ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ

All day - The Great Game Digital Adventure: ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵEdition

• Families have asked for more interactive activities to do with their students during Family Weekend. You asked, we listened! Learn more about campus by creating a team and playing The Great Game Digital Adventure. Families can participate by using their smartphones to solve a series of puzzles that will take teams to the most interesting parts of campus. All families who complete the adventure will be entered into a drawing for a $500 gift card to the Norris Bookstore. This activity is self-guided and can be done anytime during Family Weekend. How to get started:
  1. Form a team of 1-8 players
  2. Have at least one player download TheGreatGame on the   or
  3. Sign up with an email address, click "Register for a game", and then click on ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ
  4. Have one team member click "Create Team" and choose a team name and password. Other teammates click "Join Team" and log in.
  5. Once everyone has joined your team, go to the start location and begin your adventure!

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10:00 am – 6:00 pm - Family Weekend Hospitality Room (101 Wildcat Room, Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr.)

• Families can stop by to connect with Family Engagement staff, pick up an “at a glance” schedule book, collect a coupon for the bookstore and enjoy some complimentary coffee, tea and water. The first 1,000 families to arrive will also receive a small NU-branded gift (one per family)! 

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11:00 am – 5:00 pm - Visit the Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL) 

• ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵundergraduates always enjoy free access to the museum when they present their Wildcard. During Family Weekend (11/8-/10), this benefit extends to up to three guests who will be allowed free entry when they visit either the Michigan Ave or Modern Wing ticketing counter with a Wildcard-wielding undergraduate! Information about visitor policies, special exhibits and more available at: artic.edu This program is supported by the Division of Student Affairs and managed by Student Organizations & Activities. 

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11:00 am – 12:00 pm - Faculty Lecture Series: Round 1 

Northwestern’s world-class faculty showcase their teaching expertise during various lectures for families. Lecture locations will be added soon. 

An Introduction to the Life Course Approach presented by Sneha Kumar, School of Education and Social Policy (Norris Lake Room 2-180) 

• This talk will introduce the life course approach as a theoretical framework for understanding the unequal ways in which individuals transition through the different stages of life. We will underscore how an individual's life trajectory is influenced by the timing and sequence of past events in their life, their sociohistorical context, and their relationships. We will use case studies/research examples to convey the significance of life-span development, agency, historical time and place, timing/sequencing, and linked lives for individual life outcomes. We will also discuss how different data sources can be harnessed to examine social inequality using this framework.   

Enhancing the Creative Process Through Research, Consensus, and Collaboration presented by Barbara Butts, School of Communication (Norris Louis Room North 2-204) 

• In this interactive session, participants will engage in #SOCSeriousPlay, using experiential learning to explore visual research as a source of inspiration and a powerful communication tool. Together, we will establish a shared language that fosters consensus as we collaboratively create a story and develop a character through a fun madlib exercise. This activity encourages curiosity and risk-taking, where every idea is valued. Come ready to collaborate and unleash your creativity! All materials will be provided. Please note that this session is limited to 40 participants.

The Power of Data Journalism: Telling Stories with Numbers presented by Jill Blackman, Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications (Norris ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵRoom 2-160 & 2-172)

• In today’s fast-paced and data-driven world, data journalism is more critical than ever for making sense of complex issues and uncovering stories that go beyond the surface. This lecture will explore how journalists are using data to identify hidden patterns, expose corruption, and investigate pressing social issues that dominate the current news cycle. We’ll dive into real-world examples—from political campaign finance investigations to uncovering environmental crises and economic disparities—to demonstrate the profound impact data can have on modern storytelling. 

Preparing for a Curious Life, Not Just a Career: The ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵPersonal Development StudioLab presented by Joe Holtgrieve, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science (Guild Lounge, 2nd floor of Scott Hall, 601 University Place) 

• Learn about a unique opportunity ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵoffers – “The Curious Life Certificate (CLC)”.  We want to help all students engage with the world in unique, productive, and open ways. Managing the stresses of contemporary life is a journey we are all on, but students, more than most, are at a time of great life changes, mounting challenges, and clashing priorities. The Personal Development StudioLab is committed to helping students cultivate healthy connections, accurate awareness, and intentional attention, to help them craft their own path to a meaningful, fulfilling, and impactful life. (This topic will be presented at 11 am and 1:30 pm by two different professors who Co-Direct the StudioLab.) 

Preparing Emerging Adults for Love: The Marriage 101 Course presented by Alexandra Solomon, School of Education and Social Policy (Norris McCormick Auditorium, Room 1-045) 

• Dr. Alexandra H. Solomon is adjunct faculty in the School of Education and Social Policy, a licensed clinical psychologist, and host of the podcast, Reimagining Love. In this talk, Professor Solomon will explore what has made “Building Loving and Lasting Relationships: Marriage 101” the most popular class on campus for nearly 25 years. In addition to gaining a deeper understanding of the dating landscape of emerging adults, participants will learn how to support the young people in their lives as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of romantic love. 

Programming: How Teaching Computers Helps Us Learn presented by Connor Bain, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science (Norris Louis Room South, Room 2-232)

• Over the last few decades, the push to integrate computer science and programming education into all levels of education has reached levels we previously thought impossible. With recent advancements in so-called “AI,” many have started asking “why bother learning how to program when the computer can do it for you?” We’ll discuss how framing programming education as a means-to-an-end might not be the right approach. That becoming a “software engineer” isn’t the only goal of studying computation. Instead, maybe what we should aim for is for everyone to be computationally literate–to have the ability to see the world as explorable via computation. We’ll talk about what it means to program, write and explore some programs of our own, and even explore how programming might affect the way we think across other disciplines. 

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1:30 pm – 2:30 pm - Faculty Lecture Series: Round 2 

Northwestern’s world-class faculty showcase their teaching expertise during various lectures for families. Lecture locations will be added soon.

The History of Being First: Helping First-Generation First-Years Feel at Home On Campus Through Connection with Those Who Came Before presented by Michael J. Allen, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences (Norris Lake Room 2-180) 

• The concept and phrase of being a "first-generation" college student is of relatively recent origin, introduced in the 1970s and becoming common only in the 1990s. Yet the condition of being the first in one's family to attend college has a longer history that is full of revelations and lessons that today's students can draw on as they transition from their childhood homes to higher education. This talk introduces a new Weinberg College Seminar titled "First-Generations of Higher Education: A Social and Emotional History," designed and taught by first-generation ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵalumnus and history professor Michael Allen ('98 M.A., '03 PhD), that is helping a remarkable group of incoming first-year students feel at home on NU's campus by introducing them to others like them who came before. 

Break the Blocks – Improvisation and Communication Disorders, An interdisciplinary approach presented by Elisha Magnifico & David Catlin, School of Communication (Mussetter-Struble Theater in Wirtz Center for Performing Arts,1949 Campus Drive) 

• Participate in an interactive session where you will experience the power of improv and its relationship to communication first-hand.  You will also learn a bit about our inter-departmental program run by undergraduate students from the Department of Theatre and graduate students from the Communication Sciences and Disorders.  Please note that this session is limited to 40 participants. 

Preparing for a Curious Life, Not Just a Career: The ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵPersonal Development StudioLab presented by Bruce Ankerman, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science (Guild Lounge, 2nd floor of Scott Hall, 601 University Place) 

• Learn about a unique opportunity ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵoffers – “The Curious Life Certificate (CLC)”.  We want to help all students engage with the world in unique, productive, and open ways. Managing the stresses of contemporary life is a journey we are all on, but students, more than most, are at a time of great life changes, mounting challenges, and clashing priorities. The Personal Development StudioLab is committed to helping students cultivate healthy connections, accurate awareness, and intentional attention, to help them craft their own path to a meaningful, fulfilling, and impactful life. (This topic will be presented at 11 am and 1:30 pm by two different professors who Co-Direct the StudioLab.) 

