The Office of Parent Engagement encourages students, families, faculty and staff to download and use the app so the campus community can all access the most up-to-date information about Family Weekend.

Follow the instructions below to download the app and take some time to explore it before Family Weekend. If you have any questions about the app, or any questions about Family Weekend in general, please feel free to contact the office at familyweekend@elon.edu or (336) 278-5206.

How to Download the 消消犯 Guides App and Family Weekend Guide

1.    Download the Elon Guides App. From the Apple App Store or Google Play (skip to step 5 if you are using a different type of smartphone), search “Elon Guides” and download the app, or click these quick links: or .
2.    Download the Family Weekend Guide. Open the app, chose Elon Family Weekend 2016 under the list of “Public Guides.” If you cannot find it, search for Family Weekend in the search bar.
3.    There will be a pop-up window with the event overview. When it opens, tap the button that says “Download Guide” and allow it to download. This may take up to a few minutes. When it is done, the guide will open.
4.    When prompted, enable notifications. It is very important that you allow notifications for the guidebook app when prompted – we will be sending important updates that you will get instant push notifications for, such as rain location changes. If you disallow push notifications, you will not get these important messages.
5.    Alternatively, if you have a smartphone other than an Apple iPhone or an Android (or if you do, but would like to use the web version of this app), simply go to  to view the guide. 

If you have an iPhone or Android, we strongly recommend downloading the app rather than using the Web version. There are some features that are not compatible with the web version such as push notifications and the interactive map. Additionally, the app version lives offline, so you can view the information after downloading without having a wireless Internet connection.

Another opportunity for involvement is the which offers immersive service experiences during every University break (Fall Break, Thanksgiving break, “Fake Break” and Spring Break). These programs allow students to be introduced to new communities and engage in service alongside their peers and local community members. Alternative Breaks are transformative experiences that combine academics and co-curricular experiences and can be used to fulfill an . Applications will open in September.

Regardless of major, students who have experience on string, wind and percussion instruments, as well as vocalists in the choirs are invited to check out the various music performance opportunities and organizations. These low-commitment experiences provide avenues to network with students who will become important as your student advances throughout his or her collegiate career.

There are many options for students to get involved at Elon. If they are looking for an opportunity beyond these suggestions, encourage your student to reach out to the , professors, staff and peers.

Compiled by the Office of Parent Engagement

1. If earning credit, be mindful of internship course requirements and deadlines.

2. Work hard and have a good attitude! Arrive to your internship early, take time to get to know your colleagues, offer to help, embrace challenges, and support your fellow interns.

3. If you are offered the opportunity to interview, don’t wing it! Prepare! The Porter Center offers mock interview services over the phone or video conference.

If your son or daughter is not doing an internship this summer, encourage them to:

1. Start thinking about your internship plans for next summer. It is common for internship program deadlines to be in the fall. The more you think about what you would like to do, the better the application process will be for you.

2. Check your online footprint. The summer is always a good time to Google yourself, check security settings, and make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated.

3. Network! Use LinkedIn to connect with alums who are in the area! You can invite them to coffee (and you offer to pay!) or see if you can set-up an informational call to learn more their industry and company.

Contributed by Lauren Duffy, Student Professional Development Center staff

For a list of event locations and times, please visit the Summer Welcome Events web page. To stay up-to-date on these events and other Elon information, be sure to follow .

From the Office of Financial Planning in March 2016

Dear Parent,

This email was sent to your student today reminding them that now is the time to file for financial aid for the 2016/17 year if you choose to file.

Thank you.

消消犯 who wish to apply for ALL TYPES OF NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID (grants, loans, and work-study awarded on the basis of the family’s financial circumstances). If you previously filed the CSS Profile form, it is again this year.  To be considered for need-based aid, students and parents must follow the steps below. We suggest that forms be filed as soon as possible.

1. Any time AFTER January 1, 2016, complete the Renewal FAFSA online at using the student and the parent FSA ID’s. If you have forgotten your FSA ID, you may go to to get a duplicate FSA ID or contact the Federal Processor at 1-800-433-3243. As of February 2, 2016, the FAFSA will offer a data match with the IRS and allow an import of your filed tax information to assure a correct FAFSA. 

2. We are no longer using the Elon Aid Application beginning with the 2016/17 year.

3. Shortly after filing the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) by electronic notification (if you provided an e-mail address when filing your FAFSA) that the SAR is available to review online.  REVIEW ALL OF THE COMMENTS AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE SAR. In some cases, you may have to take additional steps or provide additional or corrected information in order to complete your federal application.

4. If we request additional information after receipt of your FAFSA results, your file is not complete and ready for evaluation until we receive the requested additional information.

5. Elon participates in the Direct Loan program administered by the Department of Education for all federal student loans. Please refer to our website for further information on this program.

