UPCOMING EVENTS

Partnering in Preparedness: Helping Ensure Your Cane is Ready!

We had the privilege of connecting with new students and loved ones during orientation, discussing everything from hurricane planning to campus safety. These conversations reaffirmed that readiness is a shared responsibility—and we need your help to ensure your student is prepared.

Confirm your student has entered their mobile number in CaneLink to receive critical emergency alerts. Families can also opt in to receive emergency text alerts.

Now is the time to ensure your student has a hurricane plan. Students living on campus will be directed to self-evacuate for Category 3 or higher storms. While rare, having a personal evacuation plan in place ensures you and your student know exactly what to do if a storm threatens. Off-campus students should also prepare by checking if they live in an evacuation zone.

We offer virtual Hurricane Preparedness Training sessions open to all members of the Canes community, including families! These sessions cover hurricane behavior, the University’s emergency protocols, and steps to stay safe.

The University of Miami community is resilient, but resiliency is only possible with preparation. Thank you for helping ensure your Cane is ready.

Academic Exploration Week

Choosing a major or programs of study can be a daunting challenge for students, whether they are new to the U and have a wide variety of interests, or are continuing students thinking about a new direction. It is important to encourage this exploration and active engagement on the journey with reflection and guidance from faculty or staff throughout campus.

Our Cane Navigators and Transitional Guides will be partnering with colleagues to host a series of programs geared towards helping students understand their own interests, values, and strengths, as well as a variety of options to choose from as they explore new pathways. If your student is considering new pathways, please encourage them to check out one of our events during the week of September 8th. The exploration journey is that, a journey, and it may take some time, but it does require students to engage in the process. For more information, visit our website at miami.edu/success.

Canes Course Pack

University of Miami undergraduate, degree-seeking students taking between 1 and 20 credits are automatically enrolled in the Canes Course Pack upon course registration. This program provides required class materials for a flat fee, available in digital format or in physical format when necessary. The Canes Course Pack offers immediate access to course materials, ensuring up to 60% savings through negotiated publisher discounts. This contributes to increased student success and preparedness. By making materials available on the first day of class, the program reduces stress and offers flexibility for students to participate or opt out, avoiding long lines and heavy textbooks with a digital-first approach. Students who do not wish to participate in Canes Course Pack can opt out each semester on or before the last day to drop a course without receiving a “W” for the term. The opt-out deadline for fall 2025 is Wednesday, September 3. For more information about the Canes Course Pack, please visit miami.edu/canescoursepack. 

Stress Management through Physical Well-Being

Stress is often cited as the leading obstacle to academic success in college students. To help, you could encourage your student to incorporate some of these physical well-being modalities into their daily routine, which can significantly reduce stress and enhance overall well-being.

Moderate intensity exercise, performed at 60–75% of maximum heart rate, not only improves physical health but is ideal for the relief of mild stress. At the Herbert Wellness Center, there are plenty of complimentary fitness classes that will stimulate this intensity level, like Cycle, Zumba, HIIT, and more.

Cold-water immersion (CWI), like that offered by the Cold Plunge at the wellness center, has also gained popularity. A 2025 meta-analysis found that CWI significantly reduced stress levels and improved sleep quality. These effects are attributed to the activation of the autonomic nervous system and the release of stress-modulating hormones like norepinephrine. Be careful, though. It can be shocking for the first 30 seconds or so.

The saunas at the wellness center also offer a powerful tool. Regular sauna use can reduce inflammation, lower cortisol levels, and improve cardiovascular markers. Together, these practices form a holistic approach to managing stress through physical well-being.

A Note from Dr. Whitely

Welcome to our new academic year! Whether this is your student’s first semester or you have been cheering with us for decades, we are overjoyed for you and your student to be a part of our Canes Family. This semester will certainly be exciting for our students and the entire community alike.

We kicked off football season over Labor Day weekend and continue with an eight-home-game season. Our students will get constant reminders to stay hydrated with water while cheering along and wearing sunscreen under the Florida sun, but they can always use a reminder from you, too. We will also celebrate Family Weekend in a few short days.

