Students and relatives 'choose their own adventure' at UNC Family Weekend

 This Friday through Sunday,Carolina Family Weekend showcased University events, resources and the Chapel Hill community to students' visiting families. 

The three-day event is organized by the University’s New Student and Family Programs every year. NSFP Family Communications Coordinator Rosemary Roberts, said that NSFP began planning this year’s events in February. 

An estimated 600 students and 1600 family members registered for events over the weekend. Roberts said some relatives traveled from as far as California and Mexico to visit.

Roberts said they prioritize offering both free and ticketed events to create an enjoyable and affordable weekend for families.

“That way, they can just pick and choose their own adventure along with their student,” she said.

Justin Inscoe, the director of NSFP, said Carolina Family Weekend has been an annual event for at least two decades. However, inviting families to campus to show them a day in the life of students is a long-established tradition.

Inscoe said the Carolina Parents Council, which was formed in 1985, organized the University's family weekends until the Office of Student Affairs took over the responsibility. 

Before the pandemic, Family Weekend coincided with a home football game, but Inscoe said as the football team improved and the demand for seating increased, the Student Affairs Office saw an opportunity for change. 

“To make sure that folks weren't leaving unhappy, and for a lot of other reasons, we did some planning where we separated the two,” Inscoe said. 

This year, UNC held its “Family Football Experience” on Sept. 21, when UNC competed against James Madison University. 

Instead of focusing on the sport, last week’s Family Weekend showcased “a plethora of things that can happen on campus that otherwise would be shadowed by football,” Inscoe said.

Beginning as early as Thursday, families could attend various athletic events, a PlayMakers Reparatory Company performance, tours of the Ackland Art Museum, a Q&A session with Chancellor Lee Roberts and other exhibitions of on-campus resources.

Each day featured a signature event. On Friday, students and families heard from experts about navigating housing, internships and Greek Life. On Saturday, students and families attended a fireside chat with the Chancellor – which Inscoe said was an annual event.

During the "Conversation with the Chancellor" event, Roberts spoke about UNC’s affordability, strategies for acclimating to college, and rules about peaceful protesting while answering the audience’s questions. 

Inscoe said he hoped that the event would allow families would to familiarize themselves with the new chancellor. 

The final signature event was a Sunday brunch with southern biscuit sandwiches and live music from UNC a capella and bluegrass groups. Inscoe said that in past years, the brunch was hosted at the Carolina Inn but this year it was held in the Carolina Union.

“We wanted something a bit more accessible from a cost perspective and also highlight some of the cool things students do,” Inscoe said. 

Some events were also held off-campus. Families were able to attend mass at a local church, self-guided tours of the North Carolina Botanical Garden and free tours of the Ackland Art Museum guided by student volunteers. 

Sarah Chocron, a UNC senior and guide at the Ackland, said that the Town of Chapel Hill is bigger than just the University.

“I think it's great to have something like the Ackland involved in Carolina Family Weekend, to kind of give a taste to both parents and students of life beyond the campus,” she said.

Paul Greene, a father visiting his daughter Julia, said he and his family attended events across campus, including the Sunday brunch and a show at Morehead Planetarium.

“For us, it’s just a lot of fun to hang out with Julia and see a day in her setting,” he said.

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