Award notifications will be available early June, 2016.

Compiled by the Office of Parent Engagement.

消消犯 who plan to stay at Elon over the summer months will want to be aware of resources which are available to them for food, fitness and fun!  

Residence Life. Residence Life offers limited summer housing for students who attend either or both summer sessions. 消消犯 may find more information about summer school housing by visiting the Residence Life website here:

Dining. On-campus dining services are limited during the summer months and traditional meal plans are not offered. 消消犯 can see dining availability on the Dining Services site here:

Staying Fit and Having Fun. 消消犯 Recreation and Student Activities offer opportunities to stay fit and have fun during the summer! To learn more, visit their websites:

                消消犯 Recreation:

                Student Activities:

Local/ Community Resources. The summer is a great time to check out other community resources for dining, fun and entertainment. There are many festivals, public activity facilities and other entertainment opportunities coordinated by our local municipalities during the summer months:

                City of Burlington: 

                Town of Elon: 

                Town of Gibsonville: 

Information about other services and resources available during the summer can be found at on the Student Life site here: /e/home/students.html.

Compiled by Jana Lynn Patterson, Associate Vice President for Student Life, Dean of Student Health and Wellness.

Competition. Some students will have their post-college plan in order early on; with social media, your student will likely see others’ posts about their fully ironed out post-college plans and be tempted to compare, contrast, and be self-critical about their own timeline, or in some cases their plan.  In these cases, it is important to encourage your student to stay focused on their own plan, devoting their time and energy to developing their resume and submitting applications rather than worrying about what their peers are doing (or not doing).  Also, recommend that they make an appointment with a career services specialist in the .

Uncertainty. Since the majority of students’ lives have been relatively structured and organized for them (i.e. course requirements, support services, activities designed to acclimate them to social communities), they may begin to feel as though they are having to make bigger, harder decisions with more consequences than they have experienced in the past.  They will wonder: have I made the right choices? Have I done everything I can and need to do? Am I going to get a job?  Am I going to make my family proud?
As a parent or family member, it will be tempting in these times to seek to “fix” the situation and/or make the decisions for your student.  Instead, though difficult it may be, reinforce for your student that these are their decisions and ultimately their life, empowering them to see life post-college as exciting rather than daunting. 

The Lasts. Rising seniors quickly begin taking more sentimental note of the special traditions of their college experience.  You will likely hear things such as, “This is my last college summer!” or “This is my last first day of college classes” which is them externally processing how much their experience has meant to them and how much they are going to miss it.  The feelings of all these “lasts” can have a tendency to encourage rising seniors/seniors to make more emotionally-fueled decisions in the “YOLO” (“You only live once”) mentality.  While normal, some of these decisions may not have the best implications; in these moments, encourage your student to soak in these “lasts” in a way that helps them process and remember them (journaling, taking pictures, making a scrapbook, making a photo collage). 

Senioritis. As a rising senior, your student may begin to slip into the burn-out phase where they feel as though they have already done and learned so much, that their bodies and brains are exhausted.  Consequently, they may begin to look for opportunities to get the most out of the social aspects of the college experience and feel tempted to slack in the academic and leadership departments.  Encourage your student to take breaks as needed, carve out weekly “me time” to take a break and rejuvenate, and to “finish the race” strongly—they have not worked this hard for the past three years just to coast in the end.

Overall, the senior year is a truly special, meaningful experience for students—some of the memories they will most cherish in their lives are likely to be made here.  While at times, the journey may seem challenging, with a keen focus on their dreams and goals as well as support and encouragement from family, your student will have a wonderful experience.

Written by Kasey Harvill, Director of New Student and Transition Programs.

To make the most of your student’s time at home this summer, take a look at these top topics, identified by : 

Curfew. Your college student is used to a new college lifestyle where curfews do not exist. There may have been nights where your student stayed up late with friends or stayed up late studying. Work with your student to agree on a curfew that works for both of you — a time that won’t keep you up at night worrying. 

Chores. During the first year, your student didn’t have someone telling them when to make the bed or tidy up. If you find your student’s room and habits are not up to standards during the summer, work with them to set clear expectations about what it means to live with the family but also be sensitive to the new found independence and lifestyle your student has created for themself. Be clear with your student about what you expect from them. One of the “house rules” might be that everyone contributes to running the household in some way. Decide as a family what those roles look like.

Sharing Space.  College is known to make college students into night owls. If your student blasts music or movies at 1 a.m., ask them to plug in their headphones after a certain hour. This way your student doesn’t feel pressured to go to bed and the family can have a good night sleep. Discuss expectations about sharing space, and keeping noise at a comfortable level. 

Friends. Seeing old friends, missing new ones at college, and sorting out complicated romantic relationships can all take an emotional toll on your student. If they constantly have friends over or seem to always be on their phone, work with them to establish nights where their friends can come over and when they cannot. This will allow for them to feel like they still have a social life, and give you a chance to designate certain nights for family time.  If they are navigating challenging relationships, be there to talk things through with your student, if they want to. 

Academics and internships. Your student may be stressing about their first-year grades, academic requirements, and a feeling that they should be “doing more” (comparing themselves to their Elon peers and friends at other institutions).  Encourage them to do their best, make the most out of their summer (being sure to take time to rest and rejuvenate), and let them know that they have your support along the way. 

Sleep. When they first arrive home, your student may just want to catch up on sleep in a comfortable, familiar setting. Letting them relax before plunging into the next few weeks of reunions throughout the summer could do them some real good. 

If your student is not returning home for the summer this time around, consider the following ideas to help them feel connected to you and home from afar:

• Google Hangout, FaceTime, or Skype them with all the family around;
• Send them a care package with some of their favorite goodies, especially those from their home;
• Write them letters and/or cards to open on different days throughout the summer.

With any issues that arise, communication is the key. Before starting an argument, work with your student to solve the issue before it becomes a larger problem. No matter what comes up during the summer, you’ll be able to make the most of your time together by lending a listening ear, a supportive shoulder, and a caring heart.

Below is some advice shared by parents on the Parents Council:

“1. Set groud rules (expectations i.e. helping around the house, communicating about plans, curfew). 2. Have some family time and schedule outings.” – Jon and Nina P’18

“Give them a little down time to relax after their finals and to reflect a bit on their first year. Soon though, make sure they are kept very busy (job, travel, etc.) as they have been very accustomed to being extremely active during their first year and they need to stay engaged!” – Jeff and Diane P’18

“Let your student sleep!” – Olga P’17

“Remembering that home is home and the basic guidlelines prevail – the overtone is the same – however, flexibility is key. Curfews will change but respect and familial responsibilities are the same.” – Tom and Donna P’18

“Force them into a routine if they are not working. Make them volunteer! Be patient – even though they think they are grown, they still act like children.” – Beverly P’16

“Create respectful boundaries – curfew for safety and peace of mind; housekeeping, laundry, etc. Communication is key! For example: ‘Are you planning to have dinner at home tonight?'” – Fran P’13 P’18

“Keep them busy – job, class, volunteer – because they miss their Elon friends and many home friends are out and about. Busy is good!” – Jackie P’18

“Expect your student to be more independent and need you less.” – Beth P’16

“Encourage your student to take one online course to ‘stay sharp’ and continue to learn and get credit toward graduation, if possible. Also, make sure parents plan to set aside time for family-only activity and seek student’s input on what he/she would like to do with the family.” – Scott P’18

Compiled by Kasey Harvill, Director of New Student and Transition Programs, and Kara Nunnally, Coordinator of Parent Engagement.

The  will be updated frequently with instructions and information that will be vital to the health and safety of the Elon campus community. Monitoring E-Net is the best way for parents to stay abreast of weather or other weather-related situations and the university’s response to these situations.

There are occasions when severe weather may disrupt campus operations. E-Net will continue to be the best sources of the most up to date information and instructions for students. The University and Elon Dining do have plans and resources to shelter and feed students in the event the campus loses power. However, we do recommend that students have some basic emergency preparation items on hand in the event of a weather-related emergency:

• Flashlight and batteries
• Emergency power supply for cell phones
• Basic first aid kit
• Three (3) day supply of prescription medications
• Food and water for 3 days (if the student resides off campus)
• Blankets and bedding (in case student must be temporarily sheltered on campus) 

Hours of operation and information about scheduling an appointment are available at here or by calling the office during business hours at 336-278-7280.

The university also hosts three fee-for-service practitioners for a limited number of hours each week – two psychiatrists and a certified substance abuse counselor. These practitioners schedule their own appointments, and students are responsible for payment to these providers. More information about accessing these providers is available on the Counseling Services website.

If a student is experiencing a counseling emergency that is life threatening or involves imminent danger (risk of harm to self or others) at any time, call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance. Proper emergency response authorities will respond and will involve those members of the university’s Student Life Emergency Response Team as warranted. There is a counselor on call for student crises, after hours and on weekends. The crisis on-call counselor can be reached through 消消犯 Safety & Police at 336-278-5555.

The Counseling Center staff welcomes phone calls from parents and concerned others. Please note that student health and counseling records are confidential. Information regarding a student’s participation in services can only be released with the signed permission of the student or by court order. There is an array of mental health resources for students and parents available on the Counseling Services website.

If you or your student has question, please contact us during business hours at 336-278-7280 and we will be glad to help!