Parents Fund for William & Mary
William & Mary’s reputation for excellence is legendary, but it doesn’t just happen by accident. Parents, grandparents and family members are partners in the exceptional education that the university provides for its students.
A crucial component of that partnership is the Parents Fund, which helps William & Mary offer students the most effective tools for lifelong growth and success. The Parents Fund supports Student Success and Student Life Initiatives at the university and provides for the most urgent needs of our students. From summer research and internship stipends to student leadership training and Health & Wellness programming, the Parents Fund provides the opportunity for William & Mary students to be part of a strong community and flourish as individuals.
We invite you to consider joining the Parent & Family Council, a community of parent leaders that offers families unique opportunities to participate in the life of the university both in Williamsburg and within their own communities.
For more information about the Parents Fund for William & Mary, contact the Parent & Family Giving team.
Give Now to the Parents Fund for William & Mary
2018-19 Parents Fund Initiatives
Below is a comprehensive listing of all the initiatives for the 2018-2019 Academic Year.
Undergraduate Summer Research
Supports three summer research stipends in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Humanities and Social Sciences Research Fair
Funds are used to showcase the research undertaken by students in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Co-Curricular Activities
Supports academic co-curricular activities such as student presentations at conferences and student work with faculty on research projects.
“Focusing Your Experience”
Programs designed to explore the development of post-first year student transition and persistence opportunities in collaboration with Academic Advising and Student Affairs partners.
Tribe TutorZone Services for SAS-Registered Students
Provides additional TutorZone support for students registered with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) that will reduce barriers facing students who desire academic support while creating equity by offsetting costs for disadvantaged students with diagnosed conditions.
Tribe TutorZone Fee Waivers
Provides fee waivers for the use of the TutorZone by students from low-SES backgrounds, primarily Pell Grant students.
Tribe TutorZone Textbooks
Updated textbooks are a necessity for effective operation of the TutorZone. Over 80% of the courses tutored in TTZ are in STEM subjects which require expensive textbooks that must be updated every few years. Funds will provide much needed support to update the textbook inventory.
Civic Scholars Project (Graduate Assistant)
This new initiative will be a partnership with academic affairs as a result of the Mellon Grant for Citizen Scholars. The project will provide curricular offerings that educate students in multi-disciplinary approaches to civically engaged scholarship with particular attention to the leadership virtues of compassion, intellectual openness, self-awareness, public mindedness, and personal integrity.
Unpaid Internship Fund
The capacity for students to grow their career experiences through an internship supports their own career development. Students are expressing strong interest in seeking internship experience, and the unpaid internship program will enable more students to take advantage of unpaid internship opportunities by offsetting basic living costs.
Professional Travel Fund
Funds help to subsidize travel expenses for Cohen Career Center sponsored trips and activities for students who otherwise would be unable to participate due to financial cost.
Externship Travel Funds
Funding helps support student travel to externship opportunities.
Technology Funds
Replacing 8-year-old technology in the presentation room and conference room, and purchasing iPads to check students in to programs, workshops and services offered by the Cohen Career Center.
Suits2U
Connects students who have limited financial resources with local retailers in Williamsburg to provide a discount on professional attire. The goal is for the career-ready student to have no out-of pocket expense or worry about reimbursement.
Wine, Dine, How to Act Fine Etiquette Dinner
Etiquette dinner in which students are instructed on the art of dining during an interview.
Branch Out Weekend Alternative Breaks
Branch Out offers five trips during the year (Fall Break and MLK Weekend). Fully funds the trips so they can be offered to all students at no cost. Budget is based on a food stamp level, with simple housing (e.g. church basements) and a small fee paid to host sites.
Community Engagement Grants
Funds support student service during winter and summer breaks, as well as year-round service locally.
Education Programs Transportation
Funding supports professional drivers through Williamsburg – James City Schools to transport children to / from our education programs.
Local Engagement Internships
Funding supports 9 paid student internships during the academic year and summer, created in partnership with local nonprofit organizations. Each internship is an average of 5 to 10 hours per week.
MLK Day of Service
A day of service designed to bring students together to learn about the legacy of Dr. King and social justice, and to participate in direct service in our communities.
Population-Specific FYIs
Designed to provide continued opportunities for targeted populations (firstgen, transfers, non-traditional, third-culture, pre-orientation programs, etc.) in conjunction with campus partners and student leaders to support student investment and belonging.
Neurodiversity Summer Bridge Program Expansion
Neurodiversity refers to the diversity of brains and minds, including autism, Tourette Syndrome, epilepsy, seizure disorder, ADHD, etc. The Summer Bridge Program is a weekend-long, overnight event that provides incoming neurodivergent students the opportunity to meet and socialize with other neurodivergent students while also providing tools and identifying resources that will assist in neurodiverse students’ transition from high school to college.
President's Council Retreat
A 1-day retreat for presidents of cultural organizations who are advised by the Center for Student Diversity. The retreat will focus on organizational goal setting, leadership development skills/membership engagement and fostering collaboration among student organizations. Monthly President’s Council meetings through the year will help reinforce these key leadership skills.
ProtoCall
Provides after-hours and weekend counseling support for students who call the W&M Counseling Center with mental health concerns or issues. Staffed by qualified practitioners, ProtoCall allows us to respond quickly to students' mental health needs when the Counseling Center is closed.
Silver Cloud
Online educational and therapeutic modules to address stress management, anxiety and depression.
EverFi
EverFi is a digital learning platform that teaches students through a variety of modules about both sexual assault prevention and alcohol.
Wellness Initiative Incentive Programs
These funds will help incentivize student involvement in health and wellness programs by offering prizes for participation, including Fit Bits, a bike and coupons for wellness treatment services.
Trauma Support Training & Resources
Funding supports The Haven volunteer training so that peer confidential advocates have the knowledge and resources to provide crisis support and assistance to The Haven visitors.
Dean of Students Office / New Leafe Clinic Partnership
Cooperative partnership with the School of Education's Addictions Counseling program to provide students referred for alcohol or other substance related conduct to receive in-person counseling by Masters and Doctoral-level students to engage students in behavior change.
Well-Student FYIs
Opportunities to support the development of healthy life and decision-making skills. Includes collaborative programming with Residence Life, Counseling Center, Student Health Center and Health Promotion colleagues.
Eating Disorder Awareness
Eating disorders are the third most common diagnoses seen at college counseling centers across the nation. Awareness and education is key for prevention. Funds will help increase awareness and education about eating disorders through a variety of speakers, programs and resources.
Student Counseling Co-Payments
Provides financial support for counseling sought by students who are separated from their parents because of domestic violence.
Psychological Testing
In-depth psychological and educational testing is expensive, but can be critical in supporting students’ well-being and academic success. Funds will support testing for two students in significant need and who are engaged in therapy or medication management.
Preventative Health Initiative
Holistic wellness depends on the prevention of illness rather than the mere treatment of a condition after it develops. Funds will be used to provide vaccines (flu and HPV) and support preventive medicine symposiums on-campus to raise student awareness about numerous health issues that can easily be prevented with proper lifestyle choices.
National Suicide Prevention Week
National Suicide Prevention Week (NSPW) is a nationally recognized week with programming aimed at reducing suicide and promoting help-seeking behaviors. At W&M, NSPW events are part of a comprehensive suicide prevention plan that is implemented on campus each year. Funds support cost of events taking place during the week.
Free Fitness / Wellness Classes
In an effort to remove a barrier to student wellness, the Student Recreation Center will offer free fitness and wellness classes to full-time students. This makes the classes accessible to all students.
Alma Mater Productions (AMP) Major Speaker Sponsorship / Late Night Funding
Funds support AMP with major speaker sponsorship and/or late night funding. Both serve the goal of diversifying options for students and provide more extensive programming.
Branch Out Leader Training
This allows student leaders to be trained to run Alternative Breaks trips.
New Student Organization Funding
Newly recognized student organizations miss the Student Assembly budget cycle. Funds will serve as grants for up to 10 new student organizations in their first 18 months to support the organization, the members and their initiatives.
Culturally Based Fraternal Organization (CBFO) Retreat Funding
Fraternity/Sorority Life brings an outside facilitator to work with all of our National Pan-Hellenic Council chapters.
Harm Reduction Programming
Provides programming to fraternity/sorority community members on sexual assault prevention, alcohol harm reduction and hazing prevention.
TribeLink
Software platform designed to help manage student organizations and involvement. It will help not only to “encourage and validate student engagement” but will also help “track the impact of involvement on student success.” (www.campuslabs.com/)
Student Leader Development
Supplemental workshops and trainings for Honor Society, Orientation and other student leaders designed to increase skill transferability and overall growth.
Leadership Advisory Board
Comprised of alumni of William & Mary representing a broad range of constituent groups. Board members assist with leadership development initiatives on campus and offer guidance on best leadership practices that can be translated to current students.