Make sure to mark these important dates on your calendar:

• April 9 Registration for Fall 2018 and Summer 2018 begins
• May 2 through May 9 Final exams
• May 9 Semester ends
• May 10 Honors Day Convocation
• May 11 Undergradute Spring Commencement 
• May 11 Housing closes at noon for non-commencement students
• May 12 Housing closes at noon for commencement students

The 2018-2019 academic calendar is also now available for families to begin preparations for the upcoming year! 

 As summer quickly approaches, your student may still be considering their plans.  A great time to relax, refresh, and catch up with friends and family, the summer is also a great time for students to be making moves in their professional development.  Here are some ways students can take advantage of career opportunities during the summer months, and how you can help. 

Apply for summer internships 

It is not too late to find a summer internship.  Students can meet with a career advisor at the Toppel Career Center to create a personalized internship search strategy.  They can also login to Handshake as well as utilize other internship resources to search current opportunities available to UM students.  Encourage your student to consider what skills and knowledge they hope to gain from a summer internship, and to reach out to companies directly that fit their goals. 

Contact professionals who work in a field or company they’re interested in 

By setting up times to speak with these individuals, your student will not only learn more about what it’s like to work at that company, but also what it’s like to work in that industry and type of position.  This is a great article with advice on how invite a professional to a coffee meeting.  Think about what contacts you might have in your network that may be able to provide helpful information to your student as they explore careers.  One of the best ways for your student to prepare for these meetings is to think about what questions they would like to get answered, and to do research on the individual/company beforehand.  

Shadow a professional 

Similarly, shadowing in the workplace is a great way to see what someone’s day-to-day looks like, making it easier to decide if a career is a good fit.  The summer often provides students with greater flexibility to shadow a professional for a day, even if it is just for a few hours.  

Set professional development goals for fall semester 

Summer is the perfect time to do some goal setting for the upcoming year.  Is your student thinking about applying for an internship or job soon?  Are they beginning their graduate school applications or conducting research on programs that are a good fit?  Are they trying to develop critical competencies in their field such as written communication, technical ability, or critical thinking?  Check out this great article on how to set long and short-term goals, and share it with your student to get them thinking about what goals they can be setting for themselves before they return to campus. 

Want to be more involved with the Toppel Career Center as a family member of a UM student? 

• Be a UShadow Host 
• Hire UM students 
• Share your knowledge and expertise 
• Serve as a mentor 
• Become a sponsor 

Fill out our family involvement form today, and someone from the Toppel Career Center will contact you soon. 

Family Weekend will be taking place on Thursday, October 4th through Sunday, October 7th.  This weekend will consist of various activites and events that you and your student can participate in such as model classes, meeting with campus partners that aid in your students success, and a University of Miami Football game.  This year's game will be against Miami's state rival, Florida State Univeristy on Saturday, October 6th. 

Our early bird registration will begin on June 1st.  To register and stay up to date on all the latest news, including the Family Weekend schedule, visit our website. 

If have any further questions about Family Weekend, you can reach out to the Department of Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement at (305) 284-5646 or familyweekend@miami.edu. 

As your student returns to campus from Spring Break, there is only a short six weeks left in the spring semester.  This time will be filled with exciting opportunities to finish up their semester long research, running for leadership positions on campus, hearing back about summer internships and even ‘Canes Carnival!  However, this is also a time where our students frequently succumb to pressures of finals, group projects, and uncertainties about the upcoming year.  You may be wondering what you can do to help your student finish out the semester on a strong note.  Here are some pointers on how you can help and support your student in making healthy and responsible decisions during this stressful and hectic time of year.  

Talk with your Student about Alcohol, Drugs and their Mental Well-Being 

Talk openly and honestly about the pressures they might experience and what they should do if they begin to feel overwhelmed, are more anxious than usual, start missing class frequently, or other behaviors that seem out of the ordinary for your student.  

We suggest you use open ended questions when checking-in with your student.  Asking open ended question can elicit a detailed response that your student might not otherwise provide if answering with a yes, no, or sure, mom.  

Ask clear and direct questions.  If your question is vague, your student response will be vague.  Additionally, don’t hesitate to share your perspective and your honest concerns about their behavior.  Share your personal expectations including that they make sure to ask for help if they need it.  

Check-in and Keep an Eye out for Warning Signs 

Call, skype, and check-in with your student throughout the remainder of the semester, especially if they did not return home for spring break.  It’s important to hear their voice or see their face (as opposed to text, email, or social media) in order to better recognize any changes.  

