Family Weekend Schedule

Bistro Willamette Hours (Putnam University Center, 1st Floor)

Visit the student-run coffee shop located on the first floor of the Putnam University Center to try their handcrafted drinks and various treats made from scratch.

Check In (Putnam University Center 2nd Floor Lobby)

Pick up campus information and pre-purchased tickets. Limited tickets will be available for purchase at check-in.

Renjen Center for Equity & Empowerment Open House (Renjen Center)

Come celebrate the Renjen Center for Equity & Empowerment (E&E)’s 12th birthday!

The E&E is a welcoming and inclusive space where students of various identities can find connection, support, and resources. The space is grounded in the empowerment of historically underrepresented students and their allies. Housed in the Center is the Office of Intercultural Engagement & Inclusion. Come visit to learn about their resources!

Community Garden Open House (Gather between Hatfield Library and Sparks Athletics Center)

Student leaders from various clubs committed to biodiversity, conservation, and climate action will be gathered to socialize in the Community Garden. We will pot acorns and other native plants, care for our oakling nursery, and explore the connections between oaks and the health of the Mill Race. We will also learn about local traditions of First Foods on campus and the role of oaks in our climate future.

How The Liberal Arts Prepares Students for Careers (Montag Den)

The liberal arts teach students how to read, write, and think, but how do we ensure they are career ready? In this session we will talk about the skills employers are seeking, how we help our students gain these skills, and how we shape our Career Development offerings through our Career Communities model to ensure Willamette students have the opportunity to explore career fields, gain meaningful and relevant experience, and connect with employers and alumni across a variety of industries.

Please join Anne Lapour, Interim Executive Director of Career Initiatives, in this session to learn more about how Willamette helps prepare career ready graduates.

Gender Resource and Advocacy Center Family Open House (Montag Loft)

The Gender Resource and Advocacy Center (GRAC) provides resources and support to persons of any gender and sexual identity in the Willamette University community. Visit their Family Open House to learn about their resources.

Decade of the Oak — A Panel for the Future (Ford 102)

Limited to 40 guests

Join a panel of regional leaders who are growing the next generation of oaks and oak stewards. The Decade of the Oak is a decentralized, decade-long grassroots outreach initiative that aims to build awareness and support for oak conservation by connecting individuals with their local communities. Panelists will come from partners in the professional Pacific Northwest Oak Alliance, as well as student leaders from clubs dedicated to biodiversity, conservation, and climate action.

Family Weekend Instrumental and Choral Concert (Hudson Hall)

A combination of many Willamette University music ensembles welcome friends, family and the Salem community to attend a Family Weekend Concert. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Silver Falls Hiking Trip (Meet at Montag Plaza)

Sign up to visit one of the premiere state parks in the region and all of Oregon. Silver Falls State Park includes one of the best hikes in the state called the 10 falls waterfall hike. We will hike a small 2.6 mile portion of the trail to see two of the largest waterfalls in the state. Do not miss this opportunity to spend time with the Outdoor Program Leaders and be in the great outdoors. You have the option to join the Outdoor Program in our rented vehicle transportation that we provide or your family can meet us at the waterfall trailhead as well.

PLEASE NOTE: If you choose to drive there is a $5.00 parking fee at the trailhead. This event will require additional registration when you register for Family Weekend. Space is very limited so if you're interested sign up quickly.

Mini University Session: Ricardo De Mambro Santos, Thinking Through Art (Ford 122, Ford Hall, 1st Floor)

By examining canonical works, such as Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper," unexpectedly paired with examples of contemporary visual culture, this lesson aims to explore the multiple ways in which the historical study of art may provide stimulating models of critical thinking.

Mini University Session: Kelley Strawn, Designing Effective Survey Questions: Is It as Easy as You Think? (Ford 102)

In our electronic, social-media age, we are awash in surveys in our daily lives: Pop-ups, product feedback, election polling, and many, many others. In this straight-from-the-actual-classroom class, Kelley Strawn will introduce you to the core considerations researchers (should) utilize in the design of effective survey questions. Participants will spend the better part of the hour session interacting with actual survey questions to identify potential sources of bias in survey responses that derive from wording, response options, and other elements of survey questions.

Check In (Putnam University Center 2nd Floor Lobby)

Pick up campus information and pre-purchased tickets. Limited tickets will be available for purchase at check in.

