Schedule of Events Parents and Family Weekend: Oct. 6 - Oct. 8, 2023
Save The Date - Parents and Family Weekend October 4-6, 2024!!!
If you have not previously registered for Parents and Family Weekend 2023, please stop by the registration table in the Evans Hall Lobby when you arrive on campus where we can register you in person.
Attire for the weekend is informal.
The Parents and Family Weekend Schedule of Events is subject to change. Please check back often for updates and upon arriving to Lexington, please check in at the registration table in the Evans Dining Hall Lobby to receive your name tag and any special notices.
Thursday, October 5, 2023
| Time | Event | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. | DeLaney Center Reception |
Northen Auditorium, Leyburn Library |
The DeLaney Center strives to build community at and around W&L by studying Southern race relations, culture, and politics. During this reception, you can hear comments from students who participated in Freedom Ride, a pre-orientation trip that launches the Center's programming each year. You can also meet the Delaney Center team and learn about our exciting plans for 2023-2024. Please join us for fellowship and light refreshments. |
| 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Mock Convention Welcomes Karl Rove, Hosts Live and Silent Auction | Evans Hall |
Join Mock Convention's team for a chance to purchase exclusive opportunities, such as a trip for two to the Piedmont region of Italy, a Monday Night Football experience with Troy Aikman or a day of horse racing with a view from your own grandstand box at Keeneland racetrack. In addition, Mock Convention is thrilled to welcome Karl Rove, former Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush, who will speak at the event. Rove was a crucial contributor to President Bush's 2000 and 2004 presidential campaign victories. To purchase a ticket, please email Libby Kerr (kerrl24@mail.wlu.edu). Tickets will be sold by the table and will cost $500 per table. Tables seat between 7 and 8 people. A limited number of individual tickets remain available for $50 per person. Please do not hesitate to contact our Fundraising team with any questions. Thank you for supporting Mock Convention! Please direct any and all questions to mockcon@mail.wlu.edu or contact us via social media @mockconvention. |
| 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. |
SOLD OUT Contact Committee Presents: An Evening with Brendan Hunt |
University Chapel |
The Washington and Lee Contact Committee is excited to bring the award-winning star of stage and screen, Brendan Hunt, to campus for Parents and Family Weekend on Thursday, October 5th at 7 PM. The Event is SOLD OUT. Email contact@mail.wlu.edu. to be placed on the Waitlist, please include your name and the number of tickets requested. |
Friday, October 6, 2023
| Time | Event | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | Classes Begin | Parents and family members who wish to join their student in classes during Parents and Family weekend should check with their student to find out which classes are open to visitors. Invitations to attend classes are issued at the discretion of the faculty and students will be informed by their professors if parents and family members are invited to attend. | |
| 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Registration | Evans Dining Hall, Lobby | Pick up your registration packet and name tags. Your student may pick up your packet for you. |
| 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Financial Aid in-person appointments | Office of Financial Aid, 23 University Place | Appointments will be available on Friday for any parent or student who needs to meet with a member of the Financial Aid staff. A 25-minute appointment in the financial aid office can be scheduled for the morning or afternoon of Friday, October 6 using this link: https://access.wlu.edu/portal/parentwknd_finaid
These appointments are for parents and/or others who are attending Parents and Family Weekend and who need to meet with Financial Aid. Please do not sign-up for an appointment if you are not attending. If you are not able to attend Parents and Family Weekend but need to speak with Financial Aid, then I encourage you to contact Martha Rowsey at (540) 458-8717 or email her at merowsey@wlu.edu. Martha can arrange an appointment by phone, virtual or in-person for another date and time. |
| 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | Introduction to Theatre | Wilson Hall 2010 |
A good portion of the Theater Intro course is spent examining various plays through the lenses of the creative team: the playwright, the director, the designers, and the actors. The session on Friday, October 6, will be focusing either on The Mountaintop by Katori Hall or on Speech & Debate by Stephen Karam. The Mountaintop is an allegorical two-person play about the night before the assassination of Martin Luther King in April of 1968. It's set inside his Lorraine Motel room in Memphis. Speech & Debate, the first play of this year's production season, centers on three misfit high school students trying to buck the unfair rules and regulations placed on them by the school's administration. GenZ in action.
