At UIS, we believe parents and families play a vital role in a student’s success—from their first year through graduation. This page is here to provide you with helpful information and resources to support your student every step of the way!

students and their families sitting out on the quad by the colonnade

Family Weekend 2026

We are excited to welcome our Prairie Star Family to Springfield for Family Weekend 2026 from Friday, October 9-11. Below is some more information on signature events taking place during the weekend. Please note that additional free programs may be added to the provided schedule when you check-in!

Friday, October 17, 2025

  • TBD

Saturday, October 18, 2025

  • TBD

Sunday, October 19, 2025

  • All Day | Explore Springfield (see below for suggestions of local activities and exploring to do as a family)
  • Dana Thomas House Tour. All tours are led by an amazing volunteer team, tickets are free, but prior reservation is highly encouraged as tickets do run out.
  • The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum documents the life of the 16th U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln. The museum is open daily from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
  • Visit Springfield always has updated information of fun and exciting events happening in the Springfield area!

Dining in Springfield

Looking to explore Springfield’s foodie scene. Check out Visit Springfield’s directory of eateries.

Travel & Accommodation Information.

Resources for Parents and Family of College Students

Articles

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A Telling Experiment Reveals a Big Problem Among College Students: They Don’t Know How to Study

Succeeding in College with ADHD

Money 101 for College Students: From Student Loans to How to Budget

12 Things We Wish We’d Known When We Were 18

31 Money Saving Tricks for Students

How to Help Your New College Student Avoid Money Minefields

How to Keep Your College Kid Out of Money Trouble

Five Reasons Why Helicopter Parents are Sabotaging their Child’s Career. Written by a Career Coach another perspective to examine over-parenting.

Helicopter parenting has caused my psychotherapy clients to crash land.

Kids of Helicopter Parents Are Sputtering Out

Teen Spirit: Helicopter parenting has crippled American teenagers. Here’s how to fix it.

How helicopter parents are ruining college students. I’m not crazy about the title of this article, but the content on the need for students to learn coping skills – especially dealing with frustration and failure is something we help lots of students with on a daily basis.

Transition to College: Separation and Change for Parents and Students (pdf) by Jess P. Shatkin, MD, MPH. Going to college is more than just “going back to school.” The departure is a significant milestone in the life of a family and ushers in a time of separation and transition, requiring an adjustment on the part of parents, the college-bound teenager and the whole family.

‘Helicopter Parent’ Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means Just because you don’t follow your kid to her job interview doesn’t mean you aren’t helicopter parenting.

Managing College Transitions: A Guide For Parents.

College Students Speak: A Survey Report on Mental Health. An interesting report. Students coming to college with mental health issues (depression, anxiety, and trauma) are increasing dramatically. This report has some powerful insights about what happens when students do not disclose their conditions, thus not having access to campus support networks, also provides student reflection on what they wish they had done.

College depression: What parents need to know. College depression is a common problem. Understand why the transition to college makes young adults vulnerable to depression — and what you can do about it.

Have Smartphones destroyed a Generation? More comfortable online than out partying, post-Millennials are safer, physically, than adolescents have ever been. But they’re on the brink of a mental-health crisis.

7 Great Tips For When Your College Kid Comes Home For The Holidays.

Home (Bitter) Sweet Home: A College Student Perspective. Advice for Parents and Students about surviving the summer.

Questions Parents and Students Should Answer Before Heading Off to College for the First Time.

The Hidden Signs: Teenage Depression and Room Organization. Recommended by a parent of a current student.

Books

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iGen - Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy–and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood — and What That Means for the Rest of Us. Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D. (2017). ISBN-13: 978-1501151989.

Teach Yourself How to Learn: Strategies You Can Use to Ace Any Course at Any Level. Sandra Yancy McGuire and Mark McDaniel. (2018). ISBN-13: 978-1620367568. This is the book referenced in the parent sessions.

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke. Suze Orman. (2005). This is a great book about money for young adults.

Reading for Parents (pdf) (a list of additional materials in this pdf document created by now retired, professor of Global Studies, Dr. Hilary Frost)

Social Media

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Grown & Flown. Has a lot of great articles and resources about the college search process, success strategies for college students and parents, as well as some comic relief with common adulting issues. They are on several of the social media platforms and are the source for a lot of material on our Parent/Family group page.

Resources

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College Parents of America. College Parents of America’s mission is to promote greater student achievement & completion of post-secondary education. Please join us for helpful tips, insights & benefits that support student success.

College Parent Central. This site is designed to give you information, and food for thought, about college and about parenting a college student. If you have a son or daughter currently attending college, or getting ready to go to college soon, we hope that you will find College Parent Central helpful.

Dean of Students Office