Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

The Paisano

Family event encourages involvement

On Oct. 24 and 25 UTSA hosted Family Weekend 2009, to encouraged students and their parents to participate in events designed to promote parental involvement in their children’s education.

On Friday at 9:00 a.m., the Campus Recreation sponsored the Rowdy 5K Run, where participants ran along the outside of the 1604 Campus. After the run, students and parents had an opportunity to talk to faculty and staff during a coffee mixer in the UC Paseo, as well as eat breakfast. Speakers during the breakfast included Dr. Gage Pain, vice president for Student Affairs and Dr. John Frederick, the University provost.

Julio Ramos, assistant director of Orientation & Family programs, sees these events as a good opportunity for parents to discuss issues and concerns with staff and professors.

“The idea is that we have faculty and staff here and [the parents] can ask questions in a casual and non-intimidating setting,” he said.

Later that evening, the Roadrunner Café held a BBQ dinner, and at 9:00 p.m. the UC Paseo was host to a Dave Tamkin acoustic concert.

Family Weekend also included several sporting events including a women’s soccer game against Sam Houston State on Oct. 23, and a women’s volleyball game against Central Arkansas on Oct. 24.

Other events included two sessions on parental perspective, which discussed student-life during the first semester and a UTSA Family Association fall semester meeting where students and family can suggest ideas for UTSA’s homecoming.

Ramos noted that preparations for the weekend began in the summer, and required the cooperation of the police, housing, recreation and athletic departments, as well as faculty and staff. In the future, Ramos hopes that an increase in awareness can help make Family Weekend a bigger event.

“There are probably still students, parents and staff faculty that don’t know about [Family Weekend]. So I think getting the word out that we do this twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring [is important],” Ramos said.

Ramos expects a higher participation rate for Family Weekend in the spring, as it is coupled with Homecoming. For students interested in participating in next semester’s Family Weekend, Ramos suggests visiting the university’s Homecoming and Family Association Web site.

He hopes Family Weekend gave students and their parents a chance to share the college education experience.

“I think that parents want to stay involved with their children’s educational experience and the Family Weekend is a great time to bring them on campus. It gives the parents a chance to come back to campus and see what’s going on. It’s a win-win situation,” Ramos said.

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