Parent & Family E-Communications

 Dear Parents and Families of the Class of 2030,

 I hope you had a relaxing Fourth of July with family and friends. As always, it feels like these summer months are moving by much too fast. I am sure it seems as if your students just graduated from high school and yet soon, they will be starting their new journey as a first-year student at Providence College. As director of the PC Parent and Family Program, I had the pleasure of meeting many of you in June during the First Day in Friartown Program, and I look forward to meeting more of you during the next few months. Families and the College share a common goal to help students become all that they are called to be.  It goes without saying that the more you know about the PC experience, especially as it relates to campus resources and support services, the better able you will be to assist your students.

To help make the transition to PC just a little bit smoother for both you and your Friar, I invite you to check out the Parent & Family Homepage . There you will find information to help you to adjust to changes in your student’s life, ways to provide support, and an opportunity to learn about the many resources we have in place for students as they immerse themselves in their new environment. Additionally, there is an “Ask A Question” link which provides a quick and easy way for me to respond to your questions within a day or two of receiving them. I also suggest that you spend some time to learn about the role of the Dean of Students Office and how they actively support students throughout their educational journey. To view the comprehensive list of services provided by Dr. Sears and his team, click here.

This email provides important information for families as your student gets ready for the fall semester.  Please take some time to share the content with your Friar, as well. If you have specific questions about any of the information provided below, I kindly ask that you contact the appropriate office involved. Finally, the Office of the Registrar over-sees all parent/guardian emails. If you are not receiving our communications, your student can add or update your contact information by following the steps provided here.

God Bless.

Jackie

Jacqueline Kiernan MacKay

Director, PC Parent & Family Program

Adjunct Faculty, Graduate Program in Higher Education

AHEPPP Board of Directors Emeritus

parents@providence.edu

401-865-1550

*REQUIRED HEALTH INFORMATION FOR NEW STUDENTS

All incoming students received an email from our Patient Portal, Medicat, regarding health information required by both the Rhode Island Department of Health and Providence College. This information is also available on the Student Health Center website.  All health information is to be submitted by July 15, 2026. Failure to do so will impact a student’s ability to move onto campus in August. Once students open the portal, they need to follow directions carefully to ensure they are submitting their information correctly.

• All students are required to upload a signed copy of their immunization record. In addition, they are asked to manually enter the dates of the required immunizations.
• Students need to complete and submit the online Health History and Tuberculosis Screening Forms.
• Students are also required to upload a copy of the front and back of their medical insurance card.
• Students planning to participate in Club Sports will not be permitted to try out for a team until their health information is submitted. Exceptions will not be made for students who realize they are missing information the day of tryouts.
• Students will not receive confirmation of receipt of their health information; however, they should check their email periodically over the summer as a message will be sent via the portal if there is missing health information.
• Records are reviewed in the order they are received and by section (e.g., immunizations, TB questionnaire, health history, and insurance card). Therefore, you may see one section in your portal marked as complete while another remains non-compliant. This does not necessarily mean there is a problem with your submission. In many cases, it simply means that the section has not yet been reviewed by our staff.

The Student Health Center DOES NOT manage the College’s student health insurance plan. (See Bursar’s Office below.)

*IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE BURSAR’S OFFICE

 Student Account Information: FALL 2026 bills will be published the week of July 20^th and are due by August 15, 2026. Your student may view the Fall 2026 billing statement in the Bursar section of Cyber Friar. This is the site where they can also set you up to be an authorized user to receive emails when bills are published and also give you the ability to make payments online.

 Student Health Insurance: The deadline for waiving the student health insurance plan is August 1^st. The waiver is completed online at www.universityhealthplans.com/Providence. If you have already completed the waiver, your student can verify that you are not being billed $2,066.00 for the health insurance plan by viewing his/her student account online on CyberFriar. If you have questions concerning the health insurance plan or the waiver/enrollment process, please contact University Health Plans at 1-833-251-1150.

*THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID

Direct Loans– Accept or Decline: Students have started receiving emails about their Direct Loans. To accept the loan, the student should log in to Federal Student Aid and complete both a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling. If they wish to decline the loan, simply fill out a loan change form.

Parent Loan Options:  If you’re considering a loan to help pay the bill, options include the Federal Parent PLUS loan or lenders from our Suggested Lender list in Elm Select. Instead of waiting for each semester’s bill and applying for two loans, we recommend securing a loan for the full academic year.

On-Campus Employment: Students interested in on-campus jobs will receive more information via email in late August about our hiring platform called FriarHub.

TORCH Portal: This platform is the students’ go-to for managing their financial aid! Here, they can monitor their checklist, securely submit documents, and review all of their financial aid tasks. Since it’s protected by the College’s single sign-on, only they can access this information.

Email Reminder: Make sure your students are regularly checking their email. All specific and action-oriented communications, including important updates and deadlines, are sent directly to students. While we may send general communications to parents throughout the year, personalized information will only go to the student’s PC issued email address.

Stay Connected to Your Student’s Financial Aid: While parents can’t directly access TORCH, students can grant proxy access to their CyberFriar account. This site allows proxy users to monitor for outstanding tasks (though document uploads are not permitted). It also provides a summary of your student’s Cost of Attendance (including both direct and indirect expenses) and a breakdown of their current financial aid resources.

Please call 401-865-2286 or email finaid@providence.edu with any questions or concerns.

*ROOMMATE & HOUSING ASSIGNMENTS

New students will receive their housing assignments (building and room number) and roommates via their PC email address during the last week of July/first week in August. This is an exciting time, and we encourage students to begin communicating with roommates over the summer and to keep an open mind about the experience. Please note that we are unable to provide assignments over the phone or by any means other than email and we cannot provide this information prior to distribution of the emails.

*RESIDENCE HALL MOVE-IN

Move-in day for new students (not participating in a pre-orientation program) is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, 2026, beginning at 7am and ending mid-afternoon. 

• Students will receive a recommended move-in window along with their housing assignments later this summer. Move-in times are based on housing assignments and are chosen to help with the flow of traffic on that day.
• Tips for a successful move-in day include packing lightly, bringing only one vehicle, and labeling all belongings. More information, including “What To Bring” is available on the Residence Life website and further details about what to expect will be emailed to students in August.
• Students who have a permanent address that is an extreme distance from the College (greater than 250 miles away) can request to arrive on Tuesday, August 25^th. Students must request to arrive early by submitting the Early Arrival Request Form on their eRezLife account (available after they receive their housing assignment). There are no programming or meals provided on Tuesday evening.
• We are pleased to offer students and families an early drop-off option! Students can sign-up to drop off their belongings in their residence hall room on Sunday, August 23 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Students and families utilizing this option will enter campus via a separate gate on move-in day (8/26) and will be guided directly to a parking area without waiting in the move-in vehicle queue lines. They can walk directly to their residence hall to meet their roommates before the start of Orientation. Further details will be provided to students with their housing assignments. Students can sign up to participate in the early drop-off process on their eRezLife account after they receive their housing assignments. Space is limited and some residence halls rooms may not be available for early drop off due to summer maintenance projects.
• Students who wish to have items shipped to the college have the option to utilize the UPS Ship Ahead Program which allows you to have items shipped to the local UPS store and then delivered directly to your room before you move in. All items must be delivered to the UPS Store prior to August 15^th to have items in the room prior to move-in day on August 25th. More information is available here.

*FROM THE MAIL ROOM

By the first week of August, your student should receive an email from PC regarding their Friar Stop # and how to access our intelligent locker system. The email will contain information on downloading the app to access our intelligent locker system as well as information about the mailing address for letters and packages. Please note:

• We have a weight limit of 40 lbs.
• Do not send cash or important documents through the mail without adding tracking to the envelope. Unfortunately, things do occasionally get lost within the US postal system.
• Do not begin sending items before your student will be on campus to pick them up.
• Remind your student once on campus, not to wait for the last minute to order important items. The mailroom handles a very large volume of packages during the first 6 weeks of the semester, and it sometimes takes a few days for items to be processed and ready for pickup!

For questions please contact: Emedeir4@providence.edu  or call 401-865-2696.

*FALL ORIENTATION

Fall Orientation will begin on Wednesday, August 26^th, following move-in and the annual Mass of Welcome for New Students and their Families.

• Students will depart directly from Slavin Lawn for Fall Orientation events with their classmates, immediately following Mass in Peterson (Mass typically ends between 4-5 pm.) Please note that parents and families will want to remove any of their personal items from students’ rooms prior to Mass, as there will not be time to retrieve them afterward. There will be a send-off on the Slavin Lawn for families to give their well wishes before the first orientation session begins at 5pm. Families should plan to leave campus once the session begins.
• Fall Orientation will continue through Sunday, August 30^th. All new students, including commuter and transfer students, are required to participate fully in Fall Orientation.
• The full orientation schedule will be available on the Orientation website in August.

*THE SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES

Seats are still available for first-semester students in Introduction to Providence College (SAS 178.)This is a one-credit course with powerful benefits! It promotes early student success and adjustment to college life. Students get to know the campus, the curricular offerings, crucial study habits, the professors, and extracurriculars. For one hour per week, students survey the opportunities and encounter the people who will shape their future at PC and beyond. If their schedule permits, this course is for students with the desire to build early and lasting connections at the College.

In the words of students:I definitely would not have known as much as I do about what the school (college) offers without this course. | It helped me become a more confident writer. | My favorite part was meeting the people in the class because it helped me make friends.

Interested students should contact sasadvising@providence.edu and we will assist with registration.

*CHIRICO CAREER CENTER

Welcome Class of 2030! As you know our motto is “Don’t Wait…Slavin 108” and we recommend students engaging with our resources as soon as possible:

• Summer Coaching Appointments: As we mentioned at First Days in Friartown, students can have a virtual or in-person conversation with our team of coaches. This meeting will only take 30 minutes and if students want to meet more than once they absolutely can! Conversations can range from discussing major selection/confirmation to getting ahead in competitive career industries. They can sign up in FriarHub (search in appointments).
• Excel Certification: If your student is looking to get Excel certified this summer, they can sign up for the virtual sessions in FriarHub (search in events). If they are majoring in Finance, Marketing, Accounting or Management, it is required, so they should register asap. Questions: careers@providence.edu
• CliftonStrengths Assessment: Students are required to take the assessment before coming to campus in August – this online tool will give students insight into their unique top 5 strengths. Students will receive an email with instructions to take the CliftonStrengths assessment soon.
• Creating Your First College Resume Workshop (virtual): This workshop will be for students who want to apply to campus jobs. It will be held on July 30th at 12:30pm EST on Zoom – register on FriarHub.
• Major/Minor Fair: The Fall Career EXPO featuring the Major/Minor Fair is Wednesday, September 23rd beginning at 2:30pm. This is a great event for first-year students to explore majors/minors of interest. More details coming soon!

*PARENTS AS PARTNERS – SUPPORTING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS

Summer provides parents with an ideal time to talk with their students about the transition from high school to college. Research shows that having authentic, personal conversations with your student just prior to starting college can have a positive effect on your son or daughter’s experience. For more information about having sensitive or difficult conversations with your student, please consider using the resources on our Parents as Partners website page to assist with your conversations (includes our “Talking with College Students About Alcohol” Parent Handbook).

*TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING

Resident overnight parking during the academic year is reserved for third- and fourth-year undergraduate students who live on campus and have been chosen through our annual student parking lottery. Our Office of Transportation & Parking website provides important information regarding parking eligibility, permit requirements, additional campus transportation services, and parking regulations. Reviewing these resources in advance can help prevent unnecessary parking violations and ensure a smooth start to the semester. Please keep the following in mind:

• Parking on campus is limited, and only students with valid permits are authorized to park on campus.
• Resident students are limited to one temporary parking permit per semester, so please help them prepare for the best time to utilize it.
• Medical Shuttle service is available for students with temporary or permanent mobility limitations.

For questions, please contact the Office of Transportation at transportation@providence.edu or (401) 865-2234. We are happy to assist!

*STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP – Orientation Social Programming!

The Office of Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL) has planned a full calendar of Orientation social events for your student to look forward to:

• Thursday, August 27^th – Casino Night: A Friar favorite when it comes to Orientation! Professional casino table games like blackjack, craps, the big wheel, poker, and more! No worries, you don’t need real money or experience! We will provide you with “funny” money and the staff will teach you how to play the games! Then you get to win prizes ranging from trending tech to gift cards. There will be food, Bingo, a photo booth, and music too!
• Friday, August 28^th – Carnival: Summertime is the best time for a carnival! Come enjoy carnival games, cotton candy, fried dough, inflatables, food, live music, and of course…prizes!
• Saturday, August 29^th – Friarfest: Let’s get Friar’d up on Slavin Lawn! Enjoy live music, petting zoo, food trucks, lawn games, Friar Themed DIYs, and more!
• Sunday, August 30^th – New Student Trip to Newport with the Board of Programmers (BOP): More information to come in late July!
• Thursday, September 3rd – Involvement Fair: Come learn about the 120+ clubs and organizations that PC has to offer on Slavin Lawn! Find out how to join, when they meet, and what they do!

