University of Michigan M-parent
Parents Weekend
Events

 



All events are free (with paid Parents Weekend Registration Fee) unless noted otherwise. Ticketed events are indicated below. Event locations will be provided at check-in.

Events are subject to change. Event information will be continuously updated on this website.

 

Events for Friday, November 14, 2008

Parents Weekend Check-In

10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Michigan Union Pond Room

530 S. State St.  

Check-in for Parents Weekend and pick up your event tickets and updated program information. Michigan Parents Weekend souvenirs will also be available to purchase.

International Education Information Fair

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The University of Michigan has many opportunities for undergraduates interested in international education. Students should begin planning early – international study, volunteer and work abroad need not entail extra time towards a degree! Many U-M departments will be on hand to answer questions regarding study abroad, working abroad, language instruction, and cultural studies. These departments include the Office of International Programs (LSA undergraduate study abroad), International Programs in Engineering (Engineering study abroad), Language Resource Center (multi-media language study), Overseas Opportunities Office (work, intern, or volunteer abroad, including the Peace Corps), GIEU: Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates Program (offering domestic and international cultural and educational experiences), and the International Institute (including information on the new CICS International Studies minor).

Finding Your Way . . . to the Career Center

10:15 – 11:00 a.m.

Students begin to visit the Career Center for a variety of reasons during various points in their academic careers. This is your chance to learn more about what the Career Center has to offer, and to find out how we can help your student explore careers and graduate programs, make decisions or search for internships and jobs

 

Central Campus Walking Tour

11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Depart from front steps of Michigan Union

Didn’t attend Parent Orientation? Here’s your chance to experience campus through a student’s perspective. Student-led tours will be available on Friday departing from the front steps of the Michigan Union.

 

Annual U-M vs. OSU Blood Battle

Times and Locations vary

For the past twenty-six years, the University of Michigan’s Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (co-ed national service fraternity) has partnered with the American Red Cross to host the largest blood drive in the Midwest, the Blood Battle.  Taking place over the two weeks prior to the Michigan vs. Ohio State football game, more than 25 blood drives are held on the U of M campus, collecting over 2,000 pints of blood, and potentially saving over 6,000 lives. Last year, the University of Michigan lost to Ohio State by only 3 pints, but combined, both schools collected close to 5,000 pints. Michigan’s campus accounted for more than 12.5% of the total blood collection in Washtenaw County for the entire year, providing local hospitals with the blood they needed to serve patients in our community. Thriving on the spirit of the epic football rivalry between the Wolverines and the Buckeyes, we hope to raise awareness about the need for blood in Washtenaw County and inspire the campus and the Ann Arbor community to come out and donate. As always, our goal is to beat the Buckeyes by collecting as many pints of blood as we can. If you’ll be in Ann Arbor during Parents Weekend, please consider participating in this Michigan tradition.

Michigan Union Historical Tours

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Departing from the Campus Information Center desk, 1st floor, Michigan Union at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.

Students from the Michigan Union Board of Representatives will lead the tours. Did you know that the Union once housed an indoor pool or a barber shop? Learn more about these and other fun facts on a historical tour of the building!

 

Money at Michigan – The Beat Goes On

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Now that you've gotten through the first bills, those pleas for additional spending money, and the frustration of trying to do everything "on-line," it's time to explore other opportunities for funding including Scholarships, Work Opportunities, and Loans. Here's your chance to find out about upcoming changes as well as ask all those questions you wished you had asked earlier if only you had known what it was going to be like.

School of Art & Design Parents Weekend Program
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Art & Architecture Bldg. (various locations, see below)
Art & Design parents are invited to enjoy a buffet lunch at 11:30 in the Street Gallery before attending apresentation at 12:15 by an A&D faculty member in the A&A auditorium. Following the presentation, parents may attend any (or all!) of the eight sections of ArtDes 120, ToolsMaterials and Processes I: Construction. Atour of the Duderstadt Center, a high-end media center across the street, where much A&D creative work occurs, begins at 3:00 for those parents who have not yet visited this center. Parents will not want to missthe opening ofthe annual All Student Show at 6 p.m. in the Slusser, Robbins and Work: Ann Arbor galleries.

