The important call contact info you need to have. Over the years there have been only a few times that I, as a parent, have felt the need to call the campus to resolve an issue. Generally, I try to get my kids to handle it themselves. However, knowing where to call for whatever the issue can be daunting. For instance, trying to decipher how rush works or even having financial aid issues.  Be aware though that, unless your student has given you permission to call or is sitting with you, some departments won’t speak to you, the parent.

Check out our blog Before Heading to Miami Do This! to download different legal documents.  These documents give parents’ permission in different medical and legal scenarios. This is a compiled list of all key phone numbers for the University of Miami. Each number provided is either connected to an official office or faculty member (emergency numbers not included). These numbers are helpful for both students and their parents in times of need or for information.

We realize that finding the right place to call isn’t always so simple so we have listed several of the offices and what they are used for to make your navigation simpler. Many of our blogs address issues that you may be looking for guidance about too so we have linked those too.

President: Julio Frenk 305-284-5155 president@miami.edu
230 Ashe Building, 1252 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida 33146

When contacting President Frenk, be aware that you will typically be in touch with his assistant at first. President Frenk’s Administrative Manager is Alicia Blatchford, the number listed will go to her.

We realize that finding the right place to call isn’t always so simple, so we have listed several of the offices and what they are used for to make your navigation simpler. Many of our blogs address issues that you may be looking for guidance about too so we have linked those too.

UM Police Department

University of Miami Police: (305) 284-6666, 5665 Ponce de Leon Blvd #101, Coral Gables, FL 33146, Police Chief David A. Rivero

The non-emergency number listed is for reporting suspicious persons, incidents, unsafe conditions and general concerns. For emergencies always contact 911.

Office of Emergency Management 

This is the department in charge of ensuring student and faculty safety, emergency preparation and response and general protection of UM resources. A great resource to have, especially during hurricane season!

Director Matthew Shpiner, mshpiner@miami.edu , 305-284-8005, 1535 Levante Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Student Health Service

The Health Center provides an opportunity for booking appointments online. Below is their weekly schedule. Typically they encourage online interaction but will take phone calls when necessary. The number to call is 305-284-9100. 5555 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33146. When the health center is closed Doctor’s Hospital and the Baptist system both have emergency rooms right near campus.

The hours for the Student Health Center are M, T, W, F  8:30 am – 5 pm, Th 9 am – 5 pm, SUN 11 am – 4 pm. They are closed on Saturdays.

Students can also make an appointment online at mystudenthealth.miami.edu.

Note: For students that are minors, they will need to have their parent or legal guardian complete consent for medical treatment. If your student has not filled out forms prior to your call and they are over 18 years of age, they will not release any information about your student. Make sure your student has signed these forms. See our blog on Sick at School.

Dean of Students

Ryan C. Holmes is the Dean of Students. The dean of students’ office is dedicated to ensuring student happiness, health and general quality of life.  Located at 1306 Stanford Dr., Whitten University Center #2250, Coral Gables, FL 33146-6922. (305) 284-5353. Email: ryanholmes@miami.edu or doso@miami.edu. The Associate Dean of Students & Social Worker is Sompa Adhya-Taylor, sxa1442@miami.edu.

Office of Student Financial Assistance and Employment

The financial aid office has a phone number as well as walk-in hours to discuss any financial aid issues. The student employment office has walk-in hours as well.

Students can go here to request information about financial aid, scholarships, disbursement, eligibility, verification, and general questions. Phone: 305-284-6100, P.O. Box 248187, Coral Gables, FL 33124. The Director of Financial Assistance is Joanne C Brown, j.brown1@miami.edu, 305- 284-1008. You may also email at ofas@miami.edu– undergrad and gradprof.finaid@miami.edu– post grad

Financial Aid Walk-in Advising Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Student Employment Walk-in Advising Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Phone Advising Hours:

Monday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Student Technology Help

University of Miami Information Technology’s mission is to provide innovative, secure, and reliable solutions in collaboration with our stakeholders that enhance teaching and learning, enable cutting-edge research, advance the clinical enterprise, and enrich the core business infrastructure.

The student technology help desk is located on the third floor of the library. Help is free and typically there is a very short wait time. They also tend to have spare computers and phone chargers for any student to borrow. For more detailed info, read out Technology Services at UM blog and we even have suggestions for Computer and Phone Repair.

Help support is available via phone 305-284-8887 and email sthd@miami.edu. You may also visit Richter Library, Room 325, 1300 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146. Hours of Operation. The Help Desk Supervisor is Bryan Vazquez, b.vazquez@miami.edu, 305-284-8889.

Student Help Desk support is available in person Monday-Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and for 24/7 service, contact the UMIT service desk at 305 284-6565.

Housing & Residential Life

Phone: 305-284-4505

The Housing Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students may also contact individual residential colleges. Students are advised to go to their Resident Assistants with initial problems, before contacting the higher-ups.

The Executive of Housing and Residential Life is James Gordon Smart, 305-284-4505, jsmart@miami.edu. 1211 Dickinson Drive Coral Gables, FL 33146.

If your student is having issues with laundry, pest control, cleaning issues, plumbing leaks, doors, locks, air conditioning, Cable, Internet, Furniture, they can complete a Facilities Management Service Request Form or call Facilities Customer Service at 305-284-8282 seven days a week.

As Florida is a very humid state, mold and mildew thrive here. UM does have suggestions for preventing mold and mildew. Should students have any water problems, they need to submit a service request immediately.

Students are advised to go to their Resident Assistants with initial problems, before contacting the higher-ups.