*HOMECOMING 2026

Parents and families are invited to celebrate PC’s signature fall weekend at Homecoming Weekend, coming Friday, Oct. 2 – Sunday, Oct. 4. Open to all members of the Friar community with highlights including the Friar 5K, Late Night Madness, community Mass, and family-friendly fun all weekend long.  There’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Stay tuned for more information and updates. Registration will start in mid-August. Book your hotel now to spend the weekend with your student.

 Dear Parents and Families of the Class of 2030,

As director of the Providence College Parent & Family Program I wish you a warm welcome to our campus community. As I like to remind new families, when your student becomes a Friar, you become one too.By parents and families, we mean moms, dads, guardians, grandparents, siblings—anyone who loves and cares for your student. I look forward to meeting many of you during our First Day in Friartown Program in June. I am also excited about the opportunity during the summer months to share with you information about the many resources we have in place for families.

We understand that this is a time of significant change for both students and families and we are privileged to be your partner on this journey. A journey that brings forward a whole range of emotions—excitement, anticipation, and a bit of anxiety, as well.  Over the years, parents have often asked me, “How much should I be involved in my student’s life at college?  In a sense, working to find that balance of wanting to hold students close, while also giving them freedom to move on to a new stage in life. Of course, there is no one size that fits all to this question. Our experience tells us that—Different students need various levels of support, at various times.

Most often it is you that your students first reach out to because you know them, and they know you, far better than anyone else. Clearly, the more information you have the better equipped you will be to support your students as they navigate their new campus landscape. That is where our Parent & Family Program comes in—to arm you with information about the college experience and to take that information to gently guide your student to make good and wise decisions.  Basically, WE WANT TO HELP PARENTS TO HELP STUDENTS TO HELP THEMSELVES!

 To help you to assist your students as they get ready to begin their first semester at Providence College,  I wish to bring the following information to your attention:

*New Student Checklist

Please remind your students to review the New Student Checklist for the Class of 2030 which can be found here. Some tasks need to be completed prior to students attending First Day in Friartown in June, while other tasks need to be addressed in July and August before Fall Orientation, when classes begin.  As students click on each task, it will indicate the date that the item becomes available and the deadline to complete the item.

 *Student Health Center – Required Health Information

Sometime after June 15, 2026, every incoming student is required to go into their health center patient portal and fill out their health history, enter the dates (month, day, year) of the immunizations required by the College and Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), upload a copy of their most recent immunizations and answer the questions on the TB questionnaire. This is to be done no later than July 15, 2026.

More information regarding health records can be viewed here. For questions, please email the Executive Director of Health Services, Catherine M. Kelleher at: ckellehe@providence.edu.

*Introduction to Providence College (SAS 178) – Quality ROI, Return on Investment!

Parents, this small but mighty course speaks for itself, so encourage your First-Year Friar to register during FDIF.  

Introduction to Providence College is a one-credit course with powerful benefits!  SAS 178 promotes early student success and adjustment to college life. Students get to know the campus, the curricular offerings, crucial study habits, the professors, and extracurriculars. For one hour per week students survey the opportunities and encounter the people who will shape their future at PC and beyond. Undeclared students explore majors in a low-pressure way. Declared students learn more about academic options and connect with important resources beyond their home department.

In the words of past students: College is a lot – this course is a helpful playbook for it. | I definitely would not have known as much as I do about what the school (college) offers without this course. | It helped me become a more confident writer. | My favorite part was meeting the people in the class because it helped me make friends.

*Parent/Guardian Emails:  The Office of the Registrar over-sees parent/guardian emails. If you are not receiving our e-communications, students can add or update parent/guardian contact information by following these steps:

• Log into CyberFriar using your Providence College credentials.

• Click “Open General Dashboard” on the Personal Information card.
• To add a parent/guardian along with their email address and/or cell phone number, click “Add New” on the right side of the screen.
• To edit an existing email address and/or cell phone number, select the pencil icon.

Students having difficulty making changes may contact the Office of the Registrar at (401) 865-1033 or records@providence.edu for assistance.

At Providence College we are committed to viewing parents and families as our partners in promoting student success. During the next four years, I look forward to our on-going partnership as we work together to support and encourage our students to become all they are called to be.  Welcome to the Friar family!

 God Bless.

Jackie

Jacqueline Kiernan MacKay
Director, PC Parent & Family Program
Adjunct Faculty, Graduate Program in Higher Education
AHEPPP Board of Directors Emeritus

parents@providence.edu

401-865-1550