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	<title>Parents Newsletter</title>
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		<title>How would Stanford communicate in a crisis?</title>
		<link>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/04/22/how-would-stanford-communicate-in-a-crisis-2/</link>
		<comments>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/04/22/how-would-stanford-communicate-in-a-crisis-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:28:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Safety at Stanford]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/?p=655</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Stanford continuously works to improve its emergency response systems in preparation for crises administrators hope never occur. Lisa Lapin, associate vice president for university communications, answers questions about how the campus intends to communicate with students and their families should an emergency occur on the Stanford campus. How would students be alerted to emergency situations <em><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/04/22/how-would-stanford-communicate-in-a-crisis-2/">read more...</a></em>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Stanford continuously works to improve its emergency response systems in preparation for crises administrators hope never occur. Lisa Lapin, associate vice president for university communications, answers questions about how the campus intends to communicate with students and their families should an emergency occur on the Stanford campus.</em></p>
<p><strong>How would students be alerted to emergency situations on campus?</strong></p>
<p>Stanford has a warning system called <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/general/erprep/AlertSU.html">AlertSU</a>, which can send out alerts via mass emails, mass phone calls, text messages and, if necessary, campus-wide sirens. Police generally initiate the alerts. For more complex incidents or situations impacting the greater campus, <a href="http://ucomm.stanford.edu/">Stanford University Communications </a>will assume responsibility for communicating with our immediate community. We plan to use the web as a primary mode of frequent communication, in addition to social media. We run ourselves through timed drills so that we can practice posting messages through all of the channels available to us as quickly as possible.</p>
<div id="attachment_709" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/lapin_7046.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-709" alt="Lisa Lapin" src="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/lapin_7046-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Associate Vice President Lisa Lapin</p></div>
<p><strong>How quickly can Stanford alert the university to an emergency?</strong></p>
<p>Every situation will have a different timeline, but our intent is to use AlertSU as quickly as possible. By federal law—specifically the Clery Act—all colleges and universities must alert their campuses to imminent threats so people can take preventative measures. How fast an alert is issued would depend upon how quickly a problem is reported to campus police or other local agencies, the nature of the situation and how quickly the report can be reasonably substantiated. While we have all seen in recent weeks how quickly information is shared about crisis situations via media and social media, we will want to be sure we share both the most timely and most accurate information possible.</p>
<p><strong>How would families learn more directly from Stanford about what is happening on campus?</strong></p>
<p>Communicating with families during an emergency would be a high priority for Stanford. We would use emails and web updates and be proactive in sharing what we know as soon as we know it. Our most reliable method for sending information directly to parents at this point is through the same email distribution system we use for the Stanford Parents’ Newsletter. That said, we know that students and parents will be communicating directly and frequently, as well.</p>
<p>If there were a large-scale critical incident on campus, everyone, including parents, would be directed to the <a href="http://emergency.stanford.edu">emergency.stanford.edu</a> website, which is where we would post periodic updates. That’s where we would focus our initial communication efforts, and that’s where parents would learn the most up-to-date information.</p>
<p><strong>What challenges do these kinds of emergencies pose, and how are you preparing for them?</strong></p>
<p>First, it is very challenging to get accurate information quickly, given the heavy activity that emergencies entail. Our police will be focused on response and safety warnings first, detailed information second. Social media reports may be faster, but the information is not always accurate. It is possible that mobile and digital communication may be sporadic, or even fail, due to the sheer volume of information being transferred. The websites of some colleges and universities have actually crashed during emergencies because of the volume of traffic. In a major earthquake we could lose electricity, so we are taking steps to deploy backup web systems. Those are all challenges we continue to discuss.</p>
<p>We also know that parents may want to reach someone live to get information rather than glean it from a website. As a college parent myself, I can relate. But campuses that have experienced crises tell us that is a difficult expectation to accommodate in a large, fast-moving situation. Most likely, we would communicate personally first with parents of students who might be directly affected by an emergency. Then we would be better able to reassure other families that their students haven’t been affected.</p>
<p>We have been working with members of the Parents’ Program to learn more about how we can best share crisis information with families. We’re very appreciative of their helpful insights.</p>
<p><strong>What happens if you lose the ability to communicate?</strong></p>
<p>We hope that never happens, but it is a possibility and we are working to be prepared. For example, we have a reciprocal agreement with Duke University to host Stanford’s website until web access is restored. And we have relationships with off-site services to help us handle massive online interest. Stanford attracts global attention as a matter of our day-to-day business, and we already have among the highest volumes of website traffic of any university in the world. Should there be a crisis here, we expect that not just our campus community, but interested people around the world, will be coming to our website for information and updates, so we are preparing for that high volume.</p>
<p>Throughout Stanford, we take emergency preparation very seriously, working to think through every possible scenario, including the unthinkable, and adopting best practices from other institutions that have faced such challenges. Sadly, there has been much to learn from very recent experiences, ranging from how campuses coped with Storm Sandy to the most recent tragedies in Boston.</p>
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		<title>Stanford&#8217;s 122nd Commencement to be June 14-16</title>
		<link>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/04/19/stanfords-122nd-commencement-to-be-june-14-16/</link>
		<comments>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/04/19/stanfords-122nd-commencement-to-be-june-14-16/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:39:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Stanford Events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/?p=615</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, will be the 2013 graduation speaker at Stanford during Commencement exercises on Sunday, June 16. Commencement Weekend events begin Friday, June 14. The weekend festivities will also feature a Class Day lecture by Mehran Sahami, associate professor of computer science and a former Google research scientist. The Baccalaureate <em><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/04/19/stanfords-122nd-commencement-to-be-june-14-16/">read more...</a></em>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_663" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 578px"><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Commence.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-663" alt="Stanford's Commencement is held in Stanford Stadium." src="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Commence-568x378.jpg" width="568" height="378" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Stanford&#8217;s Commencement is held in Stanford Stadium.</p></div>
<p>Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, will be the 2013 graduation speaker at Stanford during <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/">Commencement</a> exercises on Sunday, June 16. Commencement Weekend events begin Friday, June 14.</p>
<p>The weekend festivities will also feature a Class Day lecture by Mehran Sahami, associate professor of computer science and a former Google research scientist. The Baccalaureate address will be give by Valarie Kaur, an award-winning filmmaker, civil rights advocate and interfaith organizer. The <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/events/class-day-lecture">Class Day</a> lecture and <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/events/baccalaureate">Baccalaureate</a> are both on Saturday.</p>
<div id="attachment_671" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 180px"><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bloomberg_0.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-671" alt="Bloomberg" src="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bloomberg_0.jpg" width="170" height="200" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg</p></div>
<p>Families are encouraged to <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/plan-your-visit">make travel arrangements</a> well in advance, given the large number of people—25,000 to 30,000—Commencement attracts.</p>
<p>Elaine Enos, executive director of the Office of Special Events and Protocol, answers questions for parents and family members about Stanford’s <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/">Commencement Weekend</a>.</p>
<p><strong>What is the most important piece of advice you have for parents and family members coming to Commencement?</strong><br />
Please make hotel reservations as soon as possible if you have not already done so. There are a limited number of hotels in the Palo Alto area near the university. The <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/">Commencement website</a> has links to information about hotels throughout the Bay Area.</p>
<p>In terms of attire, we suggest bringing lightweight clothing for the weekend’s events since the majority of the activities will be held outdoors. Be prepared for warm weather. Temperatures during the day can range from 75 degrees to the low 90s, and the sun that time of year can be very strong. We also strongly recommend hats, visors and sunblock, especially for the Commencement ceremony itself. Water will generally be available at the ceremonies, but we urge you to bring additional drinking water to have with you, especially if you will be walking around campus.</p>
<p>Also, wear comfortable shoes. General transportation within the campus grounds is not always available. Marguerite shuttle buses do not run on Saturday and Sunday. Much of the center of campus is closed to vehicular traffic, and the campus is large. Some venues have parking lots nearby, such as the Stanford Stadium for the main Commencement ceremony. We suggest that you visit <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/events/diploma">diploma ceremony</a> links and review where you need to be in relation to where you can park. All venues can be accessed on foot, but please allow extra time to get to and from events.</p>
<p><strong>What if families have a member who has difficulty walking?</strong><br />
We strongly encourage families with disabled members or those with mobility concerns to plan in advance by visiting the <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/disability-resources">Disability Resources</a> page on our website. There is a <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/Events/commencement/CdAccess.fb">form to request special assistance</a>. We can also offer advice about finding wheelchair-accessible hotels, for instance.</p>
<p>I cannot stress this enough: Families need to plan their campus activities early and before they arrive at Stanford if they have a member with mobility challenges. We are limited in what we can do if asked to respond on the day of the events. It’s very important that families contact us and discuss their needs in advance.</p>
<p>For instance, many families may find it easiest to use a wheelchair to transport a disabled family member from one location to another. For most families in general, it is simply a matter of allowing for more time or finding alternate parking spaces after the main Commencement ceremony concludes in the stadium. Either way, families should plan well in advance and be in touch with us. The distance between events can be considerable, and even if we could transport everyone, most of the ceremonies occur in areas that are not accessible to vehicles. Visit the website for specific parking details regarding Baccalaureate, the stadium and the diploma ceremonies.</p>
<div id="attachment_673" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 205px"><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Enos.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-673" alt="Elaine Enos" src="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Enos-195x300.jpg" width="195" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Elaine Enos of Stanford Events</p></div>
<p><strong>Is there any limit to the number of family members who can attend?</strong><br />
No. There is plenty of room in the Stanford Stadium for everyone who wants to come. No tickets are required to attend the main ceremony. However, please check with the graduate’s department, as some diploma ceremonies may have limited seating or require tickets.</p>
<p><strong>Why are there two ceremonies—the main one in the stadium and then a second, departmental ceremony somewhere else?</strong><br />
The main stadium ceremony has such a high number of graduates that it doesn’t allow for the awarding of individual diplomas to students. That happens at the smaller <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/Events/commencement/CdAccess.fb">departmental diploma ceremonies</a>, which occur right after the main ceremony. These ceremonies are located all around the campus, with the core of them in or near the Main Quad. They provide a more intimate experience for students with their families and faculty members.</p>
<p>When you enter the Stanford Stadium on Sunday morning, you will be given an event program. On the back page of that program, you will find a list of all the diploma ceremony sites, as well as a campus map with corresponding ceremony locations. There will also be information booths along your route to the diploma ceremonies, and our staff can assist you in finding your way.</p>
<p><strong>Is there enough parking so that families can drive to the stadium for Commencement?</strong><br />
<a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/plan-your-visit/parking">Parking</a> is available—but limited—for the Commencement ceremony on Sunday. It’s best to plan in advance by downloading the Commencement parking map available online. The campus will be very crowded throughout the day. Another critical issue will be traffic congestion, particularly after the main ceremony has concluded. The easiest way to get around the many events is by walking. For some families, that may not possible, so we strongly encourage planning in advance to review alternate parking lots near the diploma ceremony they plan to attend. The newly designed website contains maps with locations and <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/plan-your-visit/parking">parking information</a> as well. Please check out our recently posted e-brochure on the <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/">Commencement homepage</a> that has additional notes in brief about planning your weekend here.</p>
<p><strong>How do you explain the Wacky Walk to families who have never experienced this Stanford tradition?</strong><br />
Instead of the processional march that one generally sees at university graduations, Stanford seniors take to the field through what’s become known as the “Wacky Walk.” It includes some walking, some running and some parading around. Students create their own events and characters on the field for about 15 minutes. The antics, often creative and funny, have become part of the Commencement tradition over the years.</p>
<p>For answers to more questions about Commencement, visit the Commencement website and note the <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/info/parents">“For Parents” section</a>, call the Commencement information line at 650-725-1957 or email us at commencement@stanford.edu.</p>
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		<title>Stanford statement on Korean Peninsula and avian flu</title>
		<link>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/04/15/stanford-statement-on-korean-peninsula-and-avian-flu/</link>
		<comments>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/04/15/stanford-statement-on-korean-peninsula-and-avian-flu/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:41:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Safety at Stanford]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/?p=623</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Stanford University is aware that some of its travelers to China, Japan and South Korea have questions about the current state of affairs on the Korean Peninsula. Stanford University relies upon the U. S. Department of State for its on-going travel security information and guidance, and the current travel and security advice for South Korea <em><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/04/15/stanford-statement-on-korean-peninsula-and-avian-flu/">read more...</a></em>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Stanford University is aware that some of its travelers to China, Japan and South Korea have questions about the current state of affairs on the Korean Peninsula. Stanford University relies upon the U. S. Department of State for its on-going travel security information and guidance, and the current travel and security advice for South Korea indicates there is no specific information to suggest an imminent threat to travelers, despite current political tensions with North Korea.</p>
<p>We encourage our faculty, students, employees and their families to review the travel information available <a href="http://travel.state.gov/">here</a>. Travelers to South Korea, China and Japan are encouraged to enroll in the <a href="https://step.state.gov/STEP/Index.aspx">Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program</a> to receive the latest travel updates and information regarding travel and security issues.</p>
<p>In addition, we recommend that any travel to North Korea by Stanford-affiliated personnel and/or students be deferred at this time, including travel to the DMZ, the Northern Limit Line (the Yellow Sea), border areas and crossings and special economic zones, as well as to the disputed northwestern islands.</p>
<p>Stanford also is monitoring a recent outbreak of avian flu (H7N9) in China. The Centers for Disease Control have established a website specifically for this threat, which can be found <a href="http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/avian-flu-h7n9-china.htm">here.</a> The university recommends that all travelers to China follow the simple recommendations provided by the CDC.</p>
<p>Stanford recommends that all travelers print and keep a copy of their International SOS member card within easy access should the conditions in either of the three countries change.</p>
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		<title>News from the Parents&#8217; Program for Spring 2013</title>
		<link>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/28/news-from-the-parents-program-for-spring-2013/</link>
		<comments>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/28/news-from-the-parents-program-for-spring-2013/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:35:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parents Program]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/?p=575</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Stanford Parents, Congratulations to those of you with graduating seniors in the Class of 2013! I am looking forward to seeing many of you on campus for Commencement Weekend in June and congratulating you and your student on this wonderful accomplishment. We hope that you and your family plan to join us for the <em><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/28/news-from-the-parents-program-for-spring-2013/">read more...</a></em>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Stanford Parents,</p>
<p>Congratulations to those of you with graduating seniors in the Class of 2013! I am looking forward to seeing many of you on campus for <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/">Commencement Weekend</a> in June and congratulating you and your student on this wonderful accomplishment.</p>
<p>We hope that you and your family plan to join us for the Senior Gift Check Presentation on Friday, June 14, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Old Union Courtyard. Every Commencement Weekend, the senior class presents a check to the university. The check represents the generous support of hundreds of graduating students who want to express their gratitude for the educational experience they received at Stanford. The senior gift is directed to <a href="http://giving.stanford.edu/the-stanford-fund">The Stanford Fund for Undergraduate Education</a> and helps ensure that future generations of Stanford students enjoy the same opportunities that they did. The Stanford Parents’ Advisory Board is proud to play a part in the senior gift effort by offering matching funds.</p>
<p>More than 350 parents attended the Parent Partners Reception with President John Hennessy during Parents’ Weekend 2013. Attendees from around the globe enjoyed remarks by President Hennessy and the lively question-and-answer session that followed. Members of the Stanford Symphony performed during the reception. The Parent Partners Committee for The Stanford Fund, a group of parent volunteer callers, enjoyed a special reception prior to the event with Rob Urstein, associate vice provost for undergraduate education, dean of freshmen and director of undergraduate advising and research. He spoke about the important role that donations to The Stanford Fund play in improving the undergraduate experience for all Stanford students.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://giving.stanford.edu/the-stanford-fund/programs/parents-program">Parents’ Program</a> has scheduled two parent receptions in Texas this spring featuring Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Harry Elam. Thank you to Beth and Schuyler Tilney, P ’15, who are hosting the program in Houston on April 29, and Ann and Chris, MBA ’89, Mahowald, P ’16, who are hosting in Dallas on April 30. All parents are invited to attend. These receptions are opportunities to meet fellow Stanford parents, as well as learn more about current developments in undergraduate education.</p>
<p>If you are interested in learning more about joining Parent Partners with a contribution of $1,500 more to The Stanford Fund or in volunteering for the Parent Partners Committee for The Stanford Fund, please contact me or visit our <a href="http://giving.stanford.edu/information/parents">website</a>.</p>
<p>Parent support has been—and continues to be—vitally important to Stanford’s continued excellence. Thank you, as always, for your support of the university!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Sincerely,<br />
Jane Harrison<br />
Director, Stanford Parents’ Program<br />
1-800-227-8977, ext 56881<br />
j.girvin.harrison@stanford.edu</p>
<p>http://giving.stanford.edu/the-stanford-fund</p>
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		<title>Spring greetings from the Parents’ Club of Stanford University!</title>
		<link>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/26/spring-greetings-from-the-parents-club-of-stanford-university/</link>
		<comments>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/26/spring-greetings-from-the-parents-club-of-stanford-university/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:55:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parents' Club]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/?p=573</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Like your students, the Parents’ Club had a very busy Winter Quarter. Here’s a quick update on what we’ve been doing, plus a list of our upcoming events. If you’d like to join the Parents’ Club (it’s free) and receive our emails, which include reminders of your student’s birthday and other special occasions, you can <em><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/26/spring-greetings-from-the-parents-club-of-stanford-university/">read more...</a></em>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Like your students, the <a href="http://stanford.edu/group/parentsclub/">Parents’ Club</a> had a very busy Winter Quarter. Here’s a quick update on what we’ve been doing, plus a list of our upcoming events. If you’d like to join the Parents’ Club (it’s free) and receive our emails, which include reminders of your student’s birthday and other special occasions, you can download a membership form at the Stanford Parents’ Club <a href="http://stanford.edu/group/parentsclub/">website</a>.</p>
<p><strong>February and March club meetings</strong>: At our February meeting, we met our two 2012-13 scholarship recipients: a junior majoring in Human Biology and a senior majoring in History. Both students impressed us with their vivacity and poise. Our History student even juggled bowling pins for us! Meeting our scholarship students is always inspirational, and makes us realize what a big impact our efforts have on these kids. Also at our February meeting, the executive director of the <a href="http://bosp.stanford.edu/">Bing Overseas Studies</a> program spoke about the many opportunities our students have for study abroad. At our March meeting we “sold out” our tour, as more than 80 people joined us for an insider’s look at the new <a href="http://live.stanford.edu/bingconcerthall/">Bing Concert Hall</a>.</p>
<p><strong>On campus deliveries</strong>: Valentine’s Day brought 15 volunteer moms to campus to deliver heart-shaped sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies and brownies to beloved sons and daughters. Many of us were lucky enough to hand the treats over directly to the recipients, but some kids saw bright red bags containing their Valentines decorating their doors. In mid-March, Parents’ Club volunteers made more than 60 deliveries of brownies, cookies, flowers and balloons for finals week to a grateful—if disheveled—student body, cheering them up as they toiled away at their studies. In addition, we delivered birthday cakes and balloons all Winter Quarter. A word to parents out there: Your students love receiving these unexpected goodies and are always pleasantly surprised when they hear “Parent’s Club delivery!” at their doors. Remember, all the proceeds go to our scholarship fund, and you can order at the Parents’ Club <a href="http://stanford.edu/group/parentsclub/">website</a>. If you live locally, we can always use deliverers, even once a month. Contact Nancy Franich mightyLF@aol.com if you’re interested. We’ll train you for this fun way of interacting with the kids on campus, while helping our scholarship fund at the same time.</p>
<p><strong>Parents’ Weekend 2013</strong>: Nearly 140 Parents’ Club members volunteered during <a href="http://parentsweekend.stanford.edu/">Parents’ Weekend</a>, helping with check-in, campus tours, ushering, conversations with parents and classes. Members also served at our Parents’ Club sales booth (selling a record amount of our Stanford merchandise) and spoke with parents from all over the globe at our Chat Corner about our favorite subject—Stanford students! Many visiting out-of-town members helped with events at this all-important weekend, which ended with another amazing Entertainment Extravaganza! Extravaganza showcased the many talents of our kids as they danced, sang, played and performed for an audience of more than 1,500 people in Memorial Auditorium. During the weekend we added <strong><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Cantor-Arts-Center-small1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-593" alt="Cantor Arts Center small" src="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Cantor-Arts-Center-small1-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a></strong>almost 100 new members to our roster, who proudly wore their “Join the Club” buttons. Parents’ Club now has almost 1,000 members.</p>
<p><strong>Upcoming Events</strong></p>
<p><strong>Admit Weekend</strong>: At Admit Weekend, April 23-25, we help Stanford welcome prospective students and their parents during the “the happiest weekend of the year.” If you’d like to volunteer that weekend, contact us at parentsclub.stanford@gmail.com. We promise a great time!</p>
<p><strong>May 14 Club Meeting</strong>: Private tour of the <a href="http://museum.stanford.edu/">Cantor Art Center</a></p>
<p><strong>May 19 Spring Social</strong>: Our annual Spring Social will be from 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m. in Portola Valley. Join fellow Stanford parents for a lovely spring evening filled with conversation, music, delicious small bites and wine. Contact Carol Peske to make your reservation at peskes@comcast.net.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Marcia Hanson, president of the Stanford Parents&#8217; Club</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Parents Alcohol Advisory Group: One year later</title>
		<link>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/15/parents-alcohol-advisory-group-one-year-later/</link>
		<comments>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/15/parents-alcohol-advisory-group-one-year-later/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:53:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Alcohol at Stanford]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/?p=557</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The chair of the Parents Alcohol Advisory Group updates parents about the group’s activities, results of its efforts and challenges for the future. By Sally Lannin, chair of the Parents Alcohol Advisory Group A year ago, a group of Stanford parents began meeting with university officials to discuss the continuing challenge of drinking among college <em><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/15/parents-alcohol-advisory-group-one-year-later/">read more...</a></em>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><i>The chair of the Parents Alcohol Advisory Group updates parents about the group’s activities, results of its efforts and challenges for the future.</i></p>
<p><b>By Sally Lannin</b>, <i>chair of the Parents Alcohol Advisory Group</i></p>
<p>A year ago, a group of Stanford parents began meeting with university officials to discuss the continuing challenge of drinking among college students in general and our children in particular.</p>
<p>I’m writing to report back on our progress, which has been considerable, but to regretfully acknowledge that there is still more work to be done.</p>
<div id="attachment_571" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 221px"><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Sallie-photo.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-571" alt="Sallie Lannin" src="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Sallie-photo-211x300.jpg" width="211" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Sally Lannin</p></div>
<p>During the past year, our group helped write a <a href="http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/alcohol/parent/parentletter">letter</a> to freshman parents, asking them to have frank talks with their children about expectations around drinking. The good news is that 83 percent of freshman report having had such conversations with their parents. Direct correlations are hard to prove, but it appears our efforts are having an effect: hospital transports among freshmen due to excessive drinking are down so far this year.</p>
<p>As those of you who attended <a href="http://parentsweekend.stanford.edu">Parents’ Weekend</a> know, Provost John Etchemendy credited the efforts of parents with helping to decrease dangerous incidents of drinking among freshmen. He asked all of us—freshman parents or otherwise—to continue talking to our children about our expectations around drinking. I’d like to reiterate that request in this report. Even one transport would be one too many. Remember that research shows that even one conversation around drinking between parent and child can have a profound effect on college drinking.</p>
<p>I am also happy to report that the <a href="http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/alcohol">Office of Alcohol Policy and Education</a> (OAPE) has made progress in its first full year at Stanford. OAPE has enhanced alcohol education across campus, provided clarity in the application of the university’s student alcohol policy, created social events for students that deemphasize alcohol, worked to shift the campus culture away from hard liquor and collected data to assess trends and efforts.</p>
<p>OAPE is having particular success with <a href="http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/alcohol/cardinalnights">Cardinal Nights</a>, which are non-alcoholic social events. There have been 48 such events so far this year, with 12,531 student attendees. Survey results show students like the events and are likely to recommend them to friends.</p>
<p>In addition, OAPE visited some 28 residences with first-year students in the first two weeks of classes to provide alcohol education. The office’s popular “<a href="http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/alcohol/newredcup">New Red Cup</a>” provides measurements to help curb consumption among students who choose to drink. Its mott<a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/CN2_final-copy-2.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-559" alt="CN2_final copy 2" src="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/CN2_final-copy-2-300x206.jpg" width="300" height="206" /></a>o is “Stay Classy.”</p>
<p>During <a href="http://parentsweekend.stanford.edu">Parents’ Weekend</a>, members of our committee participated in a discussion panel for parents about alcohol. I am grateful to my fellow members for their willingness to share their families’ experiences—both good and bad—to spur conversations among parents.</p>
<p>In the coming year, our committee plans to continue to communicate with parents about the benefits of making their expectations around drinking clear. We also hope to expand our efforts to include discussions with other administrators whose areas of expertise cover unintended consequences of drinking, including representatives of the <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/group/SUDPS/">Department of Public Safety</a> and the <a href="http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/sara">Office of Sexual Assault &amp; Relationship Abuse Education &amp; Response</a>.</p>
<p>Stanford is doing its part to diminish at-risk drinking among students. Parents need to continue to do their part, as well. No one wants to receive that heart-breaking, late-night call from university administrators reporting that his or her child has been transported to the hospital and is being treated in the Emergency Room because of excessive and dangerous drinking.</p>
<p>If you haven’t talked to your student about his or her drinking habits yet, please do so. And if you have, please accept our thanks and our encouragement to continue doing so over the summer break.</p>
<p>As Provost Etchemendy so clearly stated during Parents’ Weekend, the university—try as it might—cannot hold a candle to parents when it comes to influencing student behavior.</p>
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		<title>New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be the 2013 Commencement speaker at Stanford</title>
		<link>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/04/new-york-city-mayor-michael-bloomberg-will-be-the-2013-commencement-speaker-at-stanford/</link>
		<comments>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/04/new-york-city-mayor-michael-bloomberg-will-be-the-2013-commencement-speaker-at-stanford/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:22:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Stanford Events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/?p=541</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be the 2013 Commencement speaker at Stanford University. Stanford&#8217;s 122nd Commencement Weekend, which is scheduled for June 14-16, also will feature a Class Day lecture by Mehran Sahami, associate professor of computer science, and a Baccalaureate address by alumna Valarie Kaur, post-9/11 civil rights advocate and interfaith organizer. <em><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/04/new-york-city-mayor-michael-bloomberg-will-be-the-2013-commencement-speaker-at-stanford/">read more...</a></em>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_545" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 210px"><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/04/new-york-city-mayor-michael-bloomberg-will-be-the-2013-commencement-speaker-at-stanford/commencement1_news/" rel="attachment wp-att-545"><img class="size-medium wp-image-545" title="commencement1_news" src="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/commencement1_news-200x300.jpg" alt="Mayor Michael Bloomberg" width="200" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg</p></div>
<p>New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be the <a href="https://commencement.stanford.edu/">2013 Commencement</a> speaker at Stanford University.</p>
<p>Stanford&#8217;s 122nd Commencement Weekend, which is scheduled for June 14-16, also will feature a Class Day lecture by Mehran Sahami, associate professor of computer science, and a Baccalaureate address by alumna Valarie Kaur, post-9/11 civil rights advocate and interfaith organizer.</p>
<p>As mayor of New York City since 2002, Bloomberg has introduced hundreds of innovative new policies and initiatives credited with revitalizing the economy and improving health, safety, education and the environment for the city&#8217;s residents. The mayor&#8217;s economic policies have made the city a hub for high-tech innovation and have added private-sector jobs. The information technology company he founded, Bloomberg LP, is now a global multimedia enterprise with 15,000 employees. And he has directed his personal attention to numerous global charitable causes, particularly in the areas of public health and education.</p>
<p>&#8220;Stanford is known for its entrepreneurial spirit: We encourage our students to think big, to consider how they can make a difference in the world. So it is fitting that Michael Bloomberg will be this year&#8217;s Commencement speaker,&#8221; said Stanford President John Hennessy. &#8220;Businessman, entrepreneur, mayor, philanthropist – few people have demonstrated his vision and the breadth of his accomplishments. He built a company that is recognized worldwide as a pioneer in the financial news and information industry. As mayor, he has worked to diversify the city&#8217;s economy, strengthen its schools, increase access to health care and reduce crime. And increasingly, he has dedicated himself to improving society through his philanthropic efforts. I expect our graduates will be inspired by a leader willing to tackle difficult issues and find innovative ways to address them.&#8221;</p>
<p>Read the entire press release from the university <a href="http://news.stanford.edu/news/2013/february/2013-commencement-speaker-022513.html">here</a>.</p>
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		<title>Stanford raises undergraduate tuition 3.5 percent, continues financial aid commitment for 2013-14 school year</title>
