Get Involved
Webster University aspires to include undergraduate students’ parents and families in the life of the University. Recognizing the important role families play in the success of their children's college experience, an engaged family makes for an engaged student.
Engaged families, successful students.
The Office of First-Year Experience and Family Programs strives to partner with families to make all Webster students successful.
The mission of the Office of First-Year Experience and Family Programs is to provide resources, services and programs that promote student success for first-year students and family members of undergraduate students.
William (Billy) Ratz, '02, MA '06
Director, First-Year Experience and Family Programs
Phone: 314-968-7007
Email: ratzwil@webster.edu
Webster Family Connection
Did you know? Parents and family can connect with our community so we can provide you with the information you need about Webster, financial aid, academics, and more. You can keep Webster updated with your current contact information and register for upcoming family events!
Connect your family at:
Additional Information for Parents and Families
The mission of the Webster University Family Advisory Board is to provide resources and support for families by families. Working with Webster's Office of First-Year Experience and Family Programs (FYE-FP), the Family Advisory Board supports the following programs and initiatives.
- Serves as an advisory board for the Office of First-Year Experience and Family Programs with primary focus on family programming.
- Serve as mentors and ambassadors for other Webster families.
- Family Weekend planning and implementation.
- Webster Family Social Media communication.
- Assist with Admissions and Orientation events as needed.
The Family Advisory Board consists of a board of up to ten families of current undergraduate Webster University families at the Webster Groves campus. FAB members serve at the invitation of the director of First-Year Experience and Family Programs.
- Serve as a member of the Family Advisory Board for the duration of your student's undergraduate enrollment at Webster.
- Attend and participate in two in-person board meetings on campus, per year and monthly Zoom meetings as needed.
- Learn about Webster, its mission, programs and activities.
- Learn about the Office of First-Year Experience and Family Programs, its mission and activities especially as they pertain to families.
- Participate in Webster Family events to the best of your ability.
- Serve as an administrator of the Webster University Family Community Facebook group.
- Be responsive to the director of First-Year Experience and Family Programs regarding requests, such as meeting invitations, and inform the office of any updates for your contact information, etc.
- Be a positive advocate for Webster and serve as a resource for all families.
- Two free tickets (per family) to Webster University Conservatory performances.
- Membership to Webster University Fitness Center, pool and gym.
- Tina and Paul Calabrese
- Debbie Diveney
- Shelia and Carl Huff
- Angela and Scott Hutson
- Maxine and Dan Retzer (chairs)
- Wauneen and LaVance Rucker
- Carrie and Brian Schildroth
- Joey Timmer
Thank you for encouraging your student to become a college graduate.
Tips for Parents/Family Members of First-Generation Students
- Attend Gorlok Registration and Onboarding Workshops (GROW) the summer before your student's freshmen year for Family Orientation and participate in the Online Family Orientation at orientation.webster.edu in order to familiarize yourself with Webster to better assist your student.
- Attend Family Weekend during the Spring semester.
- Remind your students to make copies of all important paperwork and to make sure to write down the name, department, date and comments of the person they are speaking to when they contact different units on campus with questions.
- Remember that pursuing higher education does not mean that students will lose the values they were raised with.
- Your student may not be able to come home every weekend if they are living on campus — even if it is only 5 or 10 miles away. If they are living at home, they may not have the same amount of time to devote to family responsibilities as they did before.
- Learn about the college process and what to expect — by learning about campus resources you will be able to become more familiar with what your student is experiencing.
- Be patient with yourselves and one another, especially since this is a learning experience for everyone (both you and your student) — you will all be learning about this transition process together.
What some of our current first-generation college students at Webster wish their parents would know:
- The pressure and stress that often comes with being in college.
- To support me and try their best to understand what I am experiencing.
- It is important for parents to understand how hard college is and that the student will be under stress. The family should be supportive.
- At times, students may feel overwhelmed, and parents can be right there to provide support by offering words of encouragement. This goes a long way knowing that you believe in us!
Stay Involved
The Office of First-Year Experience and Family Programs hosts a variety of events during the academic year.
- Family Weekend is offered to bring parents and family members back to campus to visit their student during the spring semester.
- Online Family Orientation is available online throughout the year.
- Other events that focus on life at the University are made available to parents and families, too.
Hotels and motels are different kinds of temporary accommodation and vary based on amenities and price.
Hotels
Hotels are rated based on a 5-star system: one star is the lowest rating and five stars is the highest. Check on websites like Trip Advisor, Expedia, Hotels.com and many other for recent ratings, user reviews and current pricing. Sometimes rates are more affordable when booked in advance online, rather than calling the hotel directly. To book online, you will need to use a major credit card.
IMPORTANT: Hotel rates are subject to change depending on the time of year, number of rooms available and special events in the community. Check online and contact the hotel for room availability in advance.
SpringHill Suites St. Louis Brentwood
1231 Strassner Dr.
Brentwood, MO 63144
Approximately 2.79 miles from main campus (public transportation accessible)
314-647-8400
Drury Inn-Brentwood
8700 Eager Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63144
3.9 miles from main campus
314-968-3704
Best Western-Kirkwood Inn
1200 S. Kirkwood Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63122 (Intersection of I-44 and Highway 67)
Approximately 4 miles from main campus
314-821-3950 or 1-800-435-4656
Holiday Inn – SW Route 66
10709 Watson Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63127 (Near I-44 and Highway 67)
4 miles from main campus
314-821-6600 or 1-800-972-3145
Cheshire Inn and Lodge
6300 Clayton Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63139
Approximately 5 miles from the main campus
314-647-7300
Drury Inn at Forest Park
2111 Sulphur Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63139
Approximately 5 miles from main campus
314-646-0770
Forest Park Hotel
5915 Wilson Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110 (Intersection of I-44 and Hampton)
5.3 miles from main campus
314-645-0700
Red Roof Plus St. Louis-Forest Park/Hampton Avenue, St. Louis
5823 Wilson Ave.
St. Louis, MO, 63110 (Near intersection of I-44 and Hampton)
5.3 miles from main campus
314-645-0101
Drury Inn-Union Station
201 S. 20th St.
St. Louis, MO 63103 (Intersection of 20th and Market Street in downtown St. Louis)
10 miles from main campus
314-231-3900 or 1-800-378-7946
Motels
Motels are different than hotels, usually offering limited amenities at a discounted rate. Prices may be more affordable, but amenities are limited. Motels may have rooms facing a central parking lot, i.e. the term “motor lodge” is the origin of the term “motel” with doors opening to the parking lot rather that within an enclosed building. Motels are not rated on the five-star scale that hotels use and reviews are not always available. Keep in mind you usually get what you pay for and motels usually offer fewer services and employ fewer staff than hotels.
Duplex Motel
7898 Watson Rd.
Webster Groves, MO 63119
Distance from Campus: 1.8 miles
314-961-1361
Chippewa Motel
7880 Watson Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63119
Distance from campus: 1.8 miles
314-962-7020
Wayside Motel
7800 Watson Rd.
Marlborough, MO 63119
Distance from campus: 1.8 miles
314-961-2324
Learn More
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