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Family Communication

The area of Family Engagement within the Dean of Students Office is passionate about keeping our family members informed about what is happening on campus. We have a variety of methods to ensure you receive useful information to help both you and your student. These are included below and delivered to Northwestern families via the parent and family e-mail list. If your student is a 2022 Transfer Student, please sign up for the 2022 Transfer Students list (and not your student’s anticipated graduation date) to ensure you are receiving information for new transfer student parents and families. In December, we will then ask you to sign up for the year that corresponds with your students anticipated graduation date.

Parent & Family Email List

What is the parent and family email list, you ask?

It is how Northwestern communicates with the parent and family members of Northwestern’s undergraduate students. Subscribe to the list to receive emails updating you about the campus community and various events that are pertinent to you – and your students. The Wildcat Family Recap e-mail will be delivered twice a month via the listserv and other messages will be sent as needed. The area of Family Engagement does not mail invitations so this is where subscribers will receive emails about Parent and Family Orientation and Family Weekend.

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Northwestern Parent and Family Guide

Our Parent and Family Guide provides important resources available to support all our Northwestern family members. The 2022-2023 Parent and Family Guide is now available below. New families will receive a hard copy at Parent and Family Orientation Check-In and additional copies will be available at Family Weekend Check-In.

Access the printable PDF of the 2022-23 Northwestern Parent and Family Guide (PDF)


For Families of New Students

Parent and Family Orientation Webinar Series

The area of Family Engagement will host a series of webinars this spring and summer to help Wildcat families with their transition to Northwestern. All attendees must register for the event to receive the webinar link via email. If you are unable to attend a webinar, no worries! All webinars will be recorded and posted on this page the Monday following each webinar. 

Thursday, May 12 (7:00 pm – 8:15 pm CDT)
New Student & Family Webinar: Preparing for Northwestern, An Overview

This webinar is for both students and their family members. Attendees are encouraged to submit their questions in advance on the registration form.
Tuesday, June 7 (7:00 pm – 8:15 pm CDT)
Presentation on the College Transition Process & an Overview of Campus Resources
Thursday, July 14 (7:00 pm – 8:15 pm CDT)

“Wildcat Chat” with Northwestern Parents & Family Members

Thursday, August 4 (7:00 pm – 8:15 pm CDT)

Special Webinar: The Black Student Experience at Northwestern

Thursday, August 25 (7:00 pm – 8:15 pm CDT)

Final Details: Move-In, Wildcat Welcome, Parent & Family Orientation