At UIS, we believe parents and families play a vital role in a student鈥檚 success鈥攆rom their first year through graduation. This page is here to provide you with helpful information and resources to support your student every step of the way!
Family Weekend
Mark your calendars for October 17鈥�19, 2025, and join us for our annual Family Weekend鈥攁 celebration filled with fun activities, campus events, and special moments with your student.More details are available on the Prairie Stars Family Weekend website!
Prairie Star Family Connect
Stay informed and connected with Prairie Star Family Connect鈥攐ur communication hub just for UIS parents and families. This customizable platform provides timely updates, important deadlines, and personalized newsletters tailored to you. You can choose how often you receive updates (weekly, monthly, etc.) and select topics like wellness, athletics, or support for first-year students. Signing up is quick and easy鈥攋ust visit the.
Student Involvement
Your student has countless opportunities to get involved, build meaningful connections, and create lifelong friendships鈥攁ll while developing skills that support their success. From student organizations and Living-杨贵妃传媒 Communities (LLCs) to intramural sports and campus events, there鈥檚 something for everyone to explore and enjoy!
Dean of Students Office
Campus Safety
The safety and well-being of our community is a top priority. The campus is protected 24/7 by a fully trained police department that works closely with local and state law enforcement agencies. Students have access to helpful safety tools like the RaveGuardian app, which provides quick connections to emergency services and safety resources. Learn more about campus safety and resources!
Resources for Parents and Family of College Students
Articles
Written by a Career Coach another perspective to examine over-parenting.
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. I鈥檓 not crazy about the title of this article, but the content on the need for students to learn coping skills 鈥� especially dealing with frustration and failure is something we help lots of students with on a daily basis.
by Jess P. Shatkin, MD, MPH. Going to college is more than just 鈥済oing back to school.鈥� The departure is a significant milestone in the life of a family and ushers in a time of separation and transition, requiring an adjustment on the part of parents, the college-bound teenager and the whole family.
Just because you don鈥檛 follow your kid to her job interview doesn鈥檛 mean you aren鈥檛 helicopter parenting.
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An interesting report. Students coming to college with mental health issues (depression, anxiety, and trauma) are increasing dramatically. This report has some powerful insights about what happens when students do not disclose their conditions, thus not having access to campus support networks, also provides student reflection on what they wish they had done.
College depression is a common problem. Understand why the transition to college makes young adults vulnerable to depression 鈥� and what you can do about it.
More comfortable online than out partying, post-Millennials are safer, physically, than adolescents have ever been. But they鈥檙e on the brink of a mental-health crisis.
Advice for Parents and Students about surviving the summer.
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Recommended by a parent of a current student.
Books
i. Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D. (2017). ISBN-13: 978-1501151989.
Sandra Yancy McGuire and Mark McDaniel. (2018). ISBN-13: 978-1620367568. This is the book referenced in the parent sessions.
Suze Orman. (2005). This is a great book about money for young adults.
Reading for Parents (pdf) (a list of additional materials in this pdf document created by now retired, professor of Global Studies, Dr. Hilary Frost)
Social Media
. Has a lot of great articles and resources about the college search process, success strategies for college students and parents, as well as some comic relief with common adulting issues. They are on several of the social media platforms and are the source for a lot of material on our Parent/Family group page.
Resources
. College Parents of America鈥檚 mission is to promote greater student achievement & completion of post-secondary education. Please join us for helpful tips, insights & benefits that support student success.
This site is designed to give you information, and food for thought, about college and about parenting a college student. If you have a son or daughter currently attending college, or getting ready to go to college soon, we hope that you will find College Parent Central helpful.