment at the Health Center by scheduling online or calling 610-519-4070.

In preparation for your Villanovan's departure for Winter Break, please keep in mind that residence halls will close at noon Saturday, Dec. 20 and will reopen on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. Only students who are pre-approved through a University-sponsored activity or event will be permitted to remain on campus.

If your Villanovan is remaining on campus for a University-sponsored activity or event, the Winter Break Housing Application and Early Arrival Form for Spring Semester will be live on Tuesday, Nov. 25 in the Housing Portal. 

Students registered to return early for Sorority Recruitment will receive directions and information directly from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life regarding their return to campus.

Parents of the Class of 2026: Please encourage your senior to schedule their senior portrait session between now and Thursday, Dec. 11 in St. Mary's Hall. Each senior received an email from Lauren Studios with a unique client ID needed to book their appointment (they continue to receive reminders if they haven't been scheduled). These portraits will be included in the 2026 Belle Air Yearbook, and professional photography packages are also available for purchase. In late January, an additional week of photography will be offered for seniors studying abroad or interning off-campus during the Fall semester. 

Campus will glow with the joy of the season as we celebrate the holidays at Villanova. All are warmly invited to join in religious and multifaith celebrations, musical performances (some require tickets), our Christmas Tree Lighting and our Holiday Village and Night Market. For more information on these and other events, like our Multifaith Celebration of Light, Hillel Hanukkah Party and Cena de la Convivencia para Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, please visit our Merry Christmas Villanova page.

Villanova’s Office for Mission and Ministry is offering Advent reflections written by members of our community. Please sign up to receive a digital flipbook or daily email reflections throughout the Advent season, from Sunday, Nov. 30 to Wednesday, Dec. 24. If you are interested in writing Advent and/or Lenten reflections to be shared with the Villanova community, you are welcome to sign up using this form.

The University Career Center was named one of the top 2% of career centers nationwide through Handshake’s 2025 Career Spark Awards. The honor recognizes excellence in student engagement, employer partnerships and career outcomes. In the 2024-25 academic year, nearly 10,000 students and alumni utilized Handshake to explore opportunities, and over 340 employers visited campus to recruit Villanova students. The Career Center continues to prepare students for meaningful futures through personalized advising, networking events and professional resources. Help your Wildcat begin the new year strong—encourage them to make full use of Handshake to schedule appointments with our advisors and register for events.

From Tuesday, Dec. 2 through Tuesday, Jan. 20, your Villanovan can make changes to their current meal plan within their portal in advance of the Spring 2026 semester. If your student is interested in making changes, complete plan descriptions and pricing information can be found on Dining's Meal Plan page.

Spring 2026 semester tuition bills were processed in mid-November and will be due on Wednesday, Dec. 10. They can be accessed by your Villanovan through their myNova account by searching "V-Bill." Families who want to review and pay their students' tuition bills have the option to be notified when a statement is available. Please have your student follow these steps to add Authorized Users to their account.

Full-time undergraduate students interested in being considered for need-based financial assistance must complete the financial aid process by Friday, May 1. As a reminder, full-time undergraduate students must reapply to be considered for financial aid each year.

The 2026-27 FAFSA form and CSS Profile are now available for families to review and begin the application process—it's never a bad idea to get started early! Please visit the Office of Financial Assistance website for step-by-step instructions.

The Refectory, Villanova's on-campus restaurant, has a gift card offer in place this holiday season. Receive a $20 bonus card for every $100 gift card purchase with The Refectory from Monday, Nov. 24 through Wednesday, Dec. 31. 

Villanova University Office of Parent and Family Relations

Phone: 610-519-6212

Email: parents@villanova.edu