Welcome Families and Guests!
Families are a critical source of support for our new Panthers, and Orientation marks their entrance into the UWM community. We invite you, their family, to participate in their transition by joining us for Family Orientation and reviewing important information below!
Does your family primarily speak Spanish? Go here for information on how you and your family can engage in a Spanish-Language support, facilitated by UWM’s Roberto Hernández Center. —Ofrecemos la orientación para familias en Español—
Our philosophy is to put students in the “driver’s seat” of their educational experience, so we intentionally have portions of our programs that are students only, which includes course selection.
- Meet campus resources by reviewing Pre-Recorded Campus Meet & Greet Videos
- Get connected with other UWM families during Panther Family Association Coffee Chats. Make sure to join the Panther Family Community on Facebook.
- Learn about the Federal Education Privacy Rights Act (FERPA) and what that means for access to your student’s records.
- Sign-up for Panther Family News
- Visit the Panther Families Website
- View the Family Guide for answers to many UWM related questions
Forget where you put the email introducing you to the Panther Family Association? Not to worry–check out the webview of that message here!
Many of our partners have developed short videos to give you perspective on what they have to offer, check out these Meet & Greet videos below! Learn about UWM Athletics, our Student Cultural Centers, the Norris Health Center, and more!
Accessibility Resource Center
Black Student Cultural Center
Books by eCampus
Career Planning and Resource Center
Cashier’s Office
Center for Community-Based Leadership, Learning and Research
Center for International Education
Fraternity and Sorority Life
Honors College
LGBTQ Resource Center
Life Impact Program
Norris Health Center
Office of Undergraduate Research
Panther Shop
ROTC
Restaurant Operations
Roberto Hernández Center
Spiritual & Religious Communities
Student Association
Student Involvement
UWM Athletics
UWM Libraries
University Information Technology
Women’s Resource Center
Join the Panther Family Association to chat with parents of current UWM students and knowledgeable UWM staff. Parents will share their experience and answer your questions during this virtual coffee hour.
We encourage you to join the Panther Family Facebook group and sign-up for the Panther Family News list prior to attending a session access the most updated schedule. The schedule is subject to change and sessions may be added or adjusted.
- Norris Health Center Letter to New Families
- Overview of Norris Health Center Resources
- Norris Health Center Meet & Greet video
- UWM is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus
Parents and families are encouraged to join their student throughout their Orientation experience. At the time of course enrollment and advising, however, families will not be able to participate, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (more on this below). FERPA aside, individual appointments are beneficial to the establishment of trust and rapport between your student and their advisor, and these are important first steps on the road toward graduation.
It is important to understand the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) applies differently to college students than to elementary or high school students — your student now has sole and direct ownership of their educational records. While parents and families understandably have an interest in a student’s academic progress, they may only access the student’s records with written consent. We encourage families to honor and appreciate their student’s role in charting their academic path and choosing their courses, under the guidance of UWM’s professional advisors. See https://uwm.edu/registrar/ferpa-parents/ for more information about how FERPA applies to college students.
