Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the Indiana community will welcome hundreds of families for the 2019 Family Weekend celebration on September 20 and 21.
“IUP—and the Indiana community—are a home away from home for our students and for their families,” Michele Norwood, assistant vice provost for undergraduate student success and director of the University College, said.
“After a brief hiatus, we returned to the tradition of offering a family weekend in 2018,” Norwood said. “Our students, families, and community partners absolutely embraced the event and told us how much they enjoyed the programming and the chance to get to know the IUP and Indiana community.
“Family Weekend is just one illustration of our commitment to building a strong, welcoming community for our students and families. IUP and the Indiana community offers hundreds of athletic, cultural, and entertainment events throughout the year, and we want our families to know that they are always welcome here.”
Events during the weekend are designed to appeal to all ages. Featured events are a special welcome and information session for families by each of the university's colleges and “Take a Break with Library Learning Games” offered by the IUP Libraries. A Family Weekend scavenger hunt is new for this year.
Registration and check-in for families is from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center.
Several events have been planned in conjunction with the football game against Lock Haven on September 21 at 4:00 p.m., including Family Fun Day from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and a 2:00 p.m. pregame concert with Tucker Beathard. The concert is sponsored by the Student Activity Committee (STATIC) and IUP Athletics.
Also on September 21, IUP's Lively Arts presents Sound Choices, “The Birth of Cool: A Tribute to Miles Davis” at 7:30 p.m. in Sutton Hall's Gorell Recital Hall. Tickets are required for the concert, which features members of the IUP Department of Music performing music by Davis. (Visit the Lively Arts website for ticket information.)
The Legacy Welcome Brunch, introduced in 2018 and sponsored by the IUP Office of Alumni and Friends, recognizes those families who have parents or grandparents who are IUP graduates and who have a son/daughter or grandson/granddaughter currently attending IUP. It will be held September 21 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
“We are very excited and proud to celebrate our legacy families; it speaks volumes about a parent's pride and regard for their alma mater when they choose IUP for their student,” Mary Morgan, director of the Office of Alumni and Friends, said. “We had an excellent response to our inaugural event in 2018, and we are looking forward to welcoming even more families and students this year.” More than 500 of IUP's current students have a parent or grandparent who are IUP graduates.
Families are asked to pre-register for Family Weekend and for the Legacy Welcome brunch on the IUP Family Weekend website. The registration form also includes a parking pass for the weekend. There is no cost to register.
Parking on campus, except for reserved spots and handicapped parking, is free and open after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends. Reserved spots in the Parking Garage, located off Oakland Avenue, are open to visitors after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends.