Division of Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement • DECEMBER 2025
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING UPDATES
Department of Housing and Residential Life
Fall 2025 Closing
Students should review the Housing and Residential Life website for winter break departure instructions and ensure all required steps are completed.
Spring 2026 Move-In
Housing reopens for the Spring 2026 semester on Wednesday, January 7.
Apply for HRL Student Employment
Students can apply year-round for Security or Desk Assistant roles for Spring 2026. Resident Assistant and First-Year Fellow recruitment for Fall 2026–Spring 2027 has begun; check the website at the start of fall for details.
Finish Strong and Finals Preparation
Finals Week can be a frightening time for our students. At the University of Miami, we make sure they have all the resources they need to ace their finals. One of our biggest and most successful programs is Finish Strong. Hosted by the Residential Faculty and Housing and Residential Life, this program is a multi-subject review session led by more than 25 faculty members and attended by more than 1,000 students each semester. Beyond review sessions, we provide a space for group study with tutors and faculty from students’ classes, available on-site during our late-night study tables (with snacks!). Tell them to come join us for Finish Strong this semester on December 3, 4, and 7!
Sign-Up for 2026-2027 Campus Housing
More information about the process and timeline—including our upcoming information sessions—will be made available soon on Housing and Residential Life’s website.
Believe it or not, the Fall 2025 semester is wrapping up—and we’re already getting ready for the Spring 2026 billing season!
If you plan to receive financial aid for the 2025-2026 academic year, be sure to log in to the View Financial Aid portal regularly. If prompted, complete the e-Consent process—it’s quick and easy, and without it, you won’t receive important financial aid updates electronically. By checking the portal often, you’ll stay on top of any pending documents or messages, so you can take action right away.
Throughout the winter, Canes Central will share important updates on billing timelines, financial aid deadlines, and more to help you have a smooth and stress-free start to your spring semester.
Pro tip: Take care of administrative tasks early so you can focus fully on your classes once spring begins!
What Are Title IV Funds—and Why Does Authorization Matter?
Title IV funds include federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, SEOG, Federal Direct Loans, and PLUS Loans. These automatically pay your tuition and mandatory fees—but they won’t cover other allowable charges (like health insurance or housing) unless you give the University permission.
Want to stay in the loop?
Make sure to set up proxy access for your supporters—this allows them to receive updates—and follow Canes Central on Instagram and Facebook for key info and reminders.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Dean of Students Office
Religious Life on Campus
Religious life can play an important role on campus for students who already have a strong faith-based tradition or those seeking to form new connections to their spirituality. At the University of Miami, religious life is overseen by the Chaplains Association under the Dean of Students Office and is the official body representing religious and spiritual life on campus. The association includes Jewish (Hillel and Chabad), Christian (Catholic/Protestant), and Muslim clergy. Each chaplain is connected to a specific faith group on campus.
Chaplains provide an array of religious and social activities programs. These services include scripture study, community service, discussions, fellowship, leadership training, retreats, social events, and worship. Additionally, chaplains can provide guidance and counseling for students, and at times serve as a liaison for students. Chaplains can help students navigate individual religious needs, such as the excused classes policy for religious holidays. A connection with a chaplain/religious life center can be a very rewarding part of your student’s University experience.
FROM DR. WHITELY’S DESK
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement
A Note from Dr. Whitely
As the fall semester wraps up, I have been reflecting on our semester. Our students have accomplished much, whether that includes completing their first semester of college, applying for their first job, or prioritizing their mental health. I am grateful for your constant partnership to make students aware of resources, push them to step outside of their comfort zone, and support their growth and development as they earn their degree.
I have one last support resource for you to remind your student about. There will be a number of study sessions offered. Our Residential Faculty will host their Finish Strong program series on Wednesday, December 3, Thursday, December 4, and Sunday, December 7, focusing on high-impact classes like chemistry, physics, math, and others. Please be aware that while these are offered by residential faculty, all students, including commuters, are welcome. I will also host Pancakes with Pat on Tuesday, December 2, at the Shalala Student Center to celebrate the last day of classes.
On Thursday, December 11, we will celebrate our December graduates. All details for commencement ceremonies may be found on our website. I look forward to celebrating with you and your family.
I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season. I look forward to a great new year.
Dr. Patricia A. Whitely began her service as Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement in 1997. She is an adjunct faculty member in the School of Education and Human Development. Dr. Whitely oversees facilities, services, and programs that support students, families, and alumni, including residential life, leadership development, service learning, orientation, student organizations, student activities, student facilities, student counseling, Greek life, the Dean of Students Office, the Camner Center for Academic Resources, Canes Central, and Alumni Engagement.
STUDENT VOICE
Department of Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement
Student Note
Happy Holidays, Canes!
In this note, I’d like to share my experience working in a leadership position as an orientation fellow!
Working as an orientation fellow is one of the coolest things you can do on campus. This is because of the incredible people you get to meet and work with. It’s a way to make friends, establish connections, and it allows you to get involved on campus by welcoming the next year of UM students. I saw it as a way to give back to the University that had given me so much.
These experiences develop both talking and listening skills that will aid you in your college career. College is a nerve-racking time for many. Some have social fears, others have academic fears. Being a helping hand for the next class and the University is an extremely fulfilling experience. Working orientation showed me a side of campus I didn’t even know existed! I met people from all over the U.S., as well as plenty of people from abroad. It’s an opportunity I highly recommend. My time as an orientation fellow makes me even more proud to be a Miami Hurricane. Encourage your student to apply later this January!
Have an amazing break and safe travels wherever you go!
Juan Carlos (JC) Laracuente is a commuter student at the University of Miami, currently in his junior year pursuing a degree in Journalism with aspirations to enter motorsport through sports journalism. He is an active member of the UM community, serving as a Great Start Staff member and Orientation Leader with the Department of Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement. JC also works as a Student Onboarding Assistant at the Herbert Wellness Center and has been involved with the Association of Commuter Students, where he previously served as Co-Athletic Chair.
RESOURCE GUIDE FOR FAMILIES
Produced by Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement, the Family Resource Guide is designed specifically for families of current undergraduate students and includes a variety of resources for academics, student life, campus safety, and other critical resources.
FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS
Fall 2025 Commencement: If your student graduates in December 2025, you are encouraged to join the Commencement listserv. This will allow you to receive information sent to graduates, including deadlines and the most up-to-date information for Commencement.
Gables Village—Phase 3 of the University of Miami’s Housing Facilities Strategic Plan—will feature more than 1,450 beds for upper-class students and will open at the site of the current Mahoney-Pearson Residential College, which will be demolished this summer to make way for the new complex.
Artificial intelligence is transforming architecture, facilitating the work that used to take hours, increasing efficiency and speed in design workflow.
An interdisciplinary team from the University of Miami is helping to build resilience in Grand Bahama, which is still recovering from Hurricane Dorian—the storm that pummeled the island six years ago.
A new cohort of 30 student teams received seed funding this week from the USTAAR student entrepreneurship program, propelling their business ventures forward.
A team of University of Miami students devised a removable engineering solution that could protect coral reefs from harmful ultraviolet rays in the hottest months of the year.
This email was sent by Orientation & Commuter Student Involvement
Shalala Student Center
1330 Miller Drive, Suite 203
Coral Gables, FL 33146