Sponsored by the Department of Theatre, Dance & Film Studies |
| 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | World Languages and Cultures at Washington and Lee | Ruscio Center for Global Learning | Take a pen and receive some facts about World Languages and Cultures study at Washington and Lee. It pays to be globally minded! |
| 10 a.m. | Library Student Advisory Board Book Sale | Leyburn Library's Main Floor | The Library Student Advisory Board [LSAB] is holding their 3rd Annual Booksale--this time during Parents & Family Weekend! Books on sale are donated by our patrons and friends. Shop for your new favorite book and do so sustainably! All proceeds go to the initiatives of LSAB. Event ends at 8 p.m., Sunday, October 8th.
Learn more about LSAB at https://library.wlu.edu/library-student-advisory-board/ |
| 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Physics and Engineering Department Open House | Science Center, Great Hall | Come and meet members of Faculty Sessions run 10 a.m.-11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. |
| 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | PHYSICS FEST | Science Center, Howe 204 and Howe 208 |
Come see some cool physics demos! Sessions run 10 a.m.-11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. |
| 10:15 a.m. & 2 p.m. | Admissions Office Campus Tours and Information Sessions | Undergraduate Admissions, 19 Letcher Ave |
Walking tours focus on a day in the life of a typical W&L student, from where they sleep, eat, study, and play to the fun traditions and lore that make Washington and Lee and the town of Lexington special. Please use the following link to sign up for a tour. Tours are at 10:15 am and 2 pm. |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Children of Alumni Luncheon (by invitation only) | Hotchkiss House | Sponsored by the Alumni Association. |
| 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. | Neuroscience Program Open House | Parmly Hall 305, Science Center | Come have refreshments with the members of the Neuroscience program. |
| 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. | Global Learning and Study Abroad at Washington and Lee | Elrod Commons, Stackhouse Theater | This session will provide an overview of opportunities for global learning and how it may relate to a student's overall W&L education. A student panel will share what they gained through their experiences abroad. |
| 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | MUSINGS: A Student-Curated Exhibition | Watson Galleries | Visit the Watson Galleries for a 20-minute guided tour of "Mohammad Omer Khalil: Musings", co-curated by four students as part of the 2023 Spring term course ARTH 398: Seminar in Museum Studies: Hailey Neaman ‘25, and Aislinn Niimi ‘24, Annabel Symington ‘25, and Annie Zajicek ‘24.
Tours begin at 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm, and 2:30 pm. Reservation recommended https://calendly.com/mwlu/musings |
| 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | History Department Open House | Newcomb Hall | Come have refreshments with the faculty of the History Department.
Inclement weather-Event held inside Newcomb Hall |
| 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Education Studies Meet & Greet | Newcomb Hall | The Education Studies Department will host a meet-and-greet outside under a tent, beside Newcomb Hall.
Inclement weather- Newcomb Hall, First Floor |
| 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Sociology & Anthropology Meet & Greet | Newcomb Hall | The Sociology and Anthropology Department will host a meet-and-greet outside under a tent, beside Newcomb Hall.
Inclement weather- Newcomb Hall, First Floor |
| 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Putting the "Art" in Liberal Arts | Reeves Museum | Stop by the Elisabeth S. Gottwald Gallery at the Reeves Museum for a mini-tour of our current exhibition, Curricular Connections, led by Curator of Academic Engagement Elizabeth Spear.
You'll see highlights from the Museums at Washington & Lee's collection of over 13,000 works of art and find surprising connections with subjects like Chemistry, Business, Environmental Studies, World Languages, and Psychology. |
| 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. | Special Collections and Archives Open House | Special Collections and Archives Reading Room, First Floor of James Graham Leyburn Library | A display of some of the University's most beloved treasures from the Special Collections and Archives.
No food or drinks allowed. |
| 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Mathematics Open House and Student Lecture | Chavis Hall | Enjoy refreshments with the faculty in the main foyer of Chavis. Attend a brief talk by students Wonjun Jo and Abid Jeem about their summer research project at 1:45 in Chavis 105. |
| 1:30 p.m - 3:30 p.m. | English Department Open House | Payne Hall, Mason Taylor New Room | Drop by Mason Taylor New Room (Payne Hall 117) to chat with English faculty, learn more about the department, and enjoy some tasty refreshments. |
| 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | German Department Information Table | Kenneth P. Ruscio Center for Global Learning, Atrium | Meet with German Department faculty and students to find out more about German Studies and internship, fellowship, scholarship, and study abroad opportunities for students of German! |
| 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Journalism and Mass Communications Open House | Reid Hall, Rowe Lounge 2nd Floor | Come have refreshments with the members of the Journalism and Mass Communications Department |
| 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Philosophy Department Open House | Washington Hall, 3rd floor | Come chat with members of the Philosophy Department! |
| 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Chemistry and Biochemistry Open House | Science Center, Science Addition 3rd floor Lounge | Come have a cookie and meet the department! |
| 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Health Professions Open House | Science Center, Science Addition 3rd floor Lounge | Meet Dr. Alty and chat about all things pre-health! |
| 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Summer Research Scholars Student Presentations and Poster Session | Leyburn Library, Main Floor | Come learn what our most recent summer research scholars generated! |
| 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Shepherd Program Open House | Mattingly House, Living Room | Get Involved: Learn about our many local, domestic, and international internships as well as our minor in poverty and human capability studies from current students, staff, and faculty at the Shepherd Program's Open House. |
| 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. | Fraternity Information Session | Hillel House, Multipurpose Room 101 | Members of the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) will discuss information on fraternity life at Washington & Lee, including the recruitment process, eligibility requirements, new member education, housing, and financial obligations.
There will be a Q&A portion at the end. |
| 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. | Sorority Information Session | Elrod Commons, Stackhouse Theater | Members of the Panhellenic Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council will discuss information on sorority life at Washington & Lee including the recruitment process, eligibility requirements, new member education, housing, and financial obligations.
There will be a Q&A portion at the end. |
| 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Biology Department Open House | Science Center, Howe Hall, 3rd Floor | Stop by the the Science Center to chat with Biology Department Faculty! |
| 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Cognitive and Behavioral Science-(CBSC) Open House | CBSC Dept. Science Center, Parmly Hall Computer Lab P225 | Welcome to the CBSC Parents and Family Open House! CBSC faculty will be available to meet and talk with students and their families |
| 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Religion Department Open House |
Outside of Tucker Hall |
The Religion Department will host a meet-and-greet. |
| 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Johnson Program Open House |
Washington Hall Lobby |
The Johnson Program welcomes our Scholars' friends and family for Parents and Family Weekend. Director of the Johnson Program, Elizabeth Knapp, and Program Coordinator, Haley Culbertson will be available to answer questions about the Johnson Scholarship and Program.
Refreshments provided. |
| 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Classics Department Open House |
Outside of Tucker Hall |
The Classics Department will host a meet-and greet |
| 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | What are you going to do with that? A Student Panel on Careers in English |
Payne Hall, Mason Taylor New Room |
Not sure what you can do with an English degree? Join the English department and recent alumni for a panel discussion on careers in English. All are welcome! |
| 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Lifelong Learning - Opportunities for W&L Parents and Families | Office of Lifelong Learning, Early Fielding #129 | Stop by the Office of Lifelong Learning to discover all of the exciting virtual, campus, and travel programs that are available for parents, families, and friends of W&L. Come by to learn about our current offerings and get a sneak peek of what's to come! |
| 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Romance Languages Open House |
Tucker Hall, 3rd Floor Foyer |
An opportunity for parents and other family members to see our department and meet available faculty and staff |
| 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Africana Studies Meet & Greet | Tucker Hall, Room 101 | The Africana Studies Department will host a meet-and-greet |
| 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. | Sorority Open Houses | Frank Parsons Way | Parents and families are welcome to visit the Panhellenic sorority houses as they will be open for visitors. |
| 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. | Environmental Studies Open House | Tucker Hall 019 (Basement) | Please join us in the Environmental Studies Lounge to meet our faculty and see our space. |
| 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. | Williams School Open House | Terrace in front of Huntley Hall | Stop by the front steps of Huntley Hall to chat with Williams School faculty! Refreshments will be provided.
