Family Resources
Welcome to the Flames Family
We recognize you want to stay well-informed on how to support your student throughout their first year (and beyond) at UIC. Below is information about how you can participate in your student's New Student Orientation process and some additional resources to keep you informed!
Family Weekend
Save the Date for Family Weekend 2025: October 10th-12th
Family Weekend is an annual celebration, inviting our Flames families to experience life at UIC with their students. Registration for Family Weekend will open during the first week of September. You must create a Flames Family Hub account (see below for more information) to register for Family Weekend. Registration is FREE, however, there may be events that require the purchase of a ticket(s).
Check back for updates!
Flames Family Resources
There are many resources for our Flames families to find support. We invite you to explore the resources listed below as you help your students navigate their transition to UIC.
Flames 101 Online Orientation Modules
Parents and family members of our new students can participate in the online orientation program by visiting https://preorientation.uic.edu and creating a guest account. This is the same online orientation that your student is required to complete prior to registering for their in-person orientation program.
PLEASE NOTE: Students should NOT use this link to complete their orientation. Students should visit my.uic.edu and log in to access their online orientation program to receive proper credit.
In-Person Family Orientation
We also encourage parents and family members to attend your student’s in-person orientation program. Students MUST register parents and family members through the my.uic.edu portal (when they are registering for their in-person program). We cannot guarantee walk in guests will be accommodated, so please make sure your student registers you at least 7 days prior to their scheduled in-person orientation program.
There is an additional fee for parents and family members to attend in-person orientation. This fee covers the materials, supplies, and other resources to run the parent and family program. Students will be charged $75 per guest for each parent and family member registered for orientation. This fee covers all program materials and meals guests receive throughout the day.
PLEASE NOTE: Students will be charged the additional $75 for each parent or family member registered, regardless of whether the parent or family member attends the in-person orientation. This charge will appear on their student account as an Orientation Adjustment Fee following their scheduled orientation session. There is no way to pre-pay for parent/family members. All charges for guests are charged directly to the student account after orientation.
Flames Family Hub
UIC New Student and Family Programs is excited to provide the Flames Family Hub, a communications portal to enhance your parent/family experience and customize the information you receive. The goal of the Flames Family Hub is to ensure you receive the most relevant news items and special notices at just the right time in your student’s journey.
The Flames Family Hub is your one-stop shop for:
- Access to important news, updates, and deadlines;
- Personalized newsletters specific to you and your student;
- Announcements via email;
- Sharing of updates with your student and/or friends and family.
To create an account and set up your profile, visit: https://uic.campusesp.com.
Once you create an account, you have the ability to personalize newsletters, from content to frequency. You can choose to receive the newsletter digest weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly. The online portal also generates news and information specific to you and your student, all based on the personal interests (or communities) you select, like health & wellness, athletics, info for families of sophomores, etc.
We hope you will join 30,000+ other Flames family members who have signed up for the Flames Family Hub! If you have any questions about the hub, contact us at famhelp@uic.edu.
Flamekeepers
Join us for Flamekeepers, the new online learning series for UIC families and supporters. Flamekeepers will provide families and supporters with information from departments and services at key points during the Fall semester to provide support to their students. Check out the semester schedule below!
Flamekeepers Fall 2025 Semester Schedule
August 13: Getting Involved and Finding Community with the Center for Student Involvement and Commuter and Off-Campus Life
September 4: Finding Academic Support with the Academic Center for Excellence and the UIC Library
September 16: Supporting Student Wellbeing with Student Recreation and Wellbeing
October 21: Academic Advising 101 with the Office of Advising Development
November 6: Taking the Next Step with Career Services and Alumni Engagement
All episodes will be held from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm CST via Zoom.
CLICK TO REGISTER FOR SEPTEMBER 16: https://uic.zoom.us/meeting/register/ubHh1vjJR-mF6StPebOTOw
Click the link above to register for our episode on September 16th. Once registered, you will receive a Zoom link to access and tune in live on the episode date. Additional registration details will be sent about future episodes. In the meantime, mark your calendars and save the dates!
Helpful Websites
Visit the websites below for UIC-specific information.
- Office of Student Financial Aid Scholarships
- University Bursar
- Campus Housing
- Dining Services
- UIC Police
- Student Health Services
- Student Engagement
- Career Services
The following external websites provide articles covering a variety of topics for families supporting college students. Click on the linked text to explore each website and learn more.
Recommended Reads
We have compiled a list of books that we believe families will find useful in supporting their students’ transitions to college.
Generation Z Goes to College by Corey Seemiller and Meghan Grace
Generation Z is rapidly replacing Millennials on college campuses. Those born from 1995 through 2010 have different motivations, learning styles, characteristics, skill sets, and social concerns than previous generations. Unlike Millennials, Generation Z students grew up in a recession and are under no illusions about their prospects for employment after college. While skeptical about the cost and value of higher education, they are also entrepreneurial, innovative, and independent learners concerned with effecting social change.
The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only- A Parent’s Guide to the New College Experience by Harlan Cohen
If your child is starting life in college, there’s a surprise around every corner… But that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared! The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only is a witty and wise guide to everything you need to know about the college experience. Harlan Cohen, America’s most trusted college life expert, delivers the best advice, facts, stats, tips, and stories from parents, students, and experts across the country to ensure that you and your child will have an incredible and meaningful college experience.
The Stressed Years of Their Lives by Dr. B. Janet Hibbs and Dr. Anthony Rostain
The title says it all…Chock full of practical tools, resources, and the wisdom that comes with years of experience, The Stressed Years of their Lives is destined to become a well-thumbed handbook to help families cope with this modern age of anxiety.
There Is Life After College by Jeffery J Selingo
From the bestselling author of College Unbound comes a hopeful, inspiring blueprint to help alleviate parents’ anxiety and prepare their college-educated child to successfully land a good job after graduation. Full of tips, advice, and insight, this wise, practical guide will help every student, no matter their major or degree, find real employment—and give their parents some peace of mind.
What the Best College Students Do by Ken Bain
The author of the best-selling What the Best College Teachers Do is back with more humane, doable, and inspiring help, this time for students who want to get the most out of college―and every other educational enterprise, too. The first thing they should do? Think beyond the transcript. The creative, successful people profiled in this book―college graduates who went on to change the world we live in―aimed higher than straight A’s. They used their four years to cultivate habits of thought that would enable them to grow and adapt throughout their lives.
When Kids Go to College: A Parent’s Guide to Changing Relationships by Barbara M. Newman and Philip Newman
This practical guide will answer important questions and tell you how to make the most of these exciting years. Topics covered in this book are: identity formation, values development, career exploration, social relationships, sexuality, alcohol and drug abuse, romantic relationships, dorm life, personal freedom, depression, discrimination and college bureaucracy.
You’re On Your Own (but I’m here if you need me) by Marjorie Savage
A reality check on the process of students leaving home; with practical tips for supporting your student in the process. Ms. Savage is the leading national expert in Parents on Campus programs in higher education.
Contact Us
UIC New Student and Family Programs also maintains a parent and family email address for all of your questions and needs. Please reach out to us at famhelp@uic.edu if you need anything!