Welcome Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Wolfpack Family,

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful and restful holiday season. As we embark on the New Year, January marks a time of both insight and joy. It is an opportunity for us to reflect and look forward to the new beginnings and exciting opportunities that 2026 has in store. At NC State, we found no better way to celebrate the year-end than our Fall Commencement ceremonies, with more than 3,300 students having graduated on Saturday, Dec. 13. This is not only an accomplishment for all of our students but for you as well, the parents and families who have stood by them through the highs and lows of a memorable journey.

The start of 2026 is an exciting time to be on campus. Just last week, we welcomed more than 800 new members to the Wolfpack community at our Spring New Student and Family Orientation.

Today is our first day of classes! And in less than 48 hours, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, we will open registration* for our Spring Fling family weekend, March 6 – 8.  

In addition to planning your next visit to campus, we have included the Spring Academic Calendar, Conversation Calendar, important information about upcoming deadlines for the Housing Reapplication process and the Student Health Insurance waiver requirement. 

In closing, we want to share a special message from Chancellor Howell as we look forward together to a successful spring semester. We look forward to seeing you soon.

As always, we are here for you. If there is anything we can do to support you and your student, please reach out to us via our Helpline phone 919.515.2441 or email [email protected].

GO PACK!

Sincerely,
Kerri Fowler
Executive Director, Parents and Families Services

*Please note that we do not share an exact time that registration will open in advance. This helps ensure a smooth registration experience for everyone. Thank you for understanding.

Winter Welcome Week

Encourage your student to attend Winter Welcome Week. Events are underway and, with something for everyone, they are an exciting way to kick off the spring semester! Winter Welcome Week is a great opportunity for students to reconnect with friends and make new friendships.

Campus Partner Updates

Keeping parents and families well-informed is a priority, and our campus partners are here to help. Please take a moment to review the information below to stay up-to-date on deadlines, events and opportunities available to your student.

From an NC State Student to an NC State Alumnus

There are countless ways students can stay connected with the Pack. From alumni cords to exploring the world, be sure to share the alumni checklist with your student. Celebrate your achievement with your alumni cords and explore the world through WolfTreks travel. This is just the beginning. One Pack, endless opportunities.

Visit the Alumni website to learn more.

Course Ready

Did you know? Course Ready offers students a flat rate for all the materials required for their courses. This includes printed materials, e-books and more, which can be picked up at the Wolfpack Outfitters.

Student Alumni Association Ambassador Recruitment

Encourage your student to stop by and learn how Ambassadors help build traditions, create memorable student experiences and strengthen the Pack community. Whether they’re passionate about leadership, event planning, networking or simply want to meet new people, there’s a place for your student with us!

Recruitment Info Sessions
Jan. 28 in Talley Room 4271 at 6 p.m.
Feb. 9 Virtual via Google Meet at 6 p.m.

WELLNESS

Support Your Student:
Coffee and CARES on Jan. 14

New semesters can bring new challenges, and we want to ensure your student knows exactly where to turn for support.

Please encourage your student to join Prevention Services for a morning of connection at Coffee and CARES. This casual event is the perfect opportunity for students to meet our dedicated CARES staff, learn about the wide range of support resources available on campus and ask questions in a relaxed environment.

The best part? We’ll have free coffee and swag waiting for them!

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOLFPACK FAMILIES

Pack Family Sponsors

Sponsors play a vital role in helping us achieve our goals, and in return, they receive prominent acknowledgment across our events, communications and digital platforms.

The following Sponsors have partnered with our offices, aligning their brand with the mission and efforts of NC State and the Office of Parents and Families Services.

Stay Connected

To ensure you continue to receive communications from Parents and Families Services, including but not limited to essential university messages, e-newsletters, special events and the monthly conversation calendar, please set up your Brickyard account. Your student initiated this process in their MyPack Portal account. Students can replicate this process for multiple parents or family members. Each individual account must be completed with a preferred email address AND the “opt-in” button for communications checked.

Please note that we are unable to communicate with any family member(s) who do not have the opt-in button for communications checked OR who have not been granted FERPA (Federal Rights Privacy Act) access by their student.