Office of Disability Services

For students that have any type of disability that requires special accommodations, campus accessibility, sponsored courses, course substitutions, this is the office you will want to be familiar with. The Director is Jessie E. Howell, jhowell@law.miami.edu, 305-284-9907. They are located in the University Center. Camner Center, Whitten University Center 2400, 305-284-2374, disabilityservices@miami.edu. You may also read our Student Accessibility Resources blog for more specific information.

Parking and Transportation Office

If your vehicle gets towed from UM’s property, contact the University of Miami Police at 305-284-6666. An authorized commercial towing firm carries out the towing action.

Once the motor vehicle is “hooked” by the tow truck and a case number is assigned, the vehicle is considered towed and becomes the concern of the towing firm. Vehicles not yet “hooked” and/or when a case number is not yet assigned may be released at the scene of the violation provided Parking and Transportation Services is able to validate identification, and cash payment is made at the time to the tow truck operator.

Students may appeal their citations here. Violators of the University of Miami’s Moving Parking Policies and Procedures (Revised May 2019) will receive a parking citation. Parking citations must be appealed within 15 calendar days of citation issuance. Once the appeal is submitted and processed, no further action is needed until a decision is issued. The appellant will be notified of the decision via email within 6-8 weeks from receipt of the appeal. A second level appeal may be requested. The citation must be paid in full prior to initiating the second level appeal. Submit the second level appeal to parking.gables@miami.edu within 15 calendar days from the issuance of the initial appeal decision.  If the appeal is successful, the citation payment will be refunded.

The Executive Director is Richard Sobaram and you may email him at rsobaram@miami.edu, 305-284-3081, McKnight Building, 5807 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Suite 100, Coral Gables, Florida 33146-0712.

The Sr. Manager of Customer Service is Nick Poynter, 305-284-5021, n.poynter@miami.edu

Shuttle and Mobility Transportation:

305-284-1547, this number is for questions about the campus shuttle. The campus shuttle has two routes, one goes from the center of campus to the psychology building and the metro. The other shuttle goes from the library to the frat houses and University Village. Each shuttle comes approximately every seven minutes.

There are multiple lots and garages on campus. If you are visiting the campus there is an opportunity to pay for an hourly or daily rate with the parking app. Students are able to purchase parking passes.

Office of Human Resources

Perhaps you have a student that works at UM. The office of HR handles all issues relating to employment, benefits, compensation, payroll, employee/labor relations. This number is helpful for anyone employed by the university, 305-284-3798.

VP for Human Resources – Mary Harper Hagan: 305-284-4476, mharperh@miami.edu.

Because dealing with stress can sometimes require a little extra help:

Counseling Center

The counseling center offers opportunities to make appointments online through this number 305-284-5511 or a walk-in appointment. Mental health is a very important part of a successful college career. UM prioritizes resources that will assist students in taking care of themselves.

It is located at 5513 Merrick Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146, 305-284-5511, Rene Monteagudo, Ph.D., Director, Counseling Center, rxm981@miami.edu.

The following numbers are health and mental health resources for college students.

SART Hotline. The Sexual Assault Resource Team provides a 24/7 anonymous hotline for UM students who may have experienced a sexual assault recently or in the past and are seeking information or support around these issues. The hotline is administered by the UM Counseling Center. Please visit the website for more information.

JCS Helpline Services – 305-798-6666. A local 24hr hotline that assists in suicide prevention as well as information and referrals to health, social, and human services.

ULifeline – 2-1-1. A nationwide 24hr service that forwards your call to the nearest crisis hotline.

Florida Poison Information Center – 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Canes Care for Canes – 1-800-222-1222

You may also read our blog on The Stress of College.

Office of Victim Services

Sorority and Fraternity Affairs – Both Panhellenic (PC), Intrafraternity Council (IFC), the Multicultural Greek Council fall under the Division of Student Affairs. Sorority and Fraternity Affairs is the office of professional staff that provides guidance, education, and support to the Florida Greek community.

Dr. Ryan C. Holmes is the Dean of Student Affairs. The Dean of Students’ Office is located on the second floor of Whitten University Center in Suite 2250 on the Coral Gables campus, 305-284-5353, Email: ryanholmes@miami.edu.

The Panhellenic Association at UM is the umbrella governing council for UM’s six sororities and eleven fraternities.

For more information please contact: greeklife@miami.edu

All recruitment questions may be directed at UMiamiPanhellenicRecruitment@gmail.com.

Advisor: Dean Cristina Luna, cluna@miami.edu

Vice President of Recruitment, Olivia Ostermann: umiamipanhellenicrecruitment@gmail.com

UM Individual Colleges – It is always good for your students to follow the chain of command if they are having an issue within their college. But, should following that chain not work, here is the contact information for each individual college:

School of Architecture– Rodolphe el-Khoury, Dean rxe66@miami.edu, 305-284-9092.

Ana Maria Regalado, Asst. Dean, Student/Postgraduate Support Services, asantana@miami.edu.

College of Arts and Sciences – Leonidas G Bachas, Dean, bachas@miami.edu, 305- 284-4021.

Emily K. Long, Asst. Dean, ekl48@miami.edu, 305-284-1632.

Miami Herbert Business School –

Dhananjay Nanda, Dept. Chair and Professor, Accounting, dnanda@bus.miami.edu, 305-284-3122.

Cecily D. Cooper, Associate Professor, Management, cecily@miami.edu, 305-284-8585.

Yongtao Guan, Department Chair and Leslie O. Barnes Professor, Management Science, yguan@bus.miami.edu, 305-284-2189.

Vidhi Chhaochharia, Associate Professor, Finance, vidhi@miami.edu, 305-284-5265.

School of Communication – Karin Gwinn Wilkins, Dean, kwilkins@miami.edu, 305-284-3420.

School of Education and Human Development – Laura Kohn-Wood, Dean, .kohnwood@miami.edu, 305-284-3505.

College of Engineering

Daniel Berg, Distinguished Research Professor, and Dean, Industrial Engineering Department, dberg@miami.edu, 305-284-4215.

School of Law– Anthony E. Varona, Dean, and M. Minnette Massey Professor of Law, avarona@law.miami.edu, 305-284-2394.

Philip & Patricia Frost School of Music – Shelton G. Berg (“Shelly”), Dean, sberg@miami.edu, 305-284-2241.

School of Nursing and Health Studies – Cindy L. Munro, Dean and Professor, cmunro@miami.edu, 305-284-2107.

Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science – Roni Avissar, Ph.D., Dean, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, avissar@miami.edu, 305-421-4000.

Miller School of Medicine- Henri Ford, Dean, Miller School of Medicine, hford@miami.edu.

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Technology has changed the landscape of how they impart information to students through texts and emails, and social media platforms. The University of Miami Police Department (UMPD) is a professional campus police department that maintains a safe and secure environment on the Coral Gables campus. The department employs more than 30 police officers, supplemented by security officers, administrative staff, and student aides.  UMPD works hard to prevent crimes on campus.
The University offers two safety escort options. U Guardian is a free safety app for smart-phones, with options for virtual safety escorts, pre-registration of information for emergency assistance, and a one-touch button to call UMPD or 911.

UMPD 24/7 Safety Escort Service: UNIVERSITY POLICE  305-284-6666

A U.M. Police employee or security officer will make sure students are free to walk the campus safely anytime and on any day, holidays and during school breaks included.  One of these professionals will meet and walk with or transport students safely to your destination.  All escort providers carry a police-issued radio and are in constant contact with UMPD.

Anyone may request a safety escort, at no cost.  Safety escorts generally only cover campus property, including the University Village area and the Gables One Tower. The average wait time for an employee to respond to a location in under 15 minutes.  While the Safety Escort service is not intended to be a regularly scheduled service, in advance, there is no limit to how many safety escorts a student may request. For more information, contact the UMPD Crime Prevention Office at 305-284-1105.

Safe Ride: UM Parking & Transportation 305-298-6128

The Safe Ride program is an on-demand transportation service offered to students. It operates Sundays through Thursdays between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.  Students can call 305-298-6128 to get a ride between the Coral Gables campus and residential areas that border the Coral Gables campus.
It is important to note that the service will pick up/drop off on campus as well as the streets that border the Coral Gables. For example, drop-off/pick-up service will be offered along Red Road, San Amaro Drive, Ponce De Leon Blvd, Campo Sano Avenue, and Pisano Avenue, but will not go further than these streets that border the Coral Gables campus or to individual homes.  For additional information contact parking.gables@miami.edu or call 305-284-3096.

University of Miami’s Blue Light Phone Program
The UM Coral Gables campus has over 100 blue light phones which dial UMPD directly for emergency communication.
University of Miami’s Blue Light Phone Program helps to keep ‘Canes safe by providing access to UMPD and emergency services from many locations on campus. The Coral Gables campus has over 100 Blue Light Phones. These may be stand-alone pole-mounted, fastened to the outside of buildings, or on multiple locations on each floor of our parking garages.  Simply look for the blue light and you’ll find the phone box nearby.
To use the Blue Light Phone, press the button and a UM Police dispatcher will answer. Students are encouraged to use the Blue Light phones for both emergency and non-emergency calls.

As soon as the phone is activated, the location of the phone is displayed on the UMPD’s switchboard, so that UMPD can quickly identify the location. If a caller doesn’t speak (or isn’t able to speak), an officer is immediately dispatched to the location of the phone.
For more information on Blue Light Telephone locations, here is a link to a campus map:

UMPD offers FREE self-defense classes for UM faculty, staff and students.

S.A.F.E. Program
(Self-defense Awareness and Familiarization Exchange) SAFE is a 1.5 to 2-hour (WOMEN ONLY) self-defense class that focuses on awareness, risk reduction information, and a few basic, physical techniques. SAFE-certified instructors teach the program several times throughout the semester.

R.A.D. Program (Rape Aggression Defense)
RAD is a 12-hour (WOMEN ONLY) self-defense class, typically completed over the course of several sessions. RAD focuses on increasing overall awareness, risk reduction behaviors in various settings, and a diverse set of practical physical techniques.
Bicycle Lock & Registration Program
U-bicycle Locks and Registrations are provided to all bicycle owners by UMPD. To register a bicycle and receive a free bicycle lock, students need to bring their bicycle and their ‘Cane Card to the UM Police, located on the ground floor of the Flipse Building. If their bicycle is ever lost, stolen or confiscated for non-compliance with the University bicycle guidelines, registration will aid UM Police in locating and returning the bicycle. Anyone affiliated with the University in any way may purchase a discounted lock for $20.00, payable by cash or check. To learn more about how to register a bicycle, click here.

SMS Text Messages to Cell Phones
Voice Messages to Cell PhonesEmail
Emergency Information Hotline 1-800-227-0354
UM Website Banners: www.miami.edu
UMiami Mobile App: www.miami.edu/mobile
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UMiamiENN
Twitter: @UMiamiENN

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I’m sick…It’s bound to happen. At some point, the phone will buzz and your independent college student will cry “I don’t feel well, I’m sick.” Hopefully, their illness will be a result of their new-found independence that includes lack of sleep, exercise, stress, an unhealthy diet, and hygiene habits that don’t embrace enough hand-washing and can be cured quickly and easily.

