Are you ready for Family Weekend? 

We look forward to seeing you for Family Weekend 2012 on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13. When you arrive on campus, we'll have a Family Weekend guide for you along with your Family Weekend name badge, which will grant you access to all of our free Family Weekend events.

REGISTRATION AND PARKING:

On Friday, Oct. 12, registration will be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the University Center Grand Foyer, third floor. If you can't make it to registration on Friday, please send your student to pick up your name badges, guide and package tickets. Tickets will be held under the purchaser's last name. If you or your student can't make it to registration on Friday, you can find us from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. outside the Family Weekend pregame breakfast, which will be held in the University Center Ballroom (third floor).

If you plan to drive to campus on Friday, please park in Lot P, M or M-1. We have asked Public Safety not to ticket these lots during Family Weekend registration. See campus parking map.

NEW FAMILY WEEKEND EVENTS:

UM will host three new Family Weekend events this year:

We hope you can join us at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the University Center Theater for a UM Abroad session. We listened to your feedback! Many families wanted to know more about opportunities to learn abroad. So, we've arranged a panel of UM students to provide an insider's view into studying, interning, working and volunteering abroad. Get all of your questions answered and gain insights during a facilitated Q-and-A. There also will be information available on international opportunities at registration.

We also will host two fun new evening events. On Friday, get spooked during the Haunted UM Building Tour and soak up some interesting historical tidbits about UM's storied campus. On Saturday, huddle around the fire pit at The Payne Family Native American Center to listen to Native American Story Telling. A complete schedule of the weekend's events is available on the Family Weekend website.

STAY UP TO DATE ON FACEBOOK

Join the 2012 Family Weekend at UM Facebook event so you can stay abreast of the latest event information. After the weekend we'll post photos to share with you and we hope you'll share yours, too!

If you have any questions or need more information, call University Relations at 406-243-5478 or email familyweekend@umontana.edu.

UM classes are not in session on Tuesday, Nov. 6, in observation of Election Day. All UM offices and the Food Zoo will be closed.

UM students who live on campus in dorms and are registered to vote at their current address can vote in the University Center. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and voters must show a photo ID to receive a ballot.

Students who live off campus can check the location of their polling station online at the Missoula County Office of Elections website. If students are not registered or need to update their registration to their current address, they can do so here.

The UC will host a Presidential Fight Night election-results viewing party at 6 p.m. in the UC Tech Lounge. Students can watch results roll in while competing for prizes in politically themed games such as buzzword bingo and state predictions. The event is free.

Residence Life upcoming events, deadlines

Health inspections scheduled for residence halls

Residence Life staff will complete fall health inspections of residence halls Monday through Friday, Oct. 15-19. To complete the inspections, staff will enter all student rooms to ensure they are in compliance with Residence Life health and safety requirements. Students will be notified of the specific time and date inspections will occur in their residence hall via their student email. If students have questions, they should speak with their floor resident assistant.

Residence halls open over Thanksgiving Break

Residence halls will remain open on campus during Thanksgiving Break, Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 21-23. Students can stay in their rooms and don't need to notify anyone if they plan to stay over the break. However, dining services will be limited or unavailable during this time. Buildings will be locked 24 hours a day, so students need to carry their Griz Card to access residence halls at all times. Residence hall staff will be available in all buildings if students need assistance.

2013-14 on-campus housing applications open

Residence Life has begun accepting applications for the 2013-14 school year. Students are highly encouraged to submit their housing application early because they are assigned to rooms and residence halls based on the date they turn in their application and prepayment. The sooner a student completes their application, the more likely they are to be assigned to their top housing preference. Even if students are not sure if they will live on campus next year, it is suggested they submit an application now, just in case. If students do find alternative housing, they can cancel their on-campus housing application by June 1 and receive a refund for the $200 prepay if there are no other fees due on their account.

For more information call UM Residence Life at 406-243-2611 or email housing@mso.umt.edu.

University Dining Services will offer Halloween Hugs through the Bear Hugs program. The Hugs will be delivered to students on campus on Monday, Oct. 29.

The Halloween Hug costs $17.95 and contains Halloween candy, assorted decorations and six fresh Bear Claw Bakery cupcakes.

Bear Hugs can be ordered online, and a brochure of all Hugs and options can be viewed here. For more information call Dona Hall at 406-243-5650 or email uds.bearhugs@mso.umt.edu.

The UM Student Involvement Network will host Chill Out from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, in the University Center Atrium.

Chill Out is a collaboration of campus groups and local organizations that offer activities to help students relax and recharge while learning stress-relief techniques and developing healthy habits. Booths include health and wellness resource Water Lilies, nonprofit healing center Red Willow Learning Center, UM Campus Recreation, the Acupuncture Clinic of Missoula, health expert Ellin Spearin and more.

This is the second year SIN has presented Chill Out. The group of students plans programming for the UC to enrich campus life by providing student-focused opportunities, programs, services and space.

UM has received a $297,731 grant from the Department of Justice to improve evaluation and implementation of a comprehensive student assault response and prevention program.

The Office of Violence Against Women grant will be used to expand, reorganize and streamline UM's approach to addressing interpersonal violence. The grant will fund a full-time director of student assault programming position for three years and provide support for a variety of UM programs and services, including UM's Men of Strength Club, Women's and Gender Studies, the School of Social Work, the Department of Counselor Education, a student assault prevention lecture series and training for UM's administrative personnel, Campus Security and the Missoula Police Department.

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The Associated Students of UM Off-Campus Renter Center's Neighborhood Ambassador Program will continue into a second semester this fall. Seven student ambassadors will work to encourage positive relationships between student renters and homeowners living in the University District.

The program has expanded with the addition of two ambassadors, the appointment of one of the student ambassadors as program manager and the inclusion of new areas. The updated territory includes neighborhoods between Eddy and East Kent avenues, with Ronald Avenue as the western boundary. Pending funding, ASUM hopes to expand the program to encompass the entire University District by spring semester.

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The American Institute for Economic Research College Destinations Index recently ranked Missoula among the top College Towns in the U.S.

The index lists the top 75 destinations for 2012-13, including the top 15 among the Major Metros and the top 20 locations among Mid-size Metros, Small Metros and College Towns. Missoula was named No. 20 in College Towns. Other towns that made the list include Ithaca, N.Y., Corvallis, Ore., and Burlington, Vt.

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• Friday-Saturday, Oct. 12-13: Family Weekend
• Tuesday, Nov. 6: Election Day, no classes, UM offices closed
• Monday, Nov. 12: Veterans Day holiday, no classes, UM offices closed
• Wednesday, Nov. 21: Student Travel Day, no classes
• Thursday-Friday, Nov. 22-23: Thanksgiving Break, no classes, UM offices closed
• Friday, Dec. 7: Last day of regular classes
• Monday-Friday, Dec. 10-14: Final exams
• Friday, Dec. 14: Residence halls close at 5 p.m.