Lunch at the University Club

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Looking for a place for lunch? Try our very own restaurant, the University Club, located on the 1st floor of the Union. The U-Club offers Ann Arbor’s freshest salad bar, homemade soups and all you can eat buffet as well as a full menu of hearty sandwiches, composed salads and creative entrees. The University Club accepts entree plus and all major credit cards. Don’t forget to pick up your 15% off coupon at Parents Weekend check-in! If you would like to make a reservation please call 734-763-4648, but reservations are not required.

The BBA – The Action-Based, Results-Oriented Degree

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

If your student excels at teamwork, has multi-dimensional interests and thrives in a dynamic learning environment, we welcome you to attend a special session about the Ross School of Business 3-year Bachelor of Business Administration Program (BBA).

College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Parents Reception

2:00 – 3:30 p.m. (remarks at 2:30)

Michigan Union Ballroom

Please join LSA Parents on campus at a reception hosted by LSA Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs, Esrold Nurse, and find out the ways the College provides your student a one-of-a-kind education. Refreshments served.

College of Engineering Welcome Reception and Tours

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Chrysler Center Commons, 2121 Bonisteel Boulevard

Engineering families are invited to join us in our newly renovated student commons in the Chrysler Center. There will be a reception, resource fair, and opportunities to take tours of Engineering labs and facilities. Not only will you get to see the facilities and equipment that students use, you will also visit our new Learning Resource Center. From academic programs to student life, you will learn about the exciting opportunities that are available for your student here at the College. Come enjoy a relaxing afternoon meeting faculty, administrators and other members of the Engineering community!

Kinesiology and the Student Experience
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Bickner Auditorium, 3735 Kinesiology Bldg.
Join Kinesiology faculty, staff, and Dean Beverly Ulrich as student groups provide informative sessions about each of our fours majors including internship and career information, study abroad options, and research and lab opportunities. Meet and talk with the people your students are interacting with on campus at an informal reception following the student presentations.

Residential College Parents Reception

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

126 East Quadrangle

Join RC students, faculty, and staff in a social gathering just for parents. The event will feature a short program, music, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.

Living at Michigan Options: Second Year and Beyond

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Many parents have told us that they were surprised by how soon their sons and daughters faced decisions about whether to stay in the residence hall or move off-campus. At Michigan, these decisions are often made in the fall term. Some freshmen start making lease arrangements with friends they have only known for a few weeks. The Housing Information Office is here to help you and your family make informed decisions. Bring your son or daughter to our information session to learn more about the residence hall, University-owned apartments, and off-campus housing options and have your questions answered.

The Infinite Landscape: Master Photographers from the UMMA Collection

University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA)

Off/Site location: 1301 S. University Ave.

11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

In anticipation of UMMA’s reopening in early 2009, this exhibition will present some of the most compelling landscape images from the Museum’s own renowned collection. Since the dawn of photography, practitioners have used the medium as a tool to make sense of our surroundings and create meaning within the larger world. From a selection of classic views by such artists as Ansel Adams, Harry Callahan, and William Henry Fox Talbot to the contemporary sublime of Michael Kenna and Sally Mann, these images reflect 19th- and 20th-century European and American artists responding to the natural environment. Among the other photographers included are Eugene Atget, Walker Evans, William Jackson, Andre Kertesz, Josef Sudek, and Minor White. The exhibition will also showcase several new acquisitions on view for the first time by Edward Curtis, Peter Emerson, Karl Struss, and Edward Steichen.

Secrets of the Universe – Tours of the 1854 U-M “Detroit” Observatory
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Detroit Observatory, 1398 E. Ann St. (corner of Ann & Observatory St.)

Get a painless introduction to over 150 years of U-M history while touring one of the oldest, and most charming, buildings on the Ann Arbor campus – the 1854 Detroit Observatory. This historic site, administered by the Bentley Historical Library, houses several large Victorian telescopes (state-of-the-art for the 1850s) as well as exhibits that illustrate U-M’s transformation from a small, provincial college into a modern research university. Docents will assist as you explore the building at your own pace.Detroit Observatory sits at the corner of Ann and Observatory Streets, between Couzens and Alice Lloyd Residence Halls. Visitor parking is available in the structures at the U-M Cardiovascular Center or at Palmer Drive. If you are walking from Central Campus, you can use the pedestrian bridge which links the Life Sciences complex to Couzens and Palmer Field. The free U-M buses also make stops nearby. For more information, visit www.bentley.umich.edu and follow the links for Detroit Observatory. You can also speak with our staff by calling the Bentley Historical Library at (734) 764-3482.

