Dear parents and families,
We’re back! This is always such an exciting time for our students with so many new adventures, budding friendships, and promise for the year ahead. I hope you, too, have found time in between the busyness to appreciate another milestone for you and your family.
I love my job as vice chancellor for student affairs, and a big part of that is being able to see your students get involved outside the classroom — as part of student organizations, clubs, cultural or learning communities, civic opportunities, and more. Even if your student is a seasoned Badger, there is always a new adventure to be discovered. UW–Madison’s Student Organization Fair is Sept. 10 and 11—encourage your student to make the trek to the Kohl Center to explore the hundreds of organizations available to them.
We want your student to flourish, both academically and personally, and they are learning how to establish healthy habits during their time here. Membership to two world-class recreational facilities on campus, the lakeshore Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center and the southeast Nicholas Recreation Center (“The Nick”), is included in student fees. University Health Services also offers a range of medical and mental health support to meet your students where and when they need may need it.
We invite diversity of viewpoints to UW–Madison to inspire and ignite us to think critically and act thoughtfully. We also promote a community where all people can experience a sense of belonging. Sometimes those two can seem at odds, and that is part of the learning process. We want students to explore ideas beyond their own and to leave here with strategies to do so in civil and productive ways. That is part of the great Wisconsin Experience.
Bottom line — we have teams of people in Student Affairs, including the Parent and Family Program, who are here for your student and for you. As some of you may recall, my daughter graduated from UW–Madison in May, so our family is also beginning another transition as she starts her next adventure. I miss seeing her on campus, yet I am grateful every day for the opportunity to support you and our students as we continue to coach them through life’s journeys.
I look forward to seeing many of you at Family Weekend in October.
On, Wisconsin!
Lori Reesor
PhD Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs