Council Membership:

The Parent and Family Council provides opportunities for involvement for parents/guardians who want to make a positive impact on undergraduate student life at Iowa through advocacy and philanthropy.

Council membership consists of two families from each undergraduate student classification – 1st year,  2nd year, 3rd year, and 4th year and transfer student.

Parents/guardians who are interested in becoming a member of the Parent and Family Council are invited to complete an Online Application.

Applications are closed at this time. We will reopen them later in the Spring 2024 semester or early summer. Families will be notified of their appointment to the Parent and Family Network Council no later than August 31.

Council Member Responsibilities:

  • Help shape the parent/guardian and family experience at the University of Iowa.
  • Increase their knowledge about university programs, services, and activities that support undergraduate student success, both within and beyond the classroom.
  • Engage with university administrators, faculty, staff, and student leaders on a regular basis.
  • Interact with other University of Iowa parents/guardians and families.
  • Attend university-sponsored special events, as requested and able.
  • Agree to and serve up to a four-year term on the Council.

Council Committee Engagement Expectations:

  • Each Parent and Family Network Council member will serve on the Parent and Family Fund for Student Support Committee:
  • Work with the Parent and Family Network to identify and engage with potential parent/guardian donors.
  • Participate in planning and implementing fundraising activities for current and potential parent/guardian donors.
  • Help identify parent/student priorities.
  • In addition, each Council member will serve on a minimum of one of the following committees and attend events as able:

Family Weekend Committee

  • Plan and execute new family/guardian reception.
  • Plan and execute other Family Weekend activities, as requested.
  • Serve as an ambassador of the Parent and Family Network.

Graduation Weekend Committee

  • Partner with the UI Center for Advancement staff to host graduation tent event.
  • Plan and execute other graduation weekend activities, as requested.
  • Serve as an ambassador of the Parent and Family Network.

Homecoming Weekend Committee

  • Work with the UI Homecoming Executive Council to plan and execute a reception for all parents/guardians.
  • Coordinate and facilitate parents/guardians to ride on the Parent and Family Network Council float.
  • Plan and execute other Homecoming Weekend activities, as requested.
  • Serve as an ambassador of the Parent and Family Network.

Council Eligibility:

  • Parent or guardian of a currently enrolled undergraduate student at the University of Iowa.
  • Commitment to serve up to a four-year term on the Parent and Family Network Council, beginning with your student’s 1st year at the University of Iowa.
  • Commitment to make an annual financial gift personally meaningful to the individual (or family) council member. The gift must be directed to the Parent and Family Fund for Student Support during their term on the council.

*Parents or guardians may serve individually or jointly on the Parent and Family Network Council with their spouse/partner. The Council commits to recruiting members who represent the diversity of the University of Iowa’s undergraduate student population. 

**Current UI faculty, staff, and students are not eligible to serve on the Parent and Family Network Council.

Council Annual Meeting:

  • The Parent and Family Network Council annual meeting is held on campus each fall in conjunction with Family Weekend.
  • Virtual meetings as needed.

Institutional Liaisons:

To learn more about the Parent and Family Network Council or to make a gift to the Parent and Family Fund for Student Support go to [website] or please contact:

Bill Nelson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Students and Executive Director, Iowa Memorial Union
(319) 335-1162

Ashley Gredys
Associate Director of Development, UI Center for Advancement and Division of Student Life
(319) 467-3534