As the semester starts, I have been reflecting on my experiences with my own daughter, who just completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Miami. Every college student will experience highs and lows; each student’s highs and lows will look different. Some students will have their first failing grade, some their first conflict with friends, some their first application denial, and some will stay out too late and skip class. Even with these moments of challenge, it is important that they are their moments. Experiences like this help them to build skills that often only come from experience, resilience, perseverance, and problem-solving. I encourage you as a parent to support those moments. Still, we are always here to help and recommend resources, many found on our Student Affairs well-being and resiliency website at any time.

Welcome Home

Hello, Canes!

As we begin the 2025–2026 school year, I would like to welcome both new and returning students back to campus this fall. With our centennial celebration still ongoing, it’s inspiring to see how our University continues to evolve, honoring the legacy of those who came before us while being shaped by those here today.

That legacy, and the spirit that carries it forward, is something I’ve experienced firsthand. As a first-generation student, the idea of starting somewhere new was overwhelming. My parents, who immigrated from Honduras and Cuba, never had the chance to pursue higher education, so stepping onto this campus felt like stepping into the unknown. But what I discovered here was far more than just classrooms and lecture halls; I found a community that supported me in turning my fear into confidence and uncertainty into purpose.

Now, as I see new faces on campus, full of nerves and excitement like I once was, know this: You are at home here. It’s not just our history or academics that make this place special — it’s the people. Whether you’re a first-year, transfer, or returning student, you now belong to a community that celebrates your journey.

Welcome to the Canes family, we’re so glad you’re here!

A Message from the Alumni Association President

On behalf of the University of Miami Alumni Association and our more than 210,000 proud alumni around the world, we’re excited to have you as part of the U family—whether you’re just joining us or returning home! 

This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate the University of Miami’s centennial—a milestone that honors our rich history and the generations of Canes who have shaped it. As your student begins or continues their journey at the U, know that the Alumni Association is here to support your entire family every step of the way. 

Family members are cherished members of our Canes family. While your students are immersed in campus life, your connection to the University of Miami continues to thrive at home through our vibrant Canes Communities. We invite you to engage with these communities—more than 30 across the country—where you can meet fellow families and alumni, attend events, and build meaningful relationships that last well beyond your student’s time at the U.

Encourage your student to get involved early. The Miami Canes Community offers opportunities for students to engage with alumni, explore career paths, and build connections that last a lifetime.

We hope to see you on campus for these exciting events:

• Family Weekend: September 11 – 14
• Alumni Weekend and Homecoming: November 6 – 8

Thank you for being part of our Canes family. We’re thrilled to have you with us as we celebrate 100 years of excellence—and look ahead to the next century.

Go Canes!

Darren Dupriest, B.B.A. ’91
President, University of Miami Alumni Association

Planning a Trip?

Deem is the University of Miami’s official platform for booking leisure travel. Hotel discounts are available to students, as well as their family and friends. To view participating hotels, click here. First-time users can create a Deem account using any personal email address. Once registered, you’ll be able to search for discounted hotel rates based on your travel destination.

Please Note: Car rental discounts through Deem are available to employees and students only. Terms and conditions apply. For additional details, visit the University’s travel website at travel.miami.edu.

University of Miami gets a new provost

Joel Hassman Samuels is Ivy League-educated and a tenured professor of law who led the largest college at the University of South Carolina, transforming its research enterprise, ramping up faculty recruitment, and significantly improving student retention.

What’s new on campus this fall?

Discover some of the new and improved programs and services being offered across all three campuses—all designed to support the academic journey of students. Check them out.

It’s a Wrap

Take a look back at the weeklong activities and events welcoming first-year Canes and celebrating the start of the fall semester at the University of Miami.

Undergraduate students get direct research experience at the U

Seventeen students from colleges across the country visited the University of Miami and worked in physics and engineering labs across campus as part of the National Science Foundation’s research experiences for undergraduates this summer.

Working together for a greener U

The Office of Sustainability’s Canes Resale 2025 helped incoming students and their families shop sustainably by repurposing 373 dorm items donated during spring move out. This year’s event—the largest yet—diverted more than 2.3 tons of waste from landfills.