In the event of inclement weather, the open house will be moved to the Larry and Fran Peppers Room inside Huntley Hall. |
| 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. | Law, Justice, and Society Meet and Greet | Tucker Hall, 1st Floor Lemon Reading Room | Come and meet Law, Justice, and Society faculty and hear about this engaging program. |
| 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Parents and Family Weekend Lee House Open House | Lee House, Patio | President Dudley and Carola Tanna look forward to meeting you and your families and invite you to join them for cookies and punch on the Lee House Patio. |
| 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. | East Asian Languages & Literatures Taste of Asia Open House | Kenneth P. Ruscio Center for Global Learning, Atrium | Asian Snacks and Conversation |
| 5 p.m. - 6 p.m | Ghana Springterm Documentary Premiere | Keller Theatre, Lenfest Center for the Performing Arts | A premiere of the documentary films we created in Ghana in Springterm 2023 with time for discussion and questions |
| 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Climbing Open House at the Outing Club | Outing Club (Student Activities Pavilion) | Visit the Outing Club and try out our new rock climbing facilities. This is open to all experience levels, and equipment is provided. Drop in at your convenience to boulder, rock climb, or just check out our space! |
| 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | WLUR Presents Parents Weekend Trivia | Elrod Commons, Stackhouse Theater | Test your knowledge and win prizes! |
| 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | W&L Hillel Parents and Family Shabbat Dinner | Hillel House | Everyone is welcome to join the W&L Jewish community for a brief Shabbat service followed by dinner. Please RSVP for the event at Hillel@wlu.edu |
| 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. | Parents and Family Weekend Choral Concert and Reception | Wilson Concert Hall, Lykes Atrium |
Come kick off the 2023-2024 choral season with the University Singers, Glee Club, and Cantatrici. Showcasing Lacey R. Lynch, conductor of Cantatrici, and members of the Choral Conducting Mentorship Program (CCMP). The first half of the program will feature modern a cappella fun, opening with Curtis Mayfield's It's Alright and Latvian composer Laura Jekabsone's Sudraba Meness. The University Singers, conducted by Shane M. Lynch, will then perform a wide-ranging set centered around To Sit and Dream, an incredible work by American composer Rosephanye Powell. Traditional favorites will round out the evening; finally closing with James Erb's Shenandoah. A reception will immediately follow the performance. Tickets available Monday, September 11, 2023. The Box Office opens Monday, September 11, 2023. Box Office hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and one hour prior to all ticketed performances. |
| 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. | FUDG (Friday Underground) | ARC (Arts, Recreation, and Culture) House, 205 East Washington Street (Basement) | A new W&L tradition. Join us for free food and specialty coffee drinks, great conversations, and live entertainment featuring student artists. |
Saturday, October 7, 2023
| Time | Event | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | A Stroll through Downtown Lexington | Office of Community-Based Learning at the corner of Washington Street and Lee Avenue (in front of the Early-Fielding Building) |
Enjoy a leisurely walk and learn about innovative student and faculty partnerships with local businesses and nonprofits. We will walk up Washington Street, to Main Street, to Randolph Street, to East Preston Street, and back down Main Street. This is a shine or light rain event. Heavy downpours cancel. Please fill out this form to sign up: https://forms.gle/h41vA95VxyySkzho8 Hosted by the Office of Community-Based Learning |
| 9 a.m - 10:30 a.m. | RUF Parents' Brunch | Village Pavilion |
Join Reformed University Fellowship students, staff, and parents for brunch, fellowship, and a brief update of how we're seeing God at work on campus, from the Campus Minister, Rev. Willis Weatherford. |
| 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Outing Club Back Campus Hike | Outing Club Pavilion |
Enjoy a wonderful 3-4-mile hike on our very own back campus trails, a campus treasure just minutes from the Colonnade. This hike will be student-led at a slow enough pace to keep the group together while enjoying the beauty and expanse of this special part of our campus! This is a light rain or shine event. Heavy downpour cancels. |
| 9 a.m. - Noon | Registration (continues) | Evans Dining Hall, Lobby | |
| 9:30 a.m. | Admissions Office Campus Tours and Information Sessions | Undergraduate Admissions, 19 Letcher Ave | Walking tours focus on a day in the life of a typical W&L student, from where they sleep, eat, study, and play to the fun traditions and lore that make Washington and Lee and the town of Lexington special.