 


Michigan vs. Michigan State Volleyball Match

6:30 p.m.

Cliff Keen Arena
Tickets: $5 Adults; $3 Youth (18 and under)/Senior (55 and over); U-M Students free with valid M-Card

Come experience collegiate volleyball at its best as Michigan Volleyball takes on their intra-state rival, Michigan State.  This high-paced game played in a loud venue will surely be a full house as we root the Wolverines on to victory. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time by calling Katy Jackson at 734-647-1261 or can be purchased at the door beginning one hour prior to the start of the match. Tickets to this event cannot be purchased online through the Parents Weekend registration website.

 

Dinner with Broadway Musical Hits

7:30 p.m.

Michigan Union Ballroom

Tickets: $35

Have a wonderful weekend dinner with your family in this historic Michigan Union building. Following the dinner, enjoy a dazzling performance of the talented and amazing students of the Musical Theater Department – while they serenade you with Broadway musical songs. Dinner includes sautéed chicken with fresh butter sage and lemon sauce, vegetarian pasta primavera, mixed green salad with ranch & raspberry vinaigrette, assorted rolls, a choice of beverages (coffee, decaf or iced tea) and chocolate cake for dessert. Dinner theater is casual. This event is co-sponsored by University Unions Arts and Programs: Division of Student Affairs. www.umich.edu/~uuap. Tickets for this event can be purchased online through the Parents Weekend Registration Form.

Attention parents of Musical Theater students: Please be advised that seating is very limited at this event and we do expect it to sell out. If you would like to watch your student perform, please purchase tickets as soon as possible when the Parents Weekend online registration form becomes available.

 

Michigan v. Western Michigan Ice Hockey Game
7:35 p.m.
Yost Ice Arena
Tickets: $19 Adults; $12 U-M Students

Spend your evening with the defending CCHA regular-season and conference tournament champion Michigan Ice Hockey Team.  Experience historic Yost Ice Arena and see why the arena is considered to have one of the greatest home-ice advantages of any NCAA Hockey venue. Tickets are limited for this event and can be ordered by calling Katy Jackson at 734-647-1261. Tickets to this event cannot be purchased online through the Parents Weekend registration website.

Festive Parents’ Night Out

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Downtown Ann Arbor

The Main Street Area Association presents a night on the town for parents and students of all ages. Enjoy late shopping, exceptional dining and entertainers strolling the sidewalks on Main, Liberty, Fourth and Washington Streets in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor. Enjoy wonderful performers and downtown Ann Arbor, where Main Street was voted the Best in Michigan by AAA.Visit Main Street area’s unique shops from art galleries to high fashions and let your taste buds wander to our delectable assortment of restaurants from coffee houses to four star dining – all in the Main Street area. www.mainstreetannarbor.org

The G-Men: Because A-Men And C-Men Were Taken . . .

All-Male Contemporary A Cappella.

Featuring Slam Poetry by Ann Arbor Wordworks and a Special Dance Performance.

8:00 p.m.

Rackham Auditorium

Tickets: $10

Proving that a cappella is a means, rather than an end, the G-Men have pleasured audiences nationwide – balancing their unique style and soul with a sound commonly described as “The Power of 100 Raging Buffalo” – and have become a quintessential Michigan experience. One reviewer writes, “the G-Men are to a cappella what that Baptist choir in the first Blues Brothers movie is to gospel.  You know the one I’m talking about.”  Come sit back, relax, and enjoy a true variety show, as one and a quarter short tons of stage-stomping, air-guitar-ing a cappella madness draw you into the sights, sounds, and emotions of a phenomenon locally dubbed G-Men Hit The Spot™. Tickets for this event can be purchased online through the Parents Weekend Registration Form.

Alpha Phi 2nd Annual Red Dress Gala

8:30 p.m.

Michigan Union Pendleton Room

Tickets: $45 per ticket/$70 for two tickets for Adults; $30 for students

The Theta Chapter of the Alpha Phi Fraternity is excited to announce our Second Annual Alpha Phi Red Dress Gala. This year’s event will feature a variety of entertainment such as a silent auction, a live band, and a 50/50 raffle. Proceeds from the Red Dress Gala will benefit the Alpha Phi Foundation. The foundation is the philanthropic partner of Alpha Phi International, one of the oldest sororities in America. Through contributions from  chapters, individual members, companies, families, and friends, the Alpha Phi Foundation funds many important groups such as the American Heart Association. As a charitable and educational organization, the Foundation is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service, and donations are tax deductible in the United States as allowed by law. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by contacting alphaphiRDG@gmail.com. Tickets to this event cannot be purchased online through the Parents Weekend registration website.

