Parents & Family Weekend
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Parents & Family Weekend in November?
Where can I find the Parents & Family Weekend ID number that is required to use the online registration form?
What do I do if I don't live at my student's permanent address?
What is the best time to arrive in Ann Arbor?
I will arrive in Ann Arbor late Friday evening. Can my student pick up our registration materials?
Are divorced parents considered one family or two?
Will our tickets be mailed to us?
What are the parking options?
Can I purchase tickets during registration for Parents & Family Weekend activities?
What is the cancellation policy?
How can I make changes to my order?
Is it appropriate to bring my student's sibling(s) to Parents & Family Weekend?
Should I buy tickets for my student to attend Parents & Family Weekend activities?
If my ticket request cannot be filled, how will I be notified?
What can I bring into Michigan Stadium?
Why are my tickets not enclosed with my confirmation letter?
Q. Why is Parents & Family Weekend in November?
A. The Parents & Family Weekend date varies every year, depending on the home football schedule. Families have indicated to us that they want Parents & Family Weekend to be on a Big Ten football Saturday. As a result, we have a limited number of fall weekends to select from. Football ticket availability is limited to select games, and we select the earliest possible game where we can get our desired number of football tickets from the Athletic Ticket Department. For 2009, this means that Parents & Family Weekend will be the weekend of November 6-8, against Purdue.
Q. Where can I find the Parents & Family Weekend ID number that is required to use the online registration form?
A. The Parents & Family Weekend ID (WID) number is a 6-digit number, located on the address label of the brochure or postcard that was mailed to the student's permanent address. If you are the family of a newly admitted freshman or transfer student for the Fall 2009 term, you will automatically be included in the Parents & Family Weekend mailing if your student has paid the enrollment deposit and has indicated your address in the "permanent address" field on Wolverine Access. Please note that the WID number uses 6 numbers, without any punctuation marks (such as / or .) Enter this number exactly as it appears on the label, and be sure to enter your student's last name on the login screen. If you have trouble finding the WID, please call (734) 764-6413 for assistance.
Q. What do I do if I don't live at my student's permanent address and wish to receive a Parents & Family Weekend ID number?
A. If you do not live at your student's permanent address but wish to receive a Parents & Family Weekend ID number, please call ONSP at 734-764-6413 and provide your name, your students name, your student's academic year (freshman, sophomore, etc.), your student's school/college (LSA, Engineering, Nursing, etc). A Parents & Family Weekend ID number will be provided to you over the phone so that you can register online for Parents & Family Weekend.
Q. What is the best time to arrive in Ann Arbor?
A. We recommend that you arrive in Ann Arbor by Friday morning. Parents & Family Weekend check-in begins at 10:00 a.m. and some events begin at 9:00 a.m. The majority of the free events available to registered Parents & Family Weekend participants occur during the day on Friday. Families who arrive on Saturday, or late Friday night, typically regret not having arrived earlier because they missed out on many exciting activities.
Q. I will arrive in Ann Arbor late Friday evening. Can my student pick up our registration materials?
A. Yes, students can pick up Parents & Family Weekend materials at the registration site located in the Michigan Union on Friday between 10:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m. Students must show their MCard to pick up registration materials.
Q. Are divorced parents considered one family or two?
A. Divorced parents are considered two separate families. As a result, divorced parents must complete separate registration forms, pay separate registration fees, and are eligible for separate pairs of football tickets. If you do not live at your student's permanent address, please email parents.weekend@umich.edu or call (734) 764-6413 to receive a Parents & Family Weekend ID number prior to the September 23 registration date.
Q. Will our tickets be mailed to us?
A. No. Tickets for Parents & Family Weekend events must be picked
up at the Michigan Union on Friday, November 6 between 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. If you are unable to pick up your tickets during this time, your student may pick up the tickets for you. Your student will need to bring his or her MCard to pick up the tickets.
In the event of an emergency where neither you or your student can pick up tickets on Friday, you may pick up tickets on Saturday morning at the Indoor Track Building. Tickets will be available to pick up 3 hours prior to the kickoff up until 90 minutes prior to kick off. After that time, football tickets will be taken to the Athletic Department Will Call Window, located at Crisler Arena. All other tickets will be forfeited.
Q. What are the parking options?
A. Parking will be very limited during Parents & Family Weekend, as it always is in Ann Arbor. We recommend using public transportation whenever possible. Information about parking and public transportation will be provided on this website at a later date. For details about parking during the football game, visit mgoblue.com.
Q. Can I purchase tickets during check-in for Parents & Family Weekend activities?
A. All Parents & Family Weekend activities usually sell out in advance. However, if there are any unsold tickets, they will be available for purchase at check-in.
Q. What is the cancellation policy?
A. If you wish to cancel your entire Parents & Family Weekend registration, we must receive written confirmation of all cancellations by Friday, October 9, 2009. Those families who cancel before Friday, October 9 will receive a refund for tickets purchased through the Parents Weekend registration form, less the non-refundable registration fee, 2-3 weeks after the request is received. Refunds will not be issued after October 9 for ANY reason. Cancellation requests can be made by mail, e-mail or fax. Cancellation requests cannot be made by phone. Cancellation requests can be mailed to: ONSP, 1100 LSA Building, 500 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382. Requests can be emailed to parents.weekend@umich.edu, or faxed to (734) 764-6291.
Note: Cancellations for tickets purchased directly through ticket vendors or organizations (designated with this icon in the Events page 
) and not purchased through the Parents & Family Weekend online registration form cannot be refunded by the Office of New Student Programs. Contact the individual organizations regarding their refund policy for the following events: Red Dress Gala, Men's Hockey Game, Hillel Dinner, and Planetarium Shows.
Q. How can I make changes to my order?
A. Once you have submitted your order, you cannot make changes. If we have any unsold tickets, we will sell them at the Parents & Family Weekend check-in on Friday, November 6 at the Michigan Union. However, do not assume that we will have additional tickets. Many events sell out in advance and we will not have tickets available. To ensure that you get the tickets that you want, carefully read the "Events" page prior to registering to determine which events you would like to attend. Then, purchase those tickets using the online registration form.
In addition, there will be a posting board at the Parents & Family Weekend check-in location for families to post tickets to sell and/or tickets to buy. We encourage you to utilize this board if you need to make changes to your order.
Q. Is it appropriate to bring my student's sibling(s) to Parents & Family Weekend?
A. Siblings are welcome to attend Parents & Family Weekend activities, but keep in mind that most of the ticketed events will sell out. In particular, families are limited to four football tickets and therefore some family members may not be able to attend the football game. Events are intended for adults and college-aged students. As a result, teenaged siblings may also enjoy the events, but younger siblings may not. We have indicated on the "Events" page which events are likely to be more interesting for younger siblings. In addition, Ann Arbor is a family-friendly town and there may be many events and activities of interest to younger children that are not affiliated with the Parents & Family Weekend program. The Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has information for visitors of all ages.
Siblings are also encouraged to visit during Siblings Weekend during Winter Term, sponsored by the Residence Hall Association (RHA).
Q. Should I buy tickets for my U-M student to attend Parents & Family Weekend activities?
A. Yes, we encourage you to attend events with your student. All ticketed events require tickets for each person attending, including the U-M student. Students are not admitted to the events without a ticket.
Q. If my ticket request cannot be filled, how will I be notified?
A. As you register online, you will be immediately notified if tickets for a particular event are sold out.
Q. What can I bring into Michigan Stadium?
A. Due to security concerns, there are restrictions on what can be carried into the stadium. Prohibited items include bags of all kinds -- including purses, fanny packs, and diaper bags, coolers, containers, and many other items. Click here for a complete list of permitted and prohibited items . You will be denied access to the stadium if you carry one of these items. Please read this list carefully before attending Parents & Family Weekend. MANY families have their day ruined by the security checkpoint at the Stadium because of their purses! Don't let this happen to you. AS OF 10/12/2009 THERE IS A BAN ON ALL BAGS IN MICHIGAN STADIUM.
Q. Why are my tickets not enclosed with my confirmation letter?
A. For security and logistical purposes, tickets purchased for Parents & Family Weekend are not sent through the mail. You will need to pick them up. Tickets may be picked up at the Michigan Union Pond Room on Friday, November 6 from 10:00 a.m.– 7:00 p.m. If you are unable to pick up your tickets during this time, your student may pick up your tickets for you by presenting his/her Mcard. In the event of an emergency if you, or your student, are unable to pick up your tickets on Friday, you may pick up your tickets at the pre-game tailgate, located at the Indoor Track Building, on Saturday, November 7. Tickets picked up on Saturday must be picked up no later than 90 minutes before kickoff.
Q. When is Kickoff?
A.Kickoff time is determined 7-10 days before the game. The kickoff time will be listed on the Athletic Department website at www.mgoblue.com.
Q. Where should I stay?
A.Travel and hotel information are available on the Parents & Family Weekend website at http://www.parents.umich.edu/weekend/travel.php. If all of the hotels in Ann Arbor are booked, we suggest that you contact hotels in the surrounding towns, including Whitmore Lake, Chelsea, Ypsilanti, Brighton, Belleville, Milan, and hotels near Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus, or contact local Bed and Breakfasts. Visit www.annarbor.org for further information about accommodations in the Ann Arbor area. The Office of New Student Programs is not responsible for making hotel reservations and cannot assist with any issues related to lack of room availability.
Q. My student is performing at the Pre-Game Tailgate, and I would like to watch him/her but not participate in the whole tailgate. Do I still need to purchase a ticket to the tailgate?
A.Yes. All guests must have a ticket to attend the Pre-Game Tailgate. If you did not purchase a ticket when you registered for Parents & Family Weekend, call (734) 764-6413 to inquire about options for getting tickets.