The campus will be buzzing with activity as thousands of Rensselaer families are expected to visit Oct. 23-25 to celebrate Family Weekend.

The annual event—hosted by the Office of the Student Experience—typically attracts thousands to campus to experience the season and life at Rensselaer. Last year, more than 4,000 people attended.

FamilyWeekend1Throughout the weekend, students and families will have an opportunity to get a glimpse of life at Rensselaer through a variety of cultural offerings and performances, academic classroom programs, tours, dinners, film screenings, and athletic events, along with events taking place in the Troy community.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, President Shirley Ann Jackson will deliver a presentation of the progress and accomplishments taking place at Rensselaer. The talk will take place in the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center Concert Hall, from 9 to 9:30 a.m. The 22nd annual Honors Convocation ceremony, which celebrates the outstanding academic achievements of students and faculty, will immediately follow in the same location, beginning at 10 a.m.

In addition, new exhibits include images that celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Rensselaer Union on display in the Shelnutt Gallery; along with the photography exhibit titled “Iconic Ireland” on display in the School of Architecture Library in the Greene Building.

On the playing fields, events include two home athletics contests and they are both on Saturday, Oct. 24. Men’s soccer plays Vassar College in the East Campus Athletic Village Stadium at 2 p.m. and men’s hockey plays the University of Michigan at the Houston Field House at 7 p.m.

For individuals interested in getting a glimpse of the diverse cultures on campus, the annual International Festival event will showcase over 25 different countries and cultures representing the Rensselaer Union international student organizations and individual members of campus. The event will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Rensselaer Union McNeil Room from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Families also will have an opportunity to attend the annual Fall Fest Celebration. The free community event features student demonstrations, entertainment, and hands-on activities for individuals of all ages.

The event will take place at the East Campus Athletic Village from 3 to 6 p.m.

Individuals are encouraged to join the social media discussion and share images throughout the weekend, using the hashtag: #RPIfamily, along with the respective class hashtags which are as follows: #RPI2015, #RPI2016, #RPI2017, #RPI2018, and #RPI2019!