Natural Resources Department of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

Native Plant Nursery Tour

Limited to 20 guests & open to self transport.
Location: 47010 SW Hebo Rd, Grand Ronde

The Grand Ronde Native Plant Nursery hosts a robust plant nursery program for First Foods, education, culture, and restoration. Having long been partners with Growing Oaks, the nursery is an important part of the club’s mission to steward Oregon landscapes. Join Growing Oaks leadership and learn from nursery director, Jeremy Ojua, about native plants, First Foods, and how we can best steward our landscapes. Tours of the wildland fire program and restoration property to follow.

Learn more about Jeremy Ojua: Jeremy Ojua is the nursery supervisor at the Natural Resources Department for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. He operates the Native plant nursery to provide culturally significant native plants for restoration, cultural use, and education. Prior to supervising nursery operations, Jeremy worked 13 years as a Wildland firefighter and Silviculture technician for the Tribes' wildland fire program–helping maintain healthy forests and fighting fire nationally.

Gourmet Brunch (Goudy Commons)

Enjoy a delicious brunch served in Goudy Commons. There will be a variety of breakfast and lunch options available. Tickets are required for everyone attending, including any Willamette student without a board meal plan.

Mini University Session: William Smaldone, "For a Ruthless Criticism of Everything Existing": The Young Karl Marx (Ford 102, Ford Hall, 1st Floor)

This session examines the life of the young Marx before he became a communist. What factors shaped the young Marx's worldview? Why did he come to believe that it was necessary to criticize the whole world? To answer these questions we will look at the world in which Marx matured and the ideas that shaped his vision.

10:00–10:50 a.m.

Mini University Session: Susan Irwin and Abigail Chase, Introduction to Archives (Hatfield Room, Hatfield Library, 2nd Floor ) 

Archives provide a glimpse into the past, enhancing our understanding of historical, cultural, and societal changes. The session starts with an introduction to the concept of archives and their significance, then guides students through the WU Archive collections, which include University.

10:00–10:50 a.m.

Mini University Session: Kelley Strawn, Designing Effective Survey Questions: Is It as Easy as You Think? (Ford 201)

In our electronic, social-media age, we are awash in surveys in our daily lives: Pop-ups, product feedback, election polling, and many, many others. In this straight-from-the-actual-classroom class, Kelley Strawn will introduce you to the core considerations researchers (should) utilize in the design of effective survey questions. Participants will spend the better part of the hour session interacting with actual survey questions to identify potential sources of bias in survey responses that derive from wording, response options, and other elements of survey questions.

Visit the Hallie Ford Museum of Art (Hallie Ford Art Museum)

Stop by the art museum on campus and check out the displaying exhibition-Memories & Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art. For more information check out the website.

Silver Falls Hiking Trip (Meet at Montag Plaza)

Sign up to visit one of the premiere state parks in the region and all of Oregon. Silver Falls State Park includes one of the best hikes in the state called the 10 falls waterfall hike. We will hike a small 2.6 mile portion of the trail to see two of the largest waterfalls in the state. Do not miss this opportunity to spend time with the Outdoor Program Leaders and be in the great outdoors. You have the option to join the Outdoor Program in our rented vehicle transportation that we provide or your family can meet us at the waterfall trailhead as well.

PLEASE NOTE: If you choose to drive there is a $5.00 parking fee at the trailhead. This event will require additional registration when you register for Family Weekend. Space is very limited so if you're interested sign up.

RHA Board Game Social

Come unwind at the Board Game Social, hosted by the Residence Hall Association (RHA) ! Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of games, snacks, and good company. From timeless classics to exciting new favorites, there’s a game for everyone. Bring your family, bring your friends, and let the fun begin.

Family Weekend Jazz Concert (Hudson Hall)

Willamette's many jazz groups come together to bring you a fun-filled night of beautiful music. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Peter Boie: Magician for Non-Believers (Smith Auditorium)

The title "Magician for Non-Believers" reflects his honesty with the audience: magic isn’t real, but Peter will make you believe it is for the length of his show. Combining original mind-blowing magic and humor, he’s become one of the top booked college acts nationwide

Bistro Willamette Hours (Bistro)

Visit the student-run coffee shop located on the first floor of the Putnam University Center to try their handcrafted drinks and various treats made from scratch.

A Capella Concert (Cone Chapel)