A Record Breaking Weekend at Virginia Commonwealth University
October 2023 marked a milestone for Virginia Commonwealth University, as Family Programs hosted the most highly attended Parent and Family Weekend in VCU history. With 716 students and 1,491 adults registered, the event brought together a vibrant community of 1,822 family members. This remarkable turnout underscored the strong bonds between VCU students and their families, as well as their enthusiasm for engaging with the university community.
A Weekend of Connection and Celebration
First-year students made up the majority of attendees, accounting for 86% of registrations, followed by sophomores (7%), juniors (5%), and seniors (2%). The weekend offered a wide variety of programming and events designed to foster connections and showcase the best of VCU. Among the top five most attended events were the Closing Brunch with 1,560 participants, the Ramily Rally with 900 attendees, Paint Events with 441 participants, BINGO with 408 players, and Ghost Tours that intrigued 310 guests.
Kenlee Andreu, Assistant Director of Student Advocacy, shared, “My favorite event during Family Weekend was the Halloween-themed BINGO night. So many families showed up in costume and contributed to the most fun environment.” BINGO became a highlight of the weekend. Andreu also remarked, “What I was most proud of during Family Weekend was how many of our colleagues volunteered their time helping us with events or hosting their own for families.”
What Attendees Loved Most
Families appreciated the opportunity to see their students and meet other families, praising the organization of the event and the quality of communication leading up to the weekend. Andreu noted, “We hope families leave Family Weekend feeling proud to be part of the VCU community, with a greater understanding of their student’s experience. It’s an opportunity for students to welcome their loved ones into their world, show them around their new home, and create memories together in this new chapter.” The food at the Ramily Rally and Brunch, Family BINGO, Spooky BINGO, Paint Parties, STEM Building Tours, Choir Performances, free parking, and discounted athletics tickets were all highly praised.
A Special Event: The Chosen Ramily Celebration
This year also marked the inaugural ‘Chosen Ramily’ event, a celebration of inclusivity. Kenlee Andreu explained, “The Chosen Ramily Celebration was an idea I came up with during my interview, inspired by the Family Programs’ value of recognizing and supporting all concepts of family. While we must engage families who are supportive and invested in their student’s experience, I felt it was important not to exclude students who have found their families here at VCU.” This event allowed even more students and families to feel connected and represented within the VCU community.
Future Event Suggestions
Looking ahead, families expressed interest in future events such as sporting events, dance/music showcases, art shows, lectures, professor meet-and-greets, and opportunities to meet other families. They also suggested earlier events to allow for free evening time, a family block party or carnival, casino night or bowling, a housing fair, open houses, scavenger hunts, DIY tours, and a student organization fair.
Conclusion
The record-breaking Parent and Family Weekend at VCU highlighted the university’s strong community spirit and commitment to fostering family connections. As we look forward to future events, we are dedicated to enhancing the experience for all attendees and building on this year’s success. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this historic weekend one to remember!
Categories Annual Report Stories: 2023-24