History of Family Weekend
Family Weekend is a rich University of Arizona tradition that began in 1929. What started as a few families coming to visit their children has become an annual tradition for thousands of family members who come to the University of Arizona campus each fall. Family Weekend supports the mission of Enrollment Management by providing family members with the opportunity to understand the meaning of being a Wildcat. Families connecting with other Wildcat families as well as faculty, staff, and other students achieve this goal. Family Weekend celebrates the important role that family members have in supporting students and the program provides an experience that will help participants feel like a member of the Wildcat Family. Family Weekend also provides an opportunity for the UA to recruit younger siblings of current Wildcats.
Family Weekend Today
Parent and Family Programs is committed to expanding Family Weekend programming, making it a more robust, diverse event, accessible to all family members. This program overseen by Parent and Family Programs has a goal to increase the opportunity to make the event appealing to students and their families. The goals and expectations are to make Family Weekend an affordable, diverse event that highlights the University’s academic excellence, professors, Arizona spirit and traditions, campus resources, activities, and Tucson community experiences for the families of our students. The Family Weekend team hopes to give families a glimpse into their student’s life in their “home away from home” which is especially important for families.
Purpose
Family Weekend provides families with the opportunity to learn about what it means to be a Wildcat through their students’ academics, campus resources, activities, UA spirit and traditions, and experience what the Tucson community offers. Families are given the opportunity to connect with other Wildcat families as well as, faculty, staff, and other students. The main goal is to provide an experience that will make participants feel like a member of the Wildcat Family.