Don’t ignore warning signs that your student is struggling beyond the normal pressures of academic coursework.  This can include a rise in drinking and drug use, including difficulty remembering events, change in personality/attitude/mood, drastic change in friend group or appearance, and/or academic problems. 

Resources to Help 

You know your student best.  If you notice any of these warning signs or other concerning behaviors, the University has numerous resources for your student and are here to support them.  This includes: 

• Dean of Students Office (305) 284-5353 
• University of Miami Counseling Center (305) 284-5511 
• Camner Academic Resource Center (305) 284-2800 

In addition, the university supports a 'Canes Care for 'Canes attitude, where we encourage students to support each other.  This could be as small as saying hello to a classmate, or sharing resources with those in need.  Encourage your students to seek out help for themselves or a fellow Miami Hurricane.  If your student has shared information about their friends or roommates that raise a concern, they have the ability to report the concern anonymously via 'Canes Care for 'Canes.   

Cultivating a healthy lifestyle can help a student be successful in their academic and every day endeavors.  Well-being is especially important at this time of the semester, as students can feel pressured to perform well in class while still being engaged on campus through different extracurricular activities.

Students who may be overwhelmed this time of the semester can express continued fatigue, frustration, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and a lack of expression.  If you find that your student is having difficulty balancing physical, social, or mental aspects of their well-being, the Herbert Wellness Center is here to support your student in ensuring they have resources to foster a routine centered on self-care.

The Wellness Center offers a variety of resources and activities available to students that can help them take a break and refocus when things get busy.  Here at the Wellness Center, we host daily group exercise classes, like Music Video Cycling, Zumba, Hip Hop Cardio, and yoga. Participating in exercise is a proven stress reducer and remaining social is vital in maintaining a balanced lifestyle, and with these classes, your student and their friends can have fun together while working out. 

In addition, if your child seems to be having difficulty with their nutrition and cooking, we offer College Survival Cooking classes exclusively for UM students.  Cooking is an essential part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but it does not have to be a chore.  Andreu Silverman, chef and UM student, is eager to help students learn how to prepare nutritionally balanced dishes that fit a student’s budget and demanding schedule.

We also host a variety of classes focused on mindfulness, meditation and yoga, which can all aid your student in times of high stress or fatigue.  Our mindfulness and meditation programming is geared towards guiding participants through techniques for coping with stressors, compassion, and self-awareness.  Further, our assortment of yoga classes can help your student feel more grounded, calm, and energized.

Finally, if you’d like to treat your student and reward them for all their hard work, you can schedule a relaxing massage therapy appointment with one of our licensed therapists.  Through this service, we offer Swedish massage and other specialized techniques to suit personal needs.

Assistant Director of Wellness, Christina WooChing wants the Wellness Center to serve as an ‘on-campus oasis’ for students, where everyone can find their personal outlet to be active, social, have fun and relieve stress.  “We hope that, with our support in offering these programs and services, your student can excel in creating a well-balanced lifestyle that will help them succeed in their academic and personal lives.”

The Department of Orientation & Commuter Student Involvement is here to partner with you in supporting your student’s learning and development throughout their college journey.  ’Canes Conversation is a segment to give you tips and insight on what might be helpful to discuss with your student at this time of year.  For more information like this, visit the Family Calendar in the back of the Family Guide.

As students get over the hump of mid-semester and look ahead to finals, they may be experiencing different levels of stress.  In addition to writing papers and preparing for exams, they are also figuring out their plans for the summer, discussing future housing options, or solidifying their class schedule for the upcoming academic year.  Having a mentor on campus can be very valuable for students, especially in times of stress or great need.  Encourage your student to reach out and make those connections or reflect on mentors they have made throughout the year. 

Your student may be moving back home with you for the summer or traveling for an internship.  Be sure to communicate expectations to your student, both in terms of what you expect and what they may be looking for in their experience.  Recognize that this may look different than last summer, or when they have been home for shorter breaks throughout this year.  Be clear about your boundaries, while also recognizing that your student may be looking for more autonomy.

Some great things to ask your student about this time of the year could include:

• What are you plans for the summer?  Do you have a job, internship, or classes scheduled?
• How are you feeling about finals?  What is your plan to prepare?
• When do you move out of your residential college/ apartment / house for the summer?  What can we do to support?