Fake News: Racialized Propaganda, Media Responsibility presented by Christopher Benson, Medill School of Journalism, Media & Integrated Marketing Communications (Norris McCormick Auditorium, Room 1-045) 

• This talk will examine the framing and representation of certain groups in our society in ways that have raised anxiety about the integrity of national elections. 

Blood Ties: Rethinking Extremist Violence presented by Kevin Boyle, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences (Norris Louis Room South 2-232)

• We live in an age plagued by political violence that we assume is driven by the troubling ideas that its perpetrators hold. This presentation will offer a different reading of extremist violence’s motivation, starting with the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol and then moving back a century to another terrifying moment in the American experience, so as to trouble our understanding of the profound dangers now facing the nation. 

Ghosts in the Machine: How Cinematic Ghost Stories Help Us Heal presented by Brett Neveu, School of Communication (Norris ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵRoom 2-160 & 2-172)

• From early campfire tales to the modern CGI-laden film experience, ghost stories have been a consistent mode of societal storytelling. Through an examination of the history of ghost stories in films, this session – through lectures and film examples – will seek to uncover the purpose of cinematic ghost stories and reveal how characters heal via confrontation. From Spielberg to Shyamalan and Universal Pictures to A24, we’ll discover how positivity can be found in fright and why the ghost story remains as culturally popular as ever before. 

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Afternoon with the Undergraduate Schools

Bienen School of Music 

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, Jean Gimbel Lane Reception Room)

• Bienen School family members are invited to join Dean Holland and Bienen School leadership at a reception to hear from the dean and connect with other Bienen parents. 

Families are also invited to observe student rehearsals at various times throughout the afternoon. 

• University Chorale, 2:00-3:20 pm (Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, 1-190 McClintock Choral Room) 

• Symphonic Wind Ensemble, 2:10 pm - 4:10pm (Pick-Staiger Rehearsal Room) 

• University Singers, 3:30 pm - 4:50 pm (Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, 1-190 McClintock Choral Room) 

• ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Jazz Orchestra, 4:30 pm - 6:20 pm (Regenstein 011) 

• Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble 5:00 pm - 6:20 pm (Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, 1-190 McClintock Choral Room) 

• ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Marching Band, 4:00 pm - 6:00pm (Wilson Field/TBD) 

McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (205 Louis Room, Norris University Center) 

• McCormick family members are invited to this presentation and Q&A with Ellen Worsdall, Assistant Dean for McCormick Undergraduate Student Affairs, Heather Bacon, Director of Advising and Student Development and current engineering students. 

Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (McCormick Foundation Center Forum, 1870 Campus Dr.) 

• A welcome from our Dean and a brief showcase of student and faculty work.

School of Communication

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Wirtz Center for Performing Arts, Room 201, 1949 Campus Dr.) 

• Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Advising Lori Barcliff Baptista will speak briefly, and academic advisors will mingle with guests.  

School of Education and Social Policy (SESP)

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Annenberg Hall, Room 123, Student Advising Office, 2120 Campus Dr.) 

• An open house and conversation with SESP faculty and advising team will take place in the SESP Student Affairs Office on the first floor of Annenberg Hall. Light refreshments will be served. 

Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St.)

• Presentation and panel discussion on resources and opportunities for Weinberg students. 

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4:30 pm – 6:30 pm - Family Weekend Happy Hour featuring the Jolly Ringwalds Band (Double Clutch Brewing Company, 2121 Ashland Ave, Evanston)– SOLD OUT 

• Kick-off Family Weekend in style! Join us at Evanston's own Double Clutch Brewing Company for an afternoon of appetizers and beverages amongst friends. Mix and mingle with other Wildcat families in a casual atmosphere featuring live music by the Jolly Ringwalds! Tickets cost $5 each and include admission to the venue, appetizers, and soft drinks. Please note, all ticket sales are final; no refunds will be given. You must purchase a ticket for your ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵstudent as well. Alcoholic beverages for those guests 21 years of age and older may be purchased at the bar. Parking near Double Clutch is limited, so we recommend you arrive early or consider taking a ride share. Transportation from campus will not be provided.

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6:00 pm – 8:30 pm -  ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵVolleyball vs. Penn State (Welsh-Ryan Arena)  

• Show your Purple Pride and pack Welsh-Ryan Arena as the Wildcats take on Penn State. Free volleyball tickets, sponsored by Family Engagement, are available for family members. NU students attend the game for free with their Wildcard. Registration for Family Weekend and complimentary ticket ordering closes on Friday, November 1. Go ‘Cats!  

• Please note, you can reserve your free tickets via the Family Weekend registration form ticket ordering process, but your actual game tickets will be emailed to you from ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵAthletics closer to the match. 

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8:00 pm – 10:00 pm - Dearborn Observatory (2131 Tech Drive) 

• Families are invited to drop in and tour the Observatory free of charge.  Weather permitting, you will be able to view the night sky with our historic Dearborn Telescope. 

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9:00 pm – 10:30 pm - Chris Carter the Mentalist & Hypnotist (McCormick Auditorium, Norris University Center)

• A ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵtradition returns. Chris Carter has performed for Wildcat Welcome and Homecoming Week audiences dating back at least 10 years. Chris will have audience members write very specific numbers and statements on a card, and blindfolded, will be able to identify the numbers and statements on the cards while engaging with the people who wrote with them. He shows the most impressive card tricks, uses the power of suggestion to influence the senses of audience members, and can even identify the special code on your dollar bill without seeing it. Enjoy this free event and leave wondering, “how on earth did he do that?” Seats are first-come, first-served and will fill up fast so come early! Sponsored by Student Organizations & Activities. 

6:00 am – 10:00 pm - Complimentary Access to the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion (2311 Campus Dr.)

•  More information and class schedules included under “Additional Info". 

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12:00 pm – 8:00 pm -  Block Museum of Art (40 Arts Circle Drive) 

• Visit Northwestern’s campus art museum! The Block is an engine that drives questioning, experimentation, and collaboration across fields of study, with visual arts at the center. Exhibitions on view include Federico Solmi: The Great Farce, Dissident Sisters: Bev Grant and Feminist Activism, 1968–72, and The Block Collects 2024 which will highlight new works of art in the collection including the 2023-2024 Student Acquisition. The Block is always free and open to all. For more information, please visit .
  

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12:30 pm – 11:00 pm - Visit the Norris Game Room (Norris University Center)  

• Visit the Game Room in the underground of Norris University Center for some family fun! The Norris Game Room has six Brunswick Gold Crown billiards tables, and a variety of video games on Xbox One, Playstation 4, and the Nintendo Switch, as well as several board games and a foosball table. All activities are free for NU Families.  

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1:10 pm – 2:00 pm - Ju’mah (Muslim Friday Prayer) (Parkes Hall, Room 122, 1870 Sheridan Road)  

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4:00 pm – 4:30 pm - Mindfulness Meditation Drop-In (Multi-Belief Space, Parkes Hall, Room 204, 1870 Sheridan Road)  

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4:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Jewish Engagement & Education: Jewish Life @ NU in this Moment (629 Foster St.) 

• This is a fireside chat featuring Jewish Studies faculty and Hillel staff.

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm - ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵHillel Open House (629 Foster St.)

• Join Hillel for an Open House. We’ll have a performance from ShireiNU (Northwestern's premier Jewish a capella group) and schmooze over drinks and light snacks! 

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm - Shabbat Services (629 Foster St.) 

• Join us for our weekly Shabbat services (both Reform and Conservative) led by students. Services are open to all.

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm - Shabbat Dinner (629 Foster St.) 

• Join ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵHillel for our delicious Kosher Shabbat dinner prepared by Hillel's new, in-house chef, Jacob Portman! 

 for Family Weekend events with ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵHillel 

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6:00 pm – 8:00 pm - ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Black Alumni Association (NUBAA) Family Weekend Social (The Black House, 1914 Sheridan Rd.) 

• Join NUBAA at the Black House for a couple hours of conversation and connection with NUBAA members and fellow parents. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome! If you have any questions, please direct them to nubaa@alum.northwestern.edu. We look forward to connecting with you then! 

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7:00 pm - 8:30 pm - The Seagullman presented by Vertigo (Shanley Pavilion, 2031 Sheridan Rd)  

• Two Coast Guard volunteer workers conduct a report on the abandoned oil wells in Houston’s Trinity Bay. These wells, left unattended and improperly shut down, are possible environmental hazards—but the Texas government hasn’t been inclined to force companies to clean up their own abandoned wells. The volunteers’ well-intentioned mission to raise awareness about the issue becomes complicated by their discovery on a particularly strange platform: a trash-eating anthropomorphic mutant seagull. Faced with the moral question of destroying the seagullman’s home and opposed by the seagullman’s charismatic (and off-putting) lawyer, the volunteers grapple with what it means to try to save the world. This is a free event, and seats are first come, first served.

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7:30 pm - Jazzmeia Horn Quartet (Pick-Staiger Concert Hall) 

• Hailed as “the next big carrier of straight-ahead jazz’s vocal tradition” by the New York Times, is the winner of the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and the 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition. She received Grammy nominations in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category for both her debut album A Social Call and its follow up, Love and Liberation, and her first big-band album, Dear Love, was nominated in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble category. She continues to tour nationally and internationally while teaching and conducting outreach programs through the Jazz Horn International Vocal Initiative, and she is the author of Strive From Within: The Jazzmeia Horn Approach. This performance is sponsored in part by WDCB 90.9 FM. Tickets & more information is available at (847) 467-4000 or  

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7:30 pm - Student Composers Concert (Regenstein Master Class Room)  

• A free program of new works by Bienen . 

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10:00 pm – 11:30 pm - The Seagullman presented by Vertigo (Shanley Pavilion, 2031 Sheridan Rd)  

• Two Coast Guard volunteer workers conduct a report on the abandoned oil wells in Houston’s Trinity Bay. These wells, left unattended and improperly shut down, are possible environmental hazards—but the Texas government hasn’t been inclined to force companies to clean up their own abandoned wells. The volunteers’ well-intentioned mission to raise awareness about the issue becomes complicated by their discovery on a particularly strange platform: a trash-eating anthropomorphic mutant seagull. Faced with the moral question of destroying the seagullman’s home and opposed by the seagullman’s charismatic (and off-putting) lawyer, the volunteers grapple with what it means to try to save the world. This is a free event, and seats are first come, first served.

Dining

If you are looking for a quick bite during the weekend, check out the Norris University Center for dining options:   

Friday  

• Wildcat Deli: open until 3:00pm 
• ShakeSmart: open until 6:00pm 
• Chicken & Boba and 847 Burger:  open until 7:00pm  
• Starbucks, Mod Pizza, and The Market:  open until 8:00pm  

Bookstore

Visit the University Bookstore on the Ground Floor of Norris. 

Hours:

• Friday: 9am-6:30pm  

Visit the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion

ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵparents and families are invited to enjoy complimentary access to and all throughout Family Weekend. Join us and see how ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵRecreation can elevate your student’s university experience!  

Hours: 

• Friday: 6:00 am – 10:00 pm 

Group Exercise Class Schedule

Friday

Friday Class Schedule

TIME	CLASS	INSTRUCTOR	LOCATION
9:00-10:00 am	Aqua Fitness	Dee	Pool
Noon-1:00 pm	Total-Body Strength	Anthony	Studio 1AB
5:30-6:30 pm	Mindful Yoga	Katherine	Studio 2

All day - The Great Game Digital Adventure: ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵEdition

• Families have asked for more interactive activities to do with their students during Family Weekend. You asked, we listened! Learn more about campus by creating a team and playing The Great Game Digital Adventure. Families can participate by using their smartphones to solve a series of puzzles that will take teams to the most interesting parts of campus. All families who complete the adventure will be entered into a drawing for a $500 gift card to the Norris Bookstore. This activity is self-guided and can be done anytime during Family Weekend. How to get started:
  1. Form a team of 1-8 players
  2. Have at least one player download TheGreatGame on the   or
  3. Sign up with an email address, click "Register for a game", and then click on ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ
  4. Have one team member click "Create Team" and choose a team name and password. Other teammates click "Join Team" and log in.
  5. Once everyone has joined your team, go to the start location and begin your adventure!

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9:00 am – 1:00 pm - Family Weekend Hospitality Room (101 Wildcat Room, Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr.) 

• Families can stop by to connect with Family Engagement staff, pick up an “at a glance” schedule book, collect a coupon for the bookstore and enjoy some complimentary coffee, tea and water. Also, pick up a small NU-branded gift while supplies last. 

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9:30 am – 10:30 am - Exploring Study Abroad (McCormick Auditorium, Norris University Center)

• ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵstudents participate in study abroad programs around the world. The Global Learning Office will provide insight into the process and possibilities of studying abroad. 

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10:00 am – 11:15 am - Campus Tours led by Family Ambassadors (Leave from The Rock, near Harris Hall) 

• Family Ambassadors will lead campus-walking tours which leave at 10:00 am. 

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10:45 am – 11:30 am – Campus Resource Sessions Round 1 (Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr.)

Career Services for ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵStudents (Norris ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵRoom 2-160 & 2-172)

• ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵCareer Advancement (NCA) will offer an overview of the career resources available to your student including career counseling and advising services, internships and summer experiences, and the post-graduation success of our students.  Come learn about how ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵprepares its students for life after graduation. 

Undergraduate Research Information Session (Norris Lake Room 2-180)

• The Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research will explain how students can get involved in research.  At Northwestern, research occurs in all fields and schools from the [expected] labs to the creative arts and journalism.  Come learn the process of getting into a lab and/or developing your own project.  We have extensive resources and funding for both. 

Office of Fellowships Session (Norris Rock Room 2-270)

• The Office of Fellowships helps students find and apply for external sources of funding to do many different things, including research, internships, language study, and tuition support, with international options available for all opportunities. 

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11:00 am – 5:00 pm - Visit the Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL) 

• ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵundergraduates always enjoy free access to the museum when they present their Wildcard. During Family Weekend (11/8-/10), this benefit extends to up to three guests who will be allowed free entry when they visit either the Michigan Ave or Modern Wing ticketing counter with a Wildcard-wielding undergraduate! Information about visitor policies, special exhibits and more available at: artic.edu This program is supported by the Division of Student Affairs and managed by Student Organizations & Activities. 

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11:45 pm – 12:30 pm – Campus Resource Sessions Round 2 (Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr.)

Career Services for ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵStudents (Norris ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵRoom 2-160 & 2-172) 

• ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵCareer Advancement (NCA) will offer an overview of the career resources available to your student including career counseling and advising services, internships and summer experiences, and the post-graduation success of our students.  Come learn about how ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵprepares its students for life after graduation. 

Undergraduate Research Information Session (Norris Lake Room 2-180)

• The Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research will explain how students can get involved in research.  At Northwestern, research occurs in all fields and schools from the [expected] labs to the creative arts and journalism.  Come learn the process of getting into a lab and/or developing your own project.  We have extensive resources and funding for both. 

Office of Fellowships Session (Norris Rock Room 2-270)

• The Office of Fellowships helps students find and apply for external sources of funding