 

 

Events for Saturday, November 15, 2008

 

Parents Weekend Pre-Game Tailgate

3 hours before football game

Oosterbaan Field house, 1202 S. State St. [Located behind Schembechler Hall, south of Yost Ice Arena]

Tickets: $28

An annual Parents Weekend favorite, the pre-game tailgate is your opportunity to show your Michigan spirit! The tailgate features food, games and inflatables, prizes and student performers to help you prepare to experience a game in the “Big House”. Scheduled to perform are the U-M Dance Team, Groove, the U-M Cheerleaders, the Michigan Marching Band, and more! Menu includes marinated boneless chicken breasts, smoked stadium style sausage, veggie wraps, Greek style pasta salad, redskin potato salad, baked beans, and more. New this year, the tailgate will be held in the Oosterbaan Field house – the Michigan Football Team’s practice facility. It’s the place to be rain or shine! At press time, the football game time had not been announced. The tailgate will begin three hours prior to kickoff.

Attention parents of Michigan Marching Band, U-M Dance Team, U-M Cheerleaders, and Groove members:

If you wish to see your student perform at the Pre-Game Tailgate, you must purchase a ticket for this event. No one will be admitted to the Parents Weekend Pre-Game Tailgate without a ticket. Tickets will be sold in advance on the Parents Weekend Online Registration Form. If we do not sell out of tickets in advance, tickets will be available to purchase at the door.

Michigan v. Northwestern Football Game

Time: TBA*

Michigan Stadium

Tickets: $55

Come watch the Wolverines battle the Wildcats. Attending a football game at “the Big House” is one of the most popular things to do at Michigan. Tickets are limited to two per family. Tickets can be ordered on the Parents Weekend registration form (when it becomes available in September) and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to submit your Parents Weekend registration form as soon as it becomes available.

*Football game time is determined approximately 7-10 days prior to the event. Game time will be listed at http://mgoblue.com when it becomes available. The tailgate will start 3 hours before game time, and will end approximately 1 hour before game time.

Please Note: Due to security concerns, there are restrictions on what can be carried into the stadium. Prohibited items include certain purses, coolers, containers, and many other items. Click here for a complete list of permitted and prohibited items . You will be denied access to the stadium if you carry one of these items. Please check this list prior to attending the football game. Many parents have been denied access to the stadium because they were carrying prohibited items, especially purses. Please check this list before you attend Parents Weekend so this policy does not spoil your weekend!

 

St. Mary Student Parish Parents Weekend Brunch

9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

St. Mary Student Parish, 331 Thompson Street

You are invited to Mass at 9:00 a.m., a delicious brunch and a brief program. You’ll meet the pastor, our staff, and learn how – for over 80 years – St. Mary Student Parish has encouraged Catholic students to grow in faith and develop service and leadership skills through our many programs. Call 734-663-0557, ext. 240, or visit http://stmarystudentparish.org for more information.

 

The Infinite Landscape: Master Photographers from the UMMA Collection

University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA)

Off/Site location: 1301 S. University Ave.

11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

See events on Friday, November 14 for description.

University of Michigan’s Cultural Attractions

10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

There is something for everyone in Ann Arbor, even if you’re not a football fan. If you aren’t going to the game, we recommend visiting the Exhibit Museum, the Museum of Art (off-site location at 1301 S. University Ave.), or the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, located off campus at 1800 North Dixboro Road.

Men’s Glee Club Fall Concert

8:00 p.m.

Hill Auditorium

Tickets: $15

The University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club proudly presents its 149th Annual Fall Hill Concert. Founded in 1859, the Men’s Glee Club is the oldest student organization on the Michigan campus and one of the oldest collegiate choruses in the country.  Operating on the three pillars of Tradition, Camaraderie, and Musical Excellence, the Club presents a wide repertoire of music including Renaissance motets, Romantic anthems, folksongs, spirituals, contemporary works, and, of course, Michigan songs. The Friars, an eight-member subset of the Glee Club, are in their 53rd year and serve as a lighthearted extension of the Club. For more information, please visit www.ummgc.org. Tickets for this event can be purchased online through the Parents Weekend Registration Form.

