Skip to main content

Parent Connector

A place for parents and loved ones to keep up to date with the happenings within the college.

Empowering your student

Welcome to our university family

On behalf of the entire university community, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you and your first-time freshman student as they begin their journey with us.

We understand that sending your child off to college can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. As parents, you have spent years preparing your child for this moment, and we are honored that you have chosen WVU to be a part of your child's academic and personal growth.

Our goal as a university and college is to provide a safe and supportive, but also engaging and rigorous environment where your child can explore their passions, gain new experiences, and develop the skills necessary to succeed in their future careers and personal lives. We have dedicated faculty and staff who are committed to helping our students reach their full potential, both academically and personally.

While they will face challenges and opportunities along the way, we are confident that with your support and our guidance, they will thrive during their time here. We encourage you to stay engaged in your child's college experience.  The goal of this parent newsletter is to be a resource for you during this first year.  We will provide you with important dates, information on resources, and share talking points and conversation starters.  We will also highlight major events and spotlight the incredible achievements of our students.  I also want you to know that you can always reach out to me with any questions or concerns. 

We are thrilled to welcome you and your first-time freshman to our university family and look forward to working with you and your child over the coming years.

Sincerely,

Headshot of Zach Thayer.

Zach Thayer
Director: Office of Student Success
College of Applied Human Sciences
West Virginia University
zothayer@mail.wvu.edu

Highlights

Highlights and empowering topics to consider this month.

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendar with these important dates.

  • Aug
    13-15
    Move-In
  • Aug
    18

    Classes Begin

  • Aug
    24
    Last day of add/drop
  • Sept
    5
    First home football game

Picture of the month

Sights and views from our Instagram account (@WVUCAHS).

Students holding jerseys with the number 1 on them with NFL and Pittsburgh themed messaging on backdrops in the background. View more on our instagram
Students from WVU's School of Sport Sciences spent three days in Pittsburgh working the 2026 NFL Draft, supporting fan events at Point State Park and the North Shore. For many, it was their first hands-on look at professional sports event management at the highest level.

Resouce Spotlight

Check out one of the many resources available to you and your student.

Appreciative Advising

The College of Applied Human Sciences has embraced Appreciative Advising and Instruction as a foundation to our approach to student success.  Appreciative advising and instruction are innovative approaches that utilize an appreciative framework and focus on the strengths and positive attributes of students, rather than their weaknesses and deficits.

View more resources

Conversation Starters

Engaging topics to discuss with your student.

Talk to your student about checking their WVU email regularly

As your student prepares for their first semester, one of the most important habits they can develop is checking their university email every day. Important information about orientation, course registration, financial aid, housing, billing, and campus opportunities will be sent directly to their WVU email account.

View more starters

Stay Connected

Get notified monthly with updates and information from the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences.

Sign Up

Student STories


              A student in their graduation cap with

Celebrating The Class of 2026

Monday, May 11, 2026

The College of Applied Human Sciences will celebrate commencement on Sunday, May 17, at 9 a.m. at the WVU Hope Coliseum. Here is a look at several graduates from the college who will earn their degrees this spring.

Read More: Celebrating The Class of 2026

              Paige Grove stands in front of a mantle wearing a white dress and holding a gavel.

Grove finds her calling in child life

Sunday, May 03, 2026

Paige Grove came to WVU partly because of how welcoming the campus felt on visits, and partly because her mother is an alumna. She found her direction in Youth and Family Sciences, with a focus on child life, a healthcare specialty centered on supporting children and families through serious medical experiences. Hands-on time at WVU Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital put that training into practice and pointed her toward a master's degree in child life at the University of Georgia this fall.

Read More: Grove finds her calling in child life

              Ethan Waugh competes in a WVU esports jersey, wearing a headset and glasses, focused on a monitor in a dimly lit gaming arena with green ambient lighting.

Waugh uses Sports Leadership degree to chart a course in esports

Saturday, May 02, 2026

Ethan Waugh grew up in Morgantown, which made choosing WVU easy. What took more thought, though, was figuring out how to turn his passion for esports into a career. The Sport Leadership program gave him that framework, and he further molded his path with minors in Esports Management and Strategic Social Media. While completing his degree fully online, Waugh worked full-time at a sports complex and competed on the WVU Esports team, making multiple NACE playoff runs along the way. He graduates this spring with his sights set on a full-time role in esports operations.

Read More: Waugh uses Sports Leadership degree to chart a course in esports

              Noah Miller leans forward to engage with a young child during a physical activity exercise in an early childhood classroom setting, with colorful equipment on the floor between them.

Lifelong Mountaineer Miller earns dual degrees in physical education

Friday, May 01, 2026

Noah Miller grew up surrounded by the gold and blue. His father has worked for WVU Medicine since before Miller was born, so choosing WVU felt less like a decision and more like a given. What wasn't predetermined was his path once he arrived. Miller started in exercise physiology before finding his footing in physical education, ultimately earning both a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Kinesiology and a master's in Physical Education Teacher Education. Along the way, he logged more than 1,000 hours of hands-on teaching experience and was named the SHAPE America Major of the Year.

Read More: Lifelong Mountaineer Miller earns dual degrees in physical education

View more stories on the CAHS Media Hub