Welcome to Homecomings & Reunions Fall 2024! Join Chair Dominique Mendoza for an overview of the next three days, as well as introductions from our top-notch faculty.

Alumni gatherings have never been more exciting - nor more complicated - than now. In this panel discussion, our faculty will discuss trends and obstacles to homecoming and reunion programming heading into the new year.

Step onto a different campus for a bit with 20-minute program showcases from attending institutions. Each one-hour session will have 3 presenters each speaking for 20 minutes.

Showcase #1 – Building Your Dream Team: Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers, University of Southern California Review practical strategies to recruit, engage, and retain effective reunion volunteers who can drive event participation and success. Showcase #2 - Launching a Filipino American Alumni Reunion, University of California Irvine As traditional class reunion attendance was declining, UC Irvine, a leading public university, embraced affinity-based reunions to celebrate shared identities, passions, and experiences. This session will explore how UCI transitioned from the class reunion model to innovative, community-focused gatherings like the Filipino American Alumni Reunion. Showcase #3 – From June to May: Turning Calendar Shifts into Reunion Wins, University of Chicago For decades, the University of Chicago celebrated the reunion the first weekend in June. A change in the academic calendar forced a shift in the schedule. This session will discuss how we turned a stressful change in tradition into a volunteer success story!

Showcase #1 - Transforming Your Homecoming Tailgate, University of Maryland Alumni Association
Shake up your tailgate with tactics to increase engagement, budget friendly add-ons, and multi-touch point engagement.
Showcase #2 - Black Alumni Chapter Homecoming, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Join UNC Charlotte for a deep dive into the successes and trends of the Black Alumni Chapter Homecoming Weekend. This presentation will explore attendance trends, volunteer collaboration, entertainment success, practical takeaways, and opportunities for improvement for each of the 4 Homecoming Weekend events.
Showcase #3 - USC Alumni Weekend Redefined: Building for the Future, University of Southern California
Explore innovative strategies to modernize and enhance Alumni Weekend by building on successes and addressing areas for improvement. This session will focus on USC's approach to reimagining Alumni Weekend, emphasizing how they reframed the event to ensure future stability and success.

Starting a new homecoming and reunion program? Trying to expand your current offerings? This small group discussion is for you. This guided discussion will allow attendees to share tips, tricks, and cautionary tales from their shops as they worked to create new programming.

Is something about your current homecoming and reunion program that isn't working? Do your offerings feel stale, dated, or just less enticing to alumni? Then this small group session is for you. This facilitated discussion will allow attendees to discuss tips, tricks, and challenges for revitalizing programming in a very traditional industry.

Planning large, complex events requires organization, focus, project management, and relationship building. In this interactive workshop, we will review the basics in large scale event planning starting with timeline development and ending with debrief meetings. Our experienced faculty will guide you through lecture, activities, and resources to take back to your campus.

Volunteers play an essential role in reaching goals and engaging the full alumni network. It is our job to match their passion and partner with them to achieve mutually beneficial results that enhance their experience and your program. In this session, we’ll discuss tips to recruit, retain, reward and yes – reassign or retire your volunteers. Join us to discover how you can manage alumni volunteers and maximize effectiveness in your day-to-day work, institutional mission, and engagement goals.

Want to connect with your alumni more meaningfully? Discover how affinity reunions can unite alumni through shared identities, interests, and student clubs. This session will demonstrate how the University of California transformed traditional class reunions into dynamic, affinity-based celebrations that truly resonate.