URI hosts Family Weekend Nov. 5­7
'New Wave of Learning' takes hold on URI's Kingston and Bay Campuses

KINGSTON, R.I. -- October 20, 1999 -- The University of Rhode Island's Kingston Campus will be bursting with excitement the first weekend in November as thousands flock to Kingston for the annual Family Weekend Program, "A New Wave of Learning," on Nov. 5­7, 1999.

The URI Family Weekend Planning Committee has scheduled a variety of entertaining and educational activities for URI students and their families on both the University's Kingston Campus and the Narragansett Bay Campus, home to the internationally acclaimed Graduate School of Oceanography.

Some of the highlights include the opportunity for families to attend classes with their student, and a College Deans' reception on Friday. On Saturday, Convocation and The Main Event will give families the opportunity to visit the Narragansett Bay Campus, where the spotlight will shine on exciting research and educational opportunities in the University's Marine and Environmental Programs. Families will also have the chance to tour URI's 185' oceanographic research vessel, the Endeavor, to see where actual deep-sea science is conducted. Then it's on to lunch either at the Bay Campus or a barbeque outside Keaney Gym, an exciting football game against the College of William and Mary, a post-game reception, and more. Saturday evening, families may choose to attend a Multicultural Cabaret at the Multicultural Center, the second annual URI Film and Video Festival, or the Sixth Annual Fall Choral Festival. The evening will end with a fun-filled "Party Like It's 1999 ­ Millenium Extravaganza," at the Memorial Union.

The weekend concludes on Sunday with workshops hosted by URI's Career Services Dept. and the President's Brunch.

What's the cost for this "New Wave of Learning" and family fun? Families may choose to attend all of the events, or just a few. This year, there are two registration options: The All-inclusive Blue Card option is a $48 value including nine events for $25 per person ($15 for those under 12 and over 65). The Brunch-only White Card option is $15, any age. Football game tickets, which are $10 for adults, $5 children under 12 or adults over 65, and free for URI Students with ID, may be ordered separately. Family members with a White Card may inquire at the Hospitality Desk about purchasing tickets to other Family Weekend events on a space available basis.

Tickets also are available for the URI Parents Fund Tuition Scholarship Raffle. For an investment of only $5 a family might win a $2,500 tuition scholarship for their URI student or a $250 credit at the Memorial Union Bookstore. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the URI Parents Fund Scholarship Endowment. The winner of the bookstore raffle will be announced at the football game on Saturday, and the tuition raffle winner will be announced at Sunday Brunch.

For a detailed schedule of all events and registration materials, please contact the Student Activities Office at 401-874-2726 or by e-mail at familywk@etal.uri.edu or visit the website http://www.uri.edu/student_life/family_weekend/. For disability assistance, please call 401-874-2098 (TDD/Voice) 72 hours in advance.

1999 URI Family Weekend Highlights

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5

8 am­5 pm Follow your student to class.

9 am­4 pm Open House, International Education, National Student Exchange and University Year for Action Internship programs. Taft Hall

Noon­8 pm Check-in and Family Weekend Card pick-up. Memorial Union Main Lounge.

2­5 pm Coffee and cookies at the 193 Degrees Coffeehouse. Memorial Union.

5­6:30 pm Dinner with your student.

7 pm Deans' Desert Reception and Concert. Multicultural Center. Reception set to the background of jazz melodies.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6

Please note that some Saturday events take place at the University's Narragansett Bay Campus, located about six miles from Kingston, while others take place at the Kingston campus.

8 am­4 pm Check-in and Family Weekend Card pick-up. Memorial Union Main Lounge, or from 8­11 am at the URI Coastal Institute, Narragansett Bay Campus.

8:15-9 am Continental Breakfast, Coastal Institute, Narragansett Bay Campus. Visit one of URI's newest and most elegant buildings. Tour the "Living on the Edge" hands-on exhibit about the Coastal Environment. Suitable for all ages.

9:45­10:15 am Convocation. Corliss Auditorium, Narragansett Bay Campus. Begins with a performance by the URI Honors String Quartet and the President's welcome. Exciting initiatives in marine and environmental programs at URI will be highlighted including Agricultural Biotechnology, Sustainable Communities, and the Coastal Institute.

9:20­10:45 am The Main Event. Narragansett Bay Campus. Tour URI's 185' oceanographic research vessel, "Endeavor," at the Bay Campus dock to see where oceanographic field work takes place. Speak with URI Coastal Fellows, undergraduates involved in a new wave of experiential learning, and view their posters and hands-on research demonstrations. Browse through the Coastal Institute Bookstore and take advantage of the special promotional pre-holiday sale.

11 am­noon Gymnastics Team Exhibition and Mackal Field House Tours.

11 am­12:30 pm Enjoy a bag Lunch at the Narragansett Bay Campus, Mosby Center or Barbecue in front of Keaney Gym. (Rain location Roger Williams Dining Hall.)

Noon­3 pm URI v. College of William and Mary Football Game. Meade Stadium, $10 adults, $5 senior citizens and youth, URI students free with ID. Drawing for the bookstore raffle will take place during half-time activities.

3­5 pm Post-game reception. Galanti Lounge, Library with President Carothers, faculty, and staff.

Evening Entertainment Options:

7­9 pm Multicultural Cabaret, Multicultural Center Forum

7 pm Sixth Annual Fall Choral Festival, Fine Arts Center Recital Hall

7:30 pm "Visualizations" 2nd Annual URI Film and Video Festival, Chafee 271.

8:30 pm­Midnight "Party Like It's 1999 ­ Millenium Extravaganza." Games, food, and entertainment, Memorial Union.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7

10 am "Career Coaching Your Kids." Discussion with author David Montross. Memorial Union Atrium I. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Memorial Union Hospitality Center. Seating limited.

11 am Brunch with the President. Memorial Union, Ram's Den.

1­2 pm Career Services Questions and Answers, Memorial Union Lobby.

-xxx-

For More Information: Jhodi Redlich, 874-2116