		<link>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/04/stanford-raises-undergraduate-tuition-3-5-percent-continues-financial-aid-commitment-for-2013-14-school-year/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:17:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Finances at Stanford]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/?p=509</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Stanford Board of Trustees has approved a 3.5 percent increase in undergraduate tuition for the 2013-14 academic year, and reaffirmed its commitment to keeping a Stanford education accessible and affordable through need-blind admission and its generous need-based financial aid program. Total undergraduate charges will increase to $56,411 next year, including $42,690 for tuition and <em><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/03/04/stanford-raises-undergraduate-tuition-3-5-percent-continues-financial-aid-commitment-for-2013-14-school-year/">read more...</a></em>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Stanford Board of Trustees has approved a 3.5 percent increase in undergraduate tuition for the 2013-14 academic year, and reaffirmed its commitment to keeping a Stanford education accessible and affordable through need-blind admission and its generous need-based financial aid program.</p>
<p>Total undergraduate charges will increase to $56,411 next year, including $42,690 for tuition and $13,166 for room and board. For undergraduates from households with incomes of $100,000 or less, tuition would be fully covered by financial aid under the university&#8217;s financial aid program, now in its fifth year. Those with incomes below $60,000 pay no tuition, room or board.</p>
<p>Stanford has almost doubled its funding for need-based financial aid since 2007 and is providing $130 million in need-based aid this year. Thanks to substantial increases in financial aid, the net cost of attendance in 2012, adjusted for inflation, remains largely unchanged since 2001.</p>
<p>&#8220;Throughout the economic challenges of the past several years, Stanford has not wavered in its commitment to generous financial aid to assure that the brightest students can attend Stanford, regardless of their financial circumstances,&#8221; said Steven A. Denning, chair of the Board of Trustees. &#8220;Our objective remains to preserve access to a world-class education for all students.&#8221;</p>
<p>Denning emphasized that Stanford&#8217;s need-based financial aid program for undergraduates remains a university priority. About 70 percent of undergraduates receive financial aid toward the cost of attendance from internal or external sources, and about 50 percent receive need-based scholarships from Stanford. This year, more than 3,400 Stanford undergraduates are receiving need-based financial aid.</p>
<p>Under the Stanford program established in 2008, parents making less than $60,000 a year are not expected to pay tuition or to contribute to the costs of room and board and other expenses. Families making less than $100,000 a year do not pay tuition. Families with significantly higher incomes may also qualify for assistance depending on their individual circumstances. Students are expected to pay a portion of their college costs from summer jobs and part-time campus jobs during the school year, but loans are not required.</p>
<p>The financial aid program helps ensure that most Stanford undergraduates leave the Farm free of student loan debt.</p>
<p>Seventy-five percent of the Class of 2012 graduated debt-free, said Karen Cooper, director of financial aid at Stanford. Of the 25 percent who graduated with some debt, the median amount was $11,632 – half of the students owed more and half owed less.</p>
<p>Read the entire press release from the university <a href="http://news.stanford.edu/pr/2013/pr-stanford-undergrad-tuition-021213.html">here</a>.</p>
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		<title>Moderate flu outbreak seen among Stanford students this year</title>
		<link>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/02/08/moderate-flu-outbreak-seen-among-stanford-students-this-year/</link>
		<comments>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/02/08/moderate-flu-outbreak-seen-among-stanford-students-this-year/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:06:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health at Stanford]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/?p=471</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The bad news about the flu is that it is, of course, miserable: body aches, a fever greater than 100 degrees, chills, a cough and a sore throat. There’s nothing fun about the symptoms or about the three to four days most sufferers spend bed-ridden. The good news, however, is that so far this year’s <em><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/02/08/moderate-flu-outbreak-seen-among-stanford-students-this-year/">read more...</a></em>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_515" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 216px"><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/02/08/moderate-flu-outbreak-seen-among-stanford-students-this-year/ira-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-515"><img class="size-medium wp-image-515" title="Ira" src="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Ira-206x300.jpg" alt="Ira Friedman" width="206" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Ira Friedman</p></div>
<p>The bad news about the flu is that it is, of course, miserable: body aches, a fever greater than 100 degrees, chills, a cough and a sore throat. There’s nothing fun about the symptoms or about the three to four days most sufferers spend bed-ridden.</p>
<p>The good news, however, is that so far this year’s flu outbreak among Stanford students is best described as moderate, as opposed to what much of the rest of the nation has endured.</p>
<p>At the end of January, 45 Stanford students had been diagnosed with influenza. Another 86 had been diagnosed with less severe, but equally miserable, viral respiratory illness, according to Ira Friedman, director of the Vaden Health Center and associate vice provost for student affairs.</p>
<p>Both numbers are higher than last year, when 11 students had been diagnosed with flu and another 45 with a viral illness. But they are much lower than during previous flu outbreaks on campus, especially the 2009-10 H1N1 pandemic.</p>
<p>“Our numbers suggest an elevated level of flu this year, but certainly nothing close to an epidemic level among the students and not nearly as high as the rest of the country,” he said.</p>
<p>Friedman said that about 2 percent of Stanford students who visit the Vaden Health Center are diagnosed with the actual flu. That is far less than the 6 percent rate among Californians in general, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By comparison, about 9 percent of visits to Vaden during the H1N1 pandemic resulted in a flu diagnosis.</p>
<div id="attachment_519" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2013/02/08/moderate-flu-outbreak-seen-among-stanford-students-this-year/vaden-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-519"><img class="size-medium wp-image-519" title="Vaden" src="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Vaden1-300x195.jpg" alt="Vaden Health Center" width="300" height="195" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Vaden Health Center</p></div>
<p>Flu is always a source of great concern at Stanford and other highly residential campuses. Isolating ill students is often challenging in residences. Even when possible, motivated students often opt to attend classes although they are sick. In addition, college students sometimes fail to sleep as much as needed or eat the healthy meals they enjoyed at home, making them more susceptible to illness.</p>
<p>This year, Friedman said Stanford placed a heavy emphasis on vaccinating as many faculty, staff and students as possible. The flu vaccines were administered for free at multiple clinics throughout campus. As a result, more than 7,200 shots were administered. Friedman estimates that about 26 percent of undergraduates were vaccinated, which is an increase of 77 percent from last year.</p>
<p>“Way before we got a clue that this was going to be a big influenza year, we started to plan for more aggressive flu vaccinations,” he said. Friedman said Vaden health care providers collaborated with the university’s Occupational Health Center and the Flu Crew, a group of medical students who volunteer to administer shots, to increase the number of vaccination clinics.</p>
<p>“If you can get 26 percent of any population vaccinated, that’s great,” Friedman said, adding, “And that number doesn’t even include the students who might have gotten a vaccination elsewhere.”</p>
<p>Friedman said there is no way to assess whether the higher than usual vaccination rate diminished the flu outbreak on campus. But what is clear, according to the CDC, is that the flu vaccination has been found to be about 60 to 65 percent effective at preventing illness.</p>
<p>When students do become ill, Friedman said they are advised to stay in bed and avoid classes, meals and socializing. They also encouraged to drink plenty of clear fluids, monitor their temperatures and take commonly available medicines for fever and aches.</p>
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		<title>Parents&#8217; Program prepares to welcome families to Parents&#8217; Weekend 2013</title>
		<link>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2012/12/13/parents-program-prepares-to-welcome-families-to-parents-weekend-2013/</link>
		<comments>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2012/12/13/parents-program-prepares-to-welcome-families-to-parents-weekend-2013/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:05:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kate</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parents Program]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/?p=449</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Parents: I look forward to welcoming many of you to campus on Feb. 22 and 23 for Parents’ Weekend 2013. Parents’ Weekend is a terrific opportunity for you to experience the Farm with your student, meet fellow Stanford parents and learn more about life at Stanford. We are particularly excited to be able to <em><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2012/12/13/parents-program-prepares-to-welcome-families-to-parents-weekend-2013/">read more...</a></em>]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Parents:</p>
<p>I look forward to welcoming many of you to campus on Feb. 22 and 23 for <a href="http://parentsweekend.stanford.edu">Parents’ Weekend 2013</a>. Parents’ Weekend is a terrific opportunity for you to experience the Farm with your student, meet fellow Stanford parents and learn more about life at Stanford. We are particularly excited to be able to offer parents a tour of the new Bing Concert Hall, along with a 40-minute concert featuring faculty and student performers. This state-of-the-art concert hall opens officially to the public in January. The open house and tour is limited to the first 500 parents.</p>
<div id="attachment_477" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/2012/12/13/parents-program-prepares-to-welcome-families-to-parents-weekend-2013/bing-concert-hall-stanford-university-stanford-california-ennead-architects/" rel="attachment wp-att-477"><img class="size-medium wp-image-477" title="Bing Concert Hall, Stanford University, Stanford, California, Ennead Architects" src="http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/cgi-bin/parentsnewsletter/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/JeffGoldberg_exterior-night-300x219.jpg" alt="Bing Concert Hall" width="300" height="219" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Bing Concert Hall (<em>photo by Jeff Goldberg</em>)</p></div>
<p>We were delighted to see many of our New York-area parents this past December when we traveled there with Harry Elam, vice provost for undergraduate education. Stanford Parents’ Advisory Board members Genevieve and Fenton Tom, P ’09, ’12, hosted our annual New York City parent breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 1. We are currently planning several more parent receptions for this winter and spring and look forward to visiting a city near you.</p>
<p>In my first year of directing the Parents’ Program, I’ve had the privilege and opportunity to meet many of the generous parent donors who have supported Stanford in so many ways. This support is vital to making the Stanford undergraduate education a transformational experience. We are deeply grateful to all parents, from those who have given large gifts to support undergraduate programs or financial aid to the thousands who support The Stanford Fund at all levels. Each family and each gift are incredibly important to this university and are realized in the educational experience your child is receiving here.</p>
<p>I want to thank the thousands of parents who have already supported The Stanford Fund for Undergraduate Education and Stanford University this academic year. Gifts to The Stanford Fund help support need-based financial aid, academic innovation and student life opportunities. These gifts truly make a difference in the life of every Stanford student. Families who make a gift to The Stanford Fund at the Parent Partners level of $1,500 also receive benefits that include:</p>
<p>• Invitations to special events at Parents’ Weekend and throughout the year<br />
• Recognition in Stanford publications<br />
• Special communications throughout the year</p>
<p>For more information on Parent Partners or to make a gift to The Stanford Fund, please visit the <a href="http://giving.stanford.edu">website</a> or contact the Parents’ Program at 650-723-9992.</p>
<p>Thank you, as always, for your support of Stanford!</p>
<p>Sincerely,<br />
Jane Harrison<br />
Director, Stanford Parents’ Program</p>
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