Family Weekend at NDSU

Family members of NDSU students visited campus last weekend to participate in campus life with their student in a relaxed environment.

Parents, siblings, grandparents and other family members could attend classes with their student on Friday as well as other scheduled activities throughout the weekend. Many family members had not visited campus since the hectic orientation weekend when they helped their students arrange classes, move into residence halls and get settled in.

Orientation and Student Success has organized the family weekend since 1996 so that families have an opportunity to experience a usual day at NDSU Nancy Mueller, the Student Services Coordinator, said.

The 212 family units registered for last weekends Family Weekend could see what campus is really like for their students Mueller said.

“To come back, relax, maybe view their student’s classroom,” Mueller said. “Just kind of hang out on campus and it gives parents a good reason to come back.”

Most family members come to campus on Saturday to attend the home football game Mueller said.

Brenda Thompson was visiting her student on family weekend. Her family attended the game, which she said was fun even though the Bison lost.

Thompson said it was nice to see everyone “more in the groove” this weekend compared to the last time she was here on hectic move in day last August.

“It’s an opportunity to get more familiar with campus and a great time to see our student,” Thompson said.

Not all families could attend the Bison game. Mueller said getting tickets was trickier this year because the Bison are now division one.

“Tickets are sold out and that makes people unhappy,” Mueller said.

To combat this a “Family Weekend Football Game Watch Party” was scheduled. Family members who could not get tickets could watch the game in the Great Plains Ballroom of the Memorial Union. Concession food was for sale as well.

There was also a pre-game barbeque with food and entertainment at the Bison Sports arena.

The families responded well to the event especially the food. Thompson said, “The pre-game barbeque was phenomenal!”

A new event scheduled this year was the NDSU Showcase in the Memorial Union. The Family Weekend schedule described the event as “Interactive displays that demonstrate NDSU’s role as a student-focused, land grant, research university.”

Some activities were a tornado machine presented by Dr. Adnan Akyuz, the state climatologist, Historical photos and clothing from NDSU Archives and Family photos with Thundar.

Orientation and Student Success also coordinate with NDSU community to organize the weekend.

Campus organizations are asked if they have any events they would like highlighted in the Family Weekend schedule.

Campus Attractions film picks a family friendly film to be played Friday and Saturday nights during Family Weekend. Last weekend’s film was Disney/Pixar’s “Up!” The film was free to students and their families.

In the past more than 500 family members have attended NDSU’s Family Weekend. Mueller said approximately 97% of families are visiting campus to see their freshman students, though some families come every year their students are enrolled. Some parents with multiple students come every year also.