Please use the following link to sign up for a tour. |
| 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Japanese Tea Ceremony Demonstrations by the W&L Chanoyu Tea Society | Watson Galleries | Observe a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony by students of the W&L Chanoyu Tea Society in our own Senshin'an Tearoom (http://tearoom.wlu.edu) in the Watson Galleries, located adjacent to Tucker Hall at the end of the Colonnade.
Enjoy traditional sweets and a bowl of whisked "matcha" tea. Three demonstrations will be held: 10:00-10:30, 10:45-11:15, and 11:30-12:00. Each session is limited to 20 participants and sign-up is required. Since seating is limited to 20 participants per session and there is no automated waitlist, be sure to cancel your reservation if your plans change. Sign up at this Calendly link: https://calendly.com/mwlu/pfwtea23 |
| 10 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. | Brunch in the Marketplace | Elrod Commons, Marketplace | No tickets are necessary. Guests can pay at the register. |
| 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | President's Address | University Chapel | President William C. Dudley |
| 12 p.m. | Women's Soccer |
Alston Parker Watt Field |
Washington and Lee vs. Lynchburg |
| 1 p.m. | Field Hockey | Turf Field | Washington and Lee vs. University of Lynchburg |
| 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Student Affairs Sponsored Tailgate | Law School Lawn | Please join Student Affairs as we cheer on Generals Football against Guilford College! |
| 3 p.m. | Men's Soccer | Alston Parker Watt Field | Men's Soccer vs. Randolph-Macon |
| 4 p.m. | Football | Wilson Field | Washington and Lee vs. Guilford College |
| 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | A Cappella Concert | University Chapel |
Featuring Southern Comfort, JubiLee, and General Admission. |
| 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. | Parents and Family Weekend Instrumental Concert | Wilson Concert Hall | Join the University Jazz Ensemble, University Orchestra, and University Wind Ensemble as they perform a combined concert as part of Parents and Family Weekend 2023. No tickets are required. Performance will be live-streamed, at https://livestream.com/wlu |
Sunday, October 8, 2023
| Time | Event | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | Sunday Events TBD |
Special Events and Exhibits
Staniar Gallery, Wilson Hall
Art Exhibit: Mary Mattingly: Proposals
New York-based artist Mary Mattingly works in various media to explore issues around sustainability, climate change, and consumerism. She is best known for creating sculptural ecosystems such as Swale, a floating food forest that was open to the public as it traveled through the harbors of New York City. The exhibition in Staniar Gallery will present a series of photographs and sculptures from an ongoing series in which the artist wraps up collections of personal objects into dense bundles that comment on consumption, waste, and the environment. Mattingly's work has been exhibited at institutions such as Socrates Sculpture Park, International Center of Photography, the Brooklyn Museum, Palais de Tokyo, Seoul Art Center among many others. She has been profiled in various documentaries and publications such as Art21 and The New York Times. Mattingly is a 2023 Guggenheim Fellow and other notable grants include the James L. Knight Foundation, the Harpo Foundation, and New York Foundation for the Arts
University Store
Located in the Elrod University Commons
Special Parents and Family Weekend Hours of Operation:
- Friday, October 6, 2023: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Saturday, October 7, 2023: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Sunday, October 8, 2023: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.