{"id":733,"date":"2018-03-28T20:56:18","date_gmt":"2018-03-28T20:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/family-engagement.utdev1.wpengine.com\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2025-04-22T10:36:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T14:36:13","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome to the Big Orange Family!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"lead\">Welcome to the Big Orange Family!<\/p>\n<p>Family Experience in the Center for Student Advocacy helps all members of the Volunteer Family from the time that their student is admitted to the University until they graduate. We provide communications and engaging programs to help families stay connected with their student&#8217;s college experience.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"orange-hash\">\n<div class=\"half \">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2093 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/Fall-Family-Weekend-1.jpg\" alt=\"A family at Fall Family Weekend is smiling for a picture in front of a University of Tennessee-themed backdrop.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/Fall-Family-Weekend-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/Fall-Family-Weekend-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/Fall-Family-Weekend-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/Fall-Family-Weekend-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"half \">\n<h2>Events<\/h2>\n<p>A variety of events throughout the year help families stay connected and engaged with their student and the Volunteer community. Signature events like Fall Family Weekend, Spring Family Reunion, Family Appreciation Week, and Vol Family Socials provide opportunities to visit campus, celebrate students, and connect with other families. Seasonal gatherings also offer interactive activities, campus tours, and opportunities to strengthen community bonds.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/events\/\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-orange btn-lg btn-block\">Learn more about Family Events<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><br class=\"clearshortcode\"><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"half \">\n<h2>Outreach<\/h2>\n<p>Programs like the Tennessee Family Association provide resources, updates, and engagement opportunities for Vol families. The Tennessee Family Ambassadors, a team of student leaders, offer peer support and guidance to help families navigate campus life. These initiatives ensure families stay informed, involved, and connected to the Volunteer community.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/outreach\/\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-orange btn-lg btn-block\">Explore Outreach<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"half \">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2142 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/20231020_International_Festival-_015.jpg\" alt=\"Two students stopped on PED Walkway for a photo. The student on the left is wearing an orange long sleeve t-shirt, while the one on the right is wearing a long sleeve gray Tennessee jacket.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/20231020_International_Festival-_015.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/20231020_International_Festival-_015-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/20231020_International_Festival-_015-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/20231020_International_Festival-_015-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><br class=\"clearshortcode\"><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"half \">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2127 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/20231215_Fall_Commencement_146.jpg\" alt=\"Two siblings hugging each other outside of Thompson Bowling Arena after a commencement ceremony. \" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/20231215_Fall_Commencement_146.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/20231215_Fall_Commencement_146-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/20231215_Fall_Commencement_146-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/20231215_Fall_Commencement_146-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"half \">\n<h2>Education<\/h2>\n<p>Educational resources help families support their students throughout their college journey. Programs like the Tennessee Family Series offer webinars and discussions on key topics, while resources on FERPA provide guidance on student privacy rights and academic access. These initiatives keep families informed and engaged in their student\u2019s experience.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/education\/\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-orange btn-lg btn-block\">Discover Education Resources<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><br class=\"clearshortcode\"><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"half \">\n<h2>Letters from Home<\/h2>\n<p>Letters from Home gives families a special way to encourage their students with personalized notes of support. Delivered during the semester, these letters serve as a meaningful reminder of their family\u2019s love and encouragement, helping students stay motivated as they navigate college life.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/letters-from-home\/\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-orange btn-lg btn-block\">Write Letters from Home<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"half \">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2144 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/Fall-Family-Weekend-3.jpg\" alt=\"Three family members outside of the Student Union for Fall Family Weekend. Two members of the family are within the fence, while the other is outside of the fence. They have their arms around each other.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/Fall-Family-Weekend-3.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/Fall-Family-Weekend-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/Fall-Family-Weekend-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/Fall-Family-Weekend-3-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><br class=\"clearshortcode\"><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"half \">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2117 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/328902_20210418_River_Bluff_Sunrise_053.jpg\" alt=\"Horizontal image of Knoxville, Tennessee, which includes an elevated view of the city. This includes famous landmarks, such as the Sunsphere, the two bridges, and Thompson Bowling arena. In the top left and right corners, there are various leaves from different trees.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/328902_20210418_River_Bluff_Sunrise_053.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/328902_20210418_River_Bluff_Sunrise_053-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/328902_20210418_River_Bluff_Sunrise_053-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/328902_20210418_River_Bluff_Sunrise_053-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"half \">\n<h2>Plan Your Visit<\/h2>\n<p>Plan your visit to Rocky Top with our helpful resources to make the most of your trip! From hotel and dining recommendations to tips on navigating Knoxville and attending campus events, this guide provides everything you need for a seamless and enjoyable experience. Whether you&#8217;re visiting for a weekend or a special event, you&#8217;ll have all the information to make your time with your student memorable.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/plan-your-visit\/\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-orange btn-lg btn-block\">Plan Your Visit to Knoxville<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><br class=\"clearshortcode\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Family Experience in the Center for Student Advocacy helps all members of the Volunteer Family from the time that their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":2103,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"template-wide.php","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-733","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Welcome to the Big Orange Family!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Stay connected to your Vol with helpful resources, important updates, and exciting events throughout their journey!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Welcome to the Big Orange Family!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Stay connected to your Vol with helpful resources, important updates, and exciting events throughout their journey!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Family Experience\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-22T14:36:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/family\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/02\/20240518_HBC_Commencement_SB_108-e1741030876649.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"350\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/family\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/family\\\/\",\"name\":\"Welcome to the Big Orange Family!\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/family\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/family\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/family\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/family\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/20240518_HBC_Commencement_SB_108-e1741030876649.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-03-28T20:56:18+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-22T14:36:13+00:00\",\"description\":\"Stay connected to your Vol with helpful resources, important updates, and exciting events throughout their journey!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/family\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/family\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/family\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/family\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/20240518_HBC_Commencement_SB_108-e1741030876649.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/family\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/20240518_HBC_Commencement_SB_108-e1741030876649.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":350,\"caption\":\"A graduate hugs family after the Haslam College of Business commencement ceremony inside Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on May 18, 2024. 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