Amazin’ Blue Fall Concert

Saturday, November 15

8:00 p.m.

Rackham Auditorium

Tickets: $12 for adults/$7 for students

Amazin’ Blue is extremely excited to present their annual Fall Concert during this year’s Parents Weekend! Beginning in 1987, Amazin’ Blue is the university’s oldest co-ed a cappella group and a member of the University Activities Center. As a completely student-run group, the members (representing several of the University’s colleges) are known for their high-energy performances and dedication to musical excellence.AB is proud to be one of the top two groups in the country most often featured on the annual “Best of College A Cappella” albums. This concert, Amazin’ Blue will be releasing their brand new CD, “Lost in Sound!”AB’s repertoire is filled with a variety of genres and aimed for the entire family to enjoy! You won’t want to miss this concert! Tickets can be purchased through the Michigan Union Ticket Office, located on the ground floor of the Michigan Union, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Tickets for this event cannot be purchased online through the Parents Weekend registration website.

The University Opera Theatre and the University Symphony Orchestra present

Eugene Onegin

Music by Peter Tchaikovsky/Libretto by Konstantin Shilovsky after the verse novel by Aleksandr Pushkin

8:00 p.m.

Power Center

Tickets: TBA

Sung in Russian with projected English translations, this opera tells the story of a shy, young woman in the Russian countryside who falls in love with a handsome aristocrat from the city whose only enjoyment comes from toying with other people’s emotions. When Tatyana ardently declares her love, Onegin cruelly dismisses it. Years later, Onegin realizes his missed opportunity, and tries to win Tatyana back.

Professionally premiered at the Bolshoi Opera in 1881, Tchaikovsky’s operatic version of Aleksandr Pushkin’s beloved Russian novel would become his most famous opera. In setting the intimate and passionate story, Tchaikovsky created music of astonishing lyricism and psychological insight, which elegantly retained the narrative elements of Pushkin’s verse. From the vibrant folksongs of the countryside and the elegant polonaise of a St. Petersburg ball to Tatyana’s famous letter scene and the equally renowned Lenski’s aria, the lush score is full of soaring melodies. A classic of the opera repertoire, Tchaikovsky’s poignant opera of love, despair, and remorse is one of the best examples of the Romantic movement.



Events for Sunday, November 16, 2008

Parents Weekend Brunch

2 seatings: 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Michigan Union Ballroom

Tickets: $20

Parents Weekend concludes with brunch at the historic Michigan Union. This is your chance to meet Vice President for Student Affairs, Royster Harper, while enjoying student musical entertainment and an all-you-can-eat brunch.

Jerusalem Symphony, directed by Leon Botstein

4:00 p.m.

Hill Auditorium

Tickets: $10-75

Leon Botstein has perhaps one of the most unusual resumés in the business: the college president is founder and co-artistic director of the Bard Music Festival, which focuses on one composer each season; directs the American Symphony Orchestra with its focus on thematically organized concerts that link the visual arts, literature, politics, and history; and now leads the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, originally founded in the 1940s as Israel’s national radio orchestra. He has addressed the United Nations on “Why Music Matters” as part of Kofi Annan’s lecture series and is widely praised for both his tirelessly creative approach to programming and his inspired performances. This UMS debut program feature works by three Jewish-American composers. Order tickets directly through the University Musical Society online at http://www.ums.umich.edu. Tickets for this event cannot be purchased through the Parents Weekend online registration form.

Parents Weekend Service of Holy Communion and Brunch

11:00 a.m.

Lord of Light Lutheran Campus Ministry, 801 S. Forest Ave. (@ Hill St.)

During the Sunday morning service of Holy Communion, we will honor the role of parents in the lives of their young adult children. Worship will be followed bya delicious brunch and an opportunity to learn about the work of Lutheran Campus Ministry and to meet the campus ministry staff and student leaders.Take time to visit your student’s "church home away from home” and learn more about our partnership in nurturing faith, service and leadership among students at U-M. For more information, please call 734.668.7622, email Campus Pastor Sue Sprowls atpastorsprowls@comcast.net or check out the website at www.lordoflight.org.

 

The Infinite Landscape: Master Photographers from the UMMA Collection

University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA)

Off/Site location: 1301 S. University Ave.

11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

See events for Friday, November 14 for complete description.

 

 

 



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