Katie Holmes looks overjoyed chatting on the phone during daughter Suri’s FIRST day of classes at Carnegie Mellon University

Katie Holmes was spotted chatting on a cell phone in Brooklyn, New York on Monday.

The Rare Object director seemed to be in a great mood, as she was dressed casually for her afternoon outing. Tom Cruise’s ex-wife wore her long brown hair loose, while she donned narrow brown sunglasses and appeared to be wearing little makeup.

The cover girl is said to have spoken to her daughter Suri Cruise as it is the teen’s first day as a freshman at her university, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

According to the university’s website, classes for students officially started on Monday.

This observation comes after DailyMail.com learned that the star goes to CMU visits Suri for Family Weekend taking place on September 27th and 28th.

“Family Weekend brings together Carnegie Mellon undergraduate and graduate students and their families and friends for a weekend of events that showcase the vibrancy of the campus experience,” the school’s website states.

During Family Weekend there are academic welcomes, information sessions, campus tours, student performances and other events.

‘We also encourage students and their families to use this time together to explore the city of Pittsburgh and discover why it is consistently ranked among the most livable cities in the United States.

“Family Weekend is free to attend, but some events require registration or purchased tickets. We invite family members to travel to Pittsburgh on Friday morning, September 27, as programming begins Friday afternoon through Saturday evening.”

Tom, from whom Suri is estranged, will not be there, even though – as DailyMail.com reported last week – he is paying the tuition, as part of the divorce settlement that required him to pay for Suri’s entire education.

“Katie is excited to visit her child at school, she is excited for her and wants to be a part of it,” the source said. “Katie attended Columbia University for a while and loved the experience, so she is very excited for her daughter to go to college.”

Before Family Weekend, Suri has a three-day weekend in honor of Labor Day.

The 18-year-old student moved into the dormitory a week ago with Holmes’ help.

Cruising is and spent money to pay for her studies.

That’s because in 2012, when he divorced Katie after six years of marriage, it was decided that he would pay for her entire education.

The divorce documents show that Tom pays Suri’s expenses, including “medical, dental, insurance, educational, college and other extracurricular expenses.”

“Tom does indeed pay for Suri’s tuition, he has always paid for her education and would never stop because he is a nice guy,” a friend of Tom’s told DailyMail.com. Annual tuition at CMU is $65K.

“He has never hesitated to pay his daughter’s child support and expenses. He is not honoring his word. He is honoring his obligation.”

But he likely no longer pays Katie $38,000 a year in child support, since Suri is now 18 and no longer a child.

It’s strange to think that Tom is footing Suri’s bill, considering they haven’t been photographed together in over a decade.

Their last public snapshot together was in April 2013.

Suri indicated that she is not on good terms with her father when she changed her last name from Cruise to Noelle. Noelle is Katie’s middle name.

Meanwhile, DailyMail.com reports that Suri is looking forward to her time at university and is sharing a room with another student in an all-female dormitory.

“Suri wants the full college experience, so she’s trying out the dorms and getting a roommate,” an insider told DailyMail.com. “She’s excited about a new chapter in her life.”

Instead of the luxurious three-bedroom apartment in a New York City Mother’s Homes skyscraper, the teenager lives in a bare dormitory.

She is believed to live in Scobell House, which has a maximum of 88 pupils and is all female.

One of the highlights of Carnegie Mellon? The campus is home to several restaurants offering cappuccinos, croissants, pasta and smoothies. And there’s a state-of-the-art wellness center.

The rooms are suitable for one, two or three persons, depending on needs and price.

One of the rooms has two bunk beds, providing space for up to four students.

Most dormitories are furnished: there is a single bed with storage space underneath, a five-tier chest of drawers, a desk with three drawers and a chair.

The complex has a range of facilities including a TV lounge, study room, recreation room, laundry facilities and a kitchen.

Scobell is part of the WHeSco community, which also includes Henderson and Welch houses. “WHeSco is located near many academic buildings and dining options in Resnik. Each building has a central space on the ground floor where students have access to lounges, laundry facilities, and a kitchen,” the website states.

There is plenty of food available for purchase on campus, so Suri won’t be left hungry as she prepares for the exams.

There are restaurants like Au Bon Pain café bakery in Cohon Center, where Cruise can get chocolate croissants and soft drinks. There is also a Ciao Bella restaurant for tasty pasta dishes like Fettucine Alfredo; it is also located in Cohon Center. The Edge Cafe and Market in Resnik House is where Suri can get bagels and cream cheese, as well as pizza.

Katie has hinted that Suri may study acting and dance at Carnegie Mellon. Holmes told Town & Country magazine that her daughter wants to go into show business after college.

Both Katie and Suri’s father Tom have been working in the industry since their early twenties.

The magazine claimed that Suri “would be interested in a career in fashion or acting.” That doesn’t sound so strange, considering Suri starred in a high school production of The Addams Family.

Katie has already cast Suri in two of her films.

Suri has sung on songs in two of Holmes’ films: the 2023 drama Rare Objects and the 2022 romantic drama Alone Together.

“I’m proud of my daughter,” Holmes told Town & Country about her daughter.

‘Of course I will miss being close to her, but I am very proud of her and happy.’

Holmes, speaking to Enchanting said in April 2023 that she wanted to encourage Suri’s performances in her projects.

“I hope she always does something in my films,” Holmes said. “I always ask her.”

Holmes said that “both experiences came from what I love about our industry: when you have projects, you become a family with people.”