Family Orientation
Family Information
For Fall 2025, Family and supporters will have the opportunitity to meet UAS staff and socialize with each other at our optional gatherings held on Thursday, August 21, and Friday, August 22. Please see below for our offerings of optional sessions and gatherings that are geared toward family members and other supportive people in your student's life.
Family Orientation is not offered during Spring New Student Orientation in January. We encourage family members and core supporters to work with their student closely to prepare for their arrival. Many resources including campus information, financial aid, health & safety, on-campus housing, and more can be found on our Parents and Counselors landing page. A list of commonly utilized resources can also be found below as your student plans their arrival. We are excited to welcome everyone to campus!
Fall 2025 Family Orientation Sessions:
The Family Orientation session is offered only during our Fall Semester, which is held concurrently with the beginning of the student's day on Friday, August 22, 2025. This is a time for you to make connections with administrators and fellow family members while learning more about the University of Alaska Southeast community. No registration is required for any family members and supporters.
- Thursday, August 21 at 4:30 PM - Meet & Greet with Dean Damian - UAS Recreation Center
- Meet the Dean of Students! Family members and supporters are encouraged to join us at the Recreation Center 30 minutes prior to the students arriving for the Welcome BBQ for a meet and greet with some university leaders. Meet other families, ask questions to our experienced campus leadership, and enjoy each other's company after a busy move-in day.
- Friday, August 22 at 9:00 AM - New Student Convocation - Main Egan Library Floor
- Family members and supporters are free to join their students during the morning check-in (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM) before moving to the Egan Library with students for a 9:00 AM start time for our New Student Convocation.
- Friday, August 22 at 10:00 AM - Family Orientation Panel - Glacier View Room (Egan 221)
- After Convocation ends, while students continue on with their day, families will be taken to the Family Orientation Panel session from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM for a more in depth introduction to university leadership, and have an opportunity to ask questions to a panel of highly experienced staff representing several core campus services (e.g. Financial Aid, Housing, Disability Services, Counseling, and more).
- Friday, August 22 at 11:00 AM - Optional Family Campus Tour - Departing from the Glacier View Room (Egan 221)
- After the panel ends, family members and supporters are invited to an optional campus tour which will cover core campus services on the main campus. Upon conclusion of the tour, you will be released for the day while students continue on with student-only activities until approximately 5:00 PM
Recommended Texts
We highly recommend the text Your Freshman Is Off To College by Laurie L. Hazard, ED.D. and Stephanie K. Carter, M.A. This text breaks down the first college year by month, provides insight into the inner workings of a typical students' mind, and helps you proactively prepare for the calls, texts, and moods of your student throughout the year.
Discovering the UAS Campus
UAS maintains a landing page for Parents and Counselors. We encourage you to bookmark this page for future reference.
Note: We highly encourage you to expect your student to reach out to resources, staff, and faculty on their own. Our staff and faculty are friendly, approachable, and are trying to teach your student about self-advocacy and resource seeking.