I sent my daughter to college with a “things you may need that Mom thought of just in case” box, just in case you get sick. Inside were a thermometer; vitamins, the medicines for a cold; sinus infection; stomach ache, and other common ailments. Sometimes they need care beyond your box. In my experience, my kids and I have had great results taking Source Naturals Wellness Formula. It has been a strong herbal defense supplement in fighting an illness that was recommended to me by a local natural health food store. Two a day for prevention but when you feel yourself coming down with something, you take 6 in the morning and 6 in the evening for two days. It has worked amazingly well for most everyone I have recommended it to.

The University of Miami Health System has been recognized as one of the best hospitals in Florida. With leading-edge patient care by the region’s best doctors, powered by the groundbreaking research and medical education of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. As South Florida’s only university system, UHealth is a vital component of the community. Walgreens, located inside of the Student Health Center is the contracted pharmacy for UM.

Students who have paid the Health and Counseling Centers Fee or the Medical Student Coral Gables Health Fee are eligible to receive care at the Student Health Service and Counseling Center. You are NOT required to have the University-sponsored health insurance plan in order to utilize the services of the Student Health Service. Many services are provided at no charge and charges for other services can be submitted for payment to most insurance companies.

There is nothing worse than calling to find out how your sick or injured student is and being told the doctor is not authorized to talk with you. For consent for treatment form for a minor. If your student is older than 18 (and most college students are) expect that medical records will be kept confidential and released only with your students’ written consent or in response to court-ordered subpoenas. It is important to discuss these issues with your students prior to beginning college away from home.

To access all of the UM Health student resources. You may also want to have them get a flu shot. If the health center on campus is inconvenient due to the hours or long wait times, there are alternatives. CVS and Walgreens near campus both have clinics for minor illnesses. Have a discussion before dropping them off at college with an emergency plan. This should include having your student’s roommate or friend’s phone number, especially if they are accompanying them to the ER. I had my daughter add a phone contact titled ICE (In Case of Emergency) in the event she was unable to communicate. You can add that info whether you have an iPhone or Android. For instructions. Have them enter their Medical ID information. This information allows medical personnel to access even on a locked phone and includes allergies, emergency contact information, and other crucial information. Be sure your student has a copy of their insurance card.

Also, we recommend having your student get a flu shot. Read our blog to learn about the many places, including on-campus, that offer flu shots. If you want to send a care package to make your student feel better, there are options including Chicken Soup that can be delivered directly to your student from Chabad Jewish Student & Community Center at UM (you don’t have to be Jewish to order). See our blog on Care Packages for more ideas. One of my favorites is Mouth that has a sick care package filled with tea, honey sticks, crackers, and a wellness care package filled with tea and snow honey, fruit jerky, relaxing digestive bitters, healing turmeric elixir, an antioxidant-rich dark chocolate bar, healthy granola, and a hand-made candle.

And finally, remind your students to notify their professor if they will be legitimately missing class and unable to complete coursework. Including a doctor’s note is sometimes mandatory. UM students who are seen by a doctor at the Student Health Care Center and who will not be able to attend class or take an exam may be able to get an excuse note.

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Yep, there’s an App for that!

Remember when you were in college and everything was easily accessible via an app on your phone? No? Well, me either. Our kids, however, do live in this world and there are literally apps that provide things like food delivery, tutoring services, or finding a parking spot.  Below are some I thought were most useful.

UM and College Studying Apps

• U Guardian – I am listing this first because we always want to know our kids are safe.  It is a free, personal safety service valid to the University of Miami students that rapidly provides information about an individual to UM police during an emergency. Students set a safety timer when heading to an unfamiliar location, meeting someone he or she does not know or any other situation in which he or she would like someone to check-in. If their timer expires and their guardians see they have not yet arrived, they will be notified, so students need to be sure to deactivate it once they are safe.
• UMiami – is the official mobile app for the University of Miami. Keep “The U” close at hand! With UMiami Mobile, you’ll have instant access to the University of Miami news and events, course information, Hurricane sports schedules and scores, cool videos, and much more.
• UMiamiMobile is also your go-to guide on campus, helping you map out your best route to class and navigate the Hurry’Cane shuttle schedule. It is free of charge.
• Blackboard Mobile Learn -. Students can view class announcements, check grades, participate in discussion boards, and receive push notifications of course activity.
• Outlook app – lets you access your school email from your phone
• Orgsync- this is an app for the website that you fill out pretty much every application for organizations on.
• Audible- College can be very busy and many students don’t have time to sit down and read a book for pleasure. Audible allows students to listen to audiobooks on the go. It has entertainment, information, and educational programming. Students can join Audible for a discounted price of $9.95 a month when they verify their student status. They will get three titles every month as well as audio-guided workouts and the opportunity to exchange an audiobook for free.
• CamScanner – as its name implies, this allows you to scan docs and save it as .jpeg or PDF. Great if you need to email or fax an important document.
• Canvas – Just like the website, students can instantly access their Canvas courses for free without having to lug around a laptop to keep up with your homework. You can see your grades, submit assignments, send and receive messages, view content, and modules, watch videos, take quizzes, and more.
• Chegg – Highly recommended. Oftentimes you can rent a book for more than half the price that a bookstore is renting it out. Students can rent, buy and sell their books. They also offer assistance with completing homework and gives access to tutors, at a cost.
• Coursicle – Need to get into a class? Coursicle will notify you as soon as it has an open seat. $4.99 for premium per semester or free if you refer three friends.
• EasyBib by Chegg – With EasyBib Plus, students can use the plagiarism checker to find missing citations, and fix them before submitting their paper. Also, easily catch writing style and grammar errors with easy-to-understand explanations on how to improve their writing for next time. No matter what citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago etc.), EasyBib Plus will help create the right bibliography. Right now, students get a 3-day free trial of the product.
• Evernote – is a free app that takes note-taking to the next level. Students can brainstorm ideas, make to-do lists, take pictures of pages and sketches, organize everything into a notebook format, and share with others or collaborate as a group. The app even has the ability to search handwritten content; so finding your past notes is easy.
• Google Drive – Allows students to collaborate with other students as well as share documents, slides, sheets, and other files for class-wide projects and group study sessions. This is interchangeable with Microsoft’s OneDrive app.
• Grammarly’s mobile keyboard is the personal editor you can take with you wherever you go. Best plagiarism checker & proofreader.
• GroupMe – At some point in their college career they will have to participate in a group project, which means the fate of their grade, depends on working together. While GroupMe can’t force the group slacker, should there be one, to pull their fair share; it can facilitate easier communication. It works like a group chat, but, because you don’t have to meet up anywhere, everyone in the group saves time and money by making plans and discussing problems on their phones.
• iHomework 2 – If your student is really organized then skip this one, but I know a few that could definitely benefit from it. This free app can keep track of their assignments, deadlines, and tasks, and plan them out over a certain time period so they’re not left cramming at the last minute.
• iTunes U- if you use Apple devices, this app is a great study tool. iTunes U gives students access to text and course materials from universities across the world.
• LitCharts – is great for English majors. This free app helps understand literature. Find reviews, summaries, themes, and quotes for hundreds of titles without any in-app ads. Think of it as a portable Cliff Notes.
• Mathway – This app is great for college math. It guides students step-by-step to get the solution or check your work to see if it matches up to theirs. One of my daughter’s well-loved apps
• Although I would never have used it, my son, economics, and business major, may find this one useful. RealCalc Scientific Calculator means students don’t have to lug around that fancy scientific calculator because this free app allows them to complete all of your computing right from your mobile device.
• Offtime – This app costs $2.99 and is worth it if you’re looking to disconnect and avoid distractions in order to focus on homework, or studying. It blocks websites, apps, text messages, phone calls, and other notifications for a set period of time so you don’t get off-topic.
• OneDrive – A Microsoft app that allows students to get and share documents, photos and other files from your Android device, computer (PC or Mac). It allows you to open and save files in Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote).
• Outlook – allows students to easily access their school email on their phone.
• PhotoMath- Another great app for college math courses. Students can take a picture of the equation and Photomath shows step-by-step directions to solve the equation.
• Quizlet – Quizlet is a free study app that allows the user to take other people’s quizzes or create their own. A user can create multiple-choice, matching, true/false, and open-ended questions and use these in various ways, such as flashcards and games. Students can share their “study sets” with others in their class and even encourage a professor to create one.
• Scholly – One of the fastest-growing apps after appearing on Shark Tank in 2015. This app matches students with scholarships using specific parameters and customized data. The app can even spot scams and weed out scholarships that require you to give your social security number (did we mention, don’t ever do this).
• Scribd- Scribd complies with all the important files and information to the topic a student may be searching for in one place. Students can create a library on the app and compile the notes, documents, and books that correspond to the topic of their research.
• Wolfram/Alpha is actually a fancy search engine that can answer questions, perform computations, conduct analysis, and prepare reports. You can get help with complicated algebra and calculus equations or find chemistry, engineering, or physics formulas. This app is $2.99.

Restaurants & Entertainment

• Dine-on-campus app- an app that lets you check all of the times for restaurants and dining halls on campus. You can also see the menu for the dining halls from that app.
• EatStreet – online and mobile food ordering and delivery service provider
• Fandango NOW – Another streaming service offering movie rentals
• GrubHub – Simply browse menus, pick what you want, and submit your order.  Local suggestions are great and most deliveries are around $3. They run specials if you sign up for their emails, so get that setup.
• Tapingo – lets you order food to then pick up from restaurants on or around campus, letting you skip lines and just pick up food.
• Zupp (formerly Party Tutor) – Allows students to explore local specials and deals for nearby restaurants, apartments, bars, and local businesses. My daughter is a big fan of this one.
• Hooked Deals – Hooked can help students find exclusive, real-time specials from restaurants near campus. The thing is; the deals typically the last one to three hours, so they need to be ready to scurry on over. Once there, they show the cashier that they got hooked and enjoy.
• Ibotta – is another cash back app that is simple and convenient for students. By taking a photo of your receipts and they will match items you bought to offers that are available for points on the app and give you cashback.
• Insomnia Cookies – As though being able to order and have cookies delivered until 3 am is not enough; they can also earn loyalty points when they order through the app (even if they plan to pick the cookies up). The only glitch may be that sometimes they may be short a driver, so be sure to check first if delivery is what you were hoping for.
• Instacart – For faster shopping and easier checkout, get the app and have groceries, etc. delivered from most of the same places as Shipt, but also includes CVS and Whole Foods.
• Pocket Points – I love this one. It literally incentivizes students to keep their phones out of sight during class. They just open the app, lock their phone, and earn points for the time it is off. Later they can trade the points for discounts at certain restaurants (ie: Muscle Maker Grill, Pita Pit, Dominoes) and local and online businesses (FSU Bookstore, Sperry). There is even Double Point Tuesday (which is great since my daughter has three classes on Tuesdays.)
• Postmates – Another great food-related app like UberEATS. This allows students to deliver food and goods similar to Ubereats. Postmates also has the option for students to have items such as groceries delivered from places such as Winn-Dixie and CVS.
• Shipt – Get 2 weeks free and $15 off your first order on deliveries from stores like Publix, Costco, Target, and ABC Fine Wines & Spirits. Let their shoppers do what your student doesn’t have time to.
• UConnection – A food and drink app with exclusive deals, daily specials and more from restaurants and bars
• Yelp – Always students to find the best places to eat, drink, shop, and have fun. You can also read reviews that other people have written as well as write your own review.
• Zupp (formerly Party Tutor – Allows students to explore local specials and deals for nearby restaurants, apartments, bars, and local businesses. My daughter is a big fan of this one. You can enjoy exclusive rewards at everyone’s favorite bars and restaurants; it’s just $4.99/mo. Download it on your mobile device.
• GoPuff – A convenience store delivery app. Delivery is $1.95. Order anytime; delivery is very fast.
• DoorDash – This is the same concept as UberEats.  They have an easy app that guides you through your order.  They have also launched Project Dash. This initiative helps tackle food waste and hunger in the local communities that they serve.
• Groupon: This is a great app that provides discounts for various things in the area for students to do when they are not studying or going to class. Some examples of what you can find on the app include, escape rooms, shows, fitness classes, and even nightclubs for older students.
• For music, many students recommend Spotify and Pandora.
• And when you need coffee, download Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks to pay for your purchase and earn rewards.

Money, Finances & Getting Around

• Rover – if you need a pet sitter while you are away or at classes or you want to become a pet sitter.
• Venmo – I am mentioning this because I think it is so easy to use, but your students probably have it already. My kids are the ones that introduced me to it. Venmo allows students to pay each other back for anything their friends may have paid for them; their share of the electric bill, half the groceries, half the Uber ride…and so on. It is also a great app for parents to use to send their students money while they are away at college.
• Uber app (and an account) is a must. Uber allows your students to request rides easily and quickly from their phones.
• Student Beans – For instant access to discounts and all you need is your student ID.
• Mint – Mint is a budgeting app that helps students keep track of their finances, as well as help them understand where they can make some budget cuts of their own.
• Unidays- Unidays allows for students to easily find out which of their favorite brands or stores offers student discounts.
• Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) – If you like to online shop, but hate spending money then you may get hooked to this app. I use it more on my desktop, but you can make an account to get cashback on so many online stores! I simply look up any store and it will give me a notification if I get cash back and how much I may get back. I personally have received almost $1000 back over the last few years! It is also accepted with Amazon so if students purchase any textbooks or school supplies on Amazon then this app is highly recommended. And when you need coffee, download Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks to pay for your purchase and earn rewards.
• Target – The Target (Cartwheel) app has saved me so much money. I do not need to buy anything through the app, I simply click “cartwheel offers” and it shows me every coupon that is currently available. I can save as many coupons as I want and when I am ready to go to the store and buy my products, I show them the app barcode and it takes all the coupons at once.

Health, Wellness & Fitness Apps

• Headspace – For students who want to improve their mental health, not just maintain it, the Headspace app is the perfect place to start. They offer a ten-day trial. If nothing else, the app is a daily reminder that for ten minutes a day, we all should calm down, breathe, dislocate from any stresses and surroundings, and try to focus on how we feeling on a deeper level.
• MyFitnessPal – tracks diet and exercise to determine optimal caloric intake and nutrients for the users’ goals. Calorie charts, nutrition facts, exercise, and more. Sponsored by UnderArmour.
• Sworkit – Personalized video workouts that are easy for students to do in their dorm. Also have the ability to choose from pre-built workouts for specific types of exercise such as strength training, yoga, and Pilates. Students can keep track of their progress as they go.
• Wholesome –  Students can find ratings for healthy recipes to make on their own depending on their living situation. They can also obtain personalized nutrition information which helps identify personal nutrition gaps and make suggestions for the best foods to eat. Perfect for students who want to make sure they are staying healthy and eating the right foods while away at college.

These Apps are useful and fun too…

• Duolingo – Great app for language-learning.
• ParkByApp – An app that allows you to upload a debit or credit card and pay for metered parking. It also allows you to extend your parking time from your phone without having to revisit the meter. This app is applicable in College Town metered parking and additional metered parking on campus.
• Wag – A Dog-Walking app. Think “Uber” but for Dog services. Affordable and the walkers are all thoroughly vetted. Upon signing up, Wag will send you a free lockbox for your key for dog walkers. Wag offers dog-walking, dog-sitting, and dog boarding.

It’s a wonder we ever made it through school without some of these. There are even more; fitness apps, language translators, and so on, but at the risk of overwhelming you (scroll back to Headspace if I have); I tried to keep my list to only my favorites.

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You send your student off to college with the best intentions. You’ve had the discussion about budgets, walking alone at night, binge drinking, hazing, and drugs and still you may get the phone call every parent fears. Your student got into trouble now what do we do?

The first thing you should do is breathe and remain calm because most likely your child is freaking out. Yes, they may have done something very stupid and immature, but let’s remember they are still navigating their way around adulthood. This may be a very good time for some growth and maturity to happen, let’s always think of a silver lining. Besides we ourselves may have been in their shoes.

At the University of Miami, there are several avenues in which an issue may be resolved. The Division of Student Affairs engages, supports, and develops students and the University community by providing exemplary services, programs, and facilities as they foster a caring and inclusive environment. Here is where your student can go to find resources for resolving issues such as academics, mental health counseling, nutrition disabilities, roommate conflicts, gender discrimination, and sexual violence. It is important that your students be aware of the code of conduct (that they have signed) and abide by the rules of the University’s’ guidelines. They take student behavior seriously and will act accordingly if your student breaks the rules.

There have been students who are pulled over and ticketed for not having their school address on their license. That will not hold up in court as non-resident college students attending college in Florida may drive in Florida without having a Florida driver’s license if they have a valid license from another state or country. For resident college students, a Florida Statute exempts students while at school in Florida so they are allowed to keep their home address.

If they do get in trouble and you need to contact someone at the University, here is a list of important contacts to have on hand.

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I can vividly remember being in college and having to make the dreaded call home to ask my mom for money. I was the last of 3 kids she put through college, so she had heard it all. This was before cell phones (think wall corded phones) and, dare I say it, before the internet. Banking required you to wait for the statement to arrive in the mail. My mom would go through each statement to see exactly how I was spending my money. She used to joke all the time about that funny college saying “How can I be overdrawn I still have blank checks”…. Since we pretty much only spoke once a week (On Sunday night when rates were cheaper, again, no such thing as texting, emails or cell phones), having to mention needing money was not exactly what I wanted to talk about. During college breaks, she would sit me down to discuss why I bounced a check, how I need to learn how to live on a budget and other financial issues.

I had grants, student loans, and I also had work-study and worked during the summer. Finances were tight but somehow my mom made it work, but if I wanted to spend money and some extras I had to work while going to school. And, to be perfectly honest, I wasted a lot of money… on food, clothes, going out, drinking (the drinking age in Florida then was eighteen), and lord knows what else. I have no doubt that had I been more aware of where I was spending my money, I could have gotten by with a lot less. But that is part of what college is all about; learning how to navigate the real world. Becoming financially savvy is part of that.

When my older daughter went to UM, the tables turned quickly and now she would text or email when she needed more money (less confrontational than over the phone). She also had a credit card for emergencies only (and we defined what constituted an emergency – car breaking down, health issues, true emergencies- not a sale at a store or buying alcohol). She also has a debit/credit card that I can easily transfer money into at a moment’s notice. It also gave me access to her full banking account so I could see where she is spending the money. We were fortunate that she was awarded considerable merit aid but there were still plenty of other expenses that we needed to cover including her apartment/living in a sorority, gas for her car, books, and supplies, and an endless need for incidentals like Starbucks, Uber rides and Netflix.

And like I had to with my mom, every time she would come home, I would sit her down and line item the credit card because she was not adhering to her budget. By her senior year, she would have to go into her savings account for the money for incidentals we were unwilling to pay for. And, we wanted her to learn how to live on a budget because, while she is fortunate in that she has not had to endure any financial hardship, she would eventually be on her own and that is a real wake up call for many of our kids.

The question of how much money we should give them for, let’s call it a college allowance, generates a lot of responses, both positive and helpful, and some insightful posts (anonymity will do that). Having asked many of my friends and also having my younger daughter speak with her friends, the one thing I have quickly learned that there are enough varying answers to make your head spin. In addition, your family’s personal financial situation, your family’s values factor into this decision.

What I Will Pay For

What I can tell you is that I will not pay for alcohol. I am not sticking my head in the sand and pretending kids won’t go out and drink, but I don’t have to pay for it either. They can use their summer earnings for that stuff. Books and school supplies were to go on my credit card (which was also there for emergencies.) Food, depending on whether your student has a meal plan or lives in an apartment (even on campus) may vary.

I gave my daughter different dollar amounts per month depending on where she was living that year and if she had a meal plan. It ranged from $300 (living on campus with a meal plan) to $800 (Living off-campus with no meal plan) All freshmen that are not commuter students are required to live on campus with a minimum of 14 meals a week meal plan. Basically, at the beginning of each new school year, I created a reasonable budget, as I do for myself. This is to cover all of her expenses after rent, books, gas for her car. If she chooses to use her allowance up on pedicures and sushi, then peanut butter and jelly can help to balance her budget. The point here is that I am looking for her to learn to budget her money. It is my goal to not have to support her after college and optimistic this may ease her into that realm. Consider having your students get their own credit cards. It is a great way for them to start learning how to budget themselves while building their credit for when they are out on their own. Our credit card recommendations.

Mention to your student to take a look around campus for free activities. Many clubs and organizations have events out on the breezeway during lunch and other locations across campus during dinner time that provide snacks or even a light meal! Bagels, ice cream, free food trucks, pizza all the time, falafel happy hours at Hillel. There are so many places to grab fee grub at UM, your kid will most likely never go hungry. Getting involved in one or more clubs guarantees things to do and ways to socialize and fill an empty belly. Often club activities are included in membership and are fairly priced. Included with your Cane Card and with up-to-date and paid student activity fees, students are also permitted to see all the theatre and Frost School of music productions (on designated student nights), hear guest lecturers, listen to concerts, discover the Lowe Art Museum on Campus, see a movie at the Bill Cosford Cinema and stroll around the Beaux Art Festival that happens right on campus every spring.

Remember that the University of Miami is a hub of activity for the entire city. Many wonderful cultural, academic, and stimulating events and activities happen on this beautiful, vibrant campus daily. Game night and Movie nights are popular and also a fun option. I was surprised to find board games mentioned when talking to students (that lived off campus). They explained that some nights it was fun to just stay in with a bunch of friends and play. Of course, I am sure some turned into drinking games. I am not condoning that; just sharing. Perhaps your student has a job while at school and won’t ask you for a thing. Maybe that job is to pay for the extras; like nights out, a spring break cruise, or next semester abroad. My daughter worked during the summer to save money for exactly these types of activities. She pays for many extras and, I can honestly say, it has taught her to really give thought to her purchases.

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Having moved to South Florida as a teen, I have gone through more than 35 Hurricane seasons. I prepared for my first major Hurricane in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew made landfall about 10 miles south of the University campus. I was living with my parents not far from Coral Gables, and our home sustained major Hurricane damage. I know what it’s like to lose power for a week, it’s tough in those hot summer months. I know what it takes to prepare and survive a hurricane and like most natives (or almost natives like me), we take a potential threat to our community very seriously. We had the old-fashioned hurricane panels that had to be screwed in and it took about five hours to put all of the shutters up.  Hurricanes, or the potential for a direct hit, are frightening. The 24-hour news cycle and social media do very little to help keep anxiety at bay. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and when Hurricane Wilma in 2005 hit South Florida, I became, like most that live down here, proficient in a whole new language. Steering winds, cone of uncertainty, El Nino, storm surge, wind shear, wind gusts to name a few.

Some of my personal preparations were being the host of many a Hurricane Party where family and friends, who lived in evacuation zones, brought food and supplies. Hurricane parties are common in South Florida. They serve more as a distraction for our children and, probably for the adults too. Kids in dorm rooms love to have Hurricane parties! I can remember my mom telling us in college how to prepare, what to buy, how to pack everything up. Start your student off at the beginning of the fall semester with the essentials they may need immediately (See prep list below). It really is fun hanging out with your friends and laughing about it afterward if the storm passes you unscathed. But don’t ever let your guard down, and more importantly, your child’s guard down when it comes to Hurricane prep.

Like most Floridians, when enough time passes with no major Hurricanes, we become complacent about being prepared. For those who have students who are from out of state, the first mention of a potential storm or hurricane and the unknown sends parents into a justifiable panic. When the news about a potential storm starts dominating the airwaves (well at least in Florida they do, but they also make national news) well in advance, parents’ concerns go into overdrive. But rest assured, the University does a thorough job preparing and helping the students weather the before, during, and post-storm preparations.

Don’t Panic!

The level of panic for in-state residents is equivalent to the category storm being forecast. Floridians seem to look at Cat 1’s with an almost indifference; yet the mere mention of a Cat 3 or higher, and well, nerves are frazzled, palms start sweating and everyone goes into overdrive preparations. Add the fact that we are not with our kids with a looming and threatening storm, and well, an emotional storm (pun intended) starts brewing.

It was just last Hurricane season that Hurricane Michael impacted Miami and much of the state. University officials went into emergency planning mode, a decision to put the safety of people first. The university makes it their first priority to keep students, faculty, and parents safe and well informed at all times. Throughout the entire process of Hurricane Michael from the planning stages to the immediate aftermath and the week’s post-Hurricane, the University continuously provided updates regarding when classes would begin when the dorms would open and updated academic calendars for missed classes and graduation ceremonies.

So here is some important information to remember:

• Hurricane Season officially begins June 1st and ends on December 1st.
• Florida, especially Miami gets rainy weather, be it a bad rain/thunderstorm, tropical storm or hurricane, and having certain supplies, is recommended. That would include a flashlight and batteries, bottled water, some non-perishable foods, and manual can opener and any daily medications your student may take to get through a minimum of three days.
• Pack a small bag with at least 3 days of clothes and personal items.
• Locate all of their important documents and keep them together in weather-proof, ziplock bags such as school id, social security cards, passports, driver’s licenses, student visas, etc.
• Make sure computers and phones are fully charged and backed up. It is a good idea to buy your student a backup cell phone booster charger. I have one that can charge my phone up to 3 times. (Makes a terrific graduation gift).
• If your student has a vehicle that operates on gasoline, they should fill up. Waiting until the day before a potential storm is due to hit is not advisable as the lines are very long and some gas stations run out of fuel. They should also set the emergency brakes during the storm.
• If your student has a yearly campus parking pass they are permitted to secure their vehicles inside the University of Miami campus parking garages prior to the storm.
• ATMs do not operate when there are electrical outages so if a potential storm is approaching; make sure they take out cash in advance.
• When Hurricane Irma caused concern for Miami, even as a person who has lived in Florida for well over 40 years, I advised my daughter that lived off-campus to get a landline telephone (think the corded ones) as those will often work when electricity is down and cell phone service is interrupted. That is because the power to the phone comes from the phone lines from the power companies which have battery backup and backup generators that can continue for over a week during a power outage. Many of the phone lines are underground, preventing them from being damaged during a storm.
• Campus housing is designated shelters for campus residents unless the storm has a forecasted path towards Coral Gables and then the students may be transported to off-campus shelters, which will be coordinated by the university. They use other campus facilities on an as-needed basis should off-campus students and emergency staff need it. The university takes every precaution to ensure the safety of their students including keeping them informed.
• If a storm is approaching Miami, do not advise your student to get on the road and leave if it is the day before or day of the storm. Miami / Coral Gables will issue evacuation orders well in advance of the storm for proper coordination and if deemed necessary. Clogging up roads is dangerous to your student and could leave them stranded at the worst possible time.

None of us can predict the path of a storm or its potential damage. These storms are coming off the Atlantic or the Gulf, the damage they can cause can be felt up and down the Florida coast depending on the size and location of the storm. Throughout the storm preparation and in the aftermath, students, faculty, and staff are kept well informed of vital school information using the ENN. The University of Miami Emergency Notification Network (ENN) is the comprehensive communications solution that allows the University to quickly disseminate an urgent message through multiple communication mediums. If there is a condition which significantly threatens the health and safety of persons on campus or impacts normal campus operations, university officials will warn the campus community using one or more of the following methods:

• SMS Text Messages to Cell Phones
• Voice Messages to Cell PhonesEmail
• Emergency Information Hotline 800-227-0354
• UM Website Banners
• UM Emergency Preparedness Web page
  
• UMiami Mobile App
  
• Facebook
  
• Twitter
• RSS Feed
• Campus Cable TV (Gables & Medical Campuses Only)
• Outdoor Warning Sirens (Gables Campus Only)
• Public Address (Gables Campus Bldgs. & Outdoor Areas Only)
• Digital Signage (Select Gables Campus Buildings Only)
• WVUM The Voice 90.5 FM
  
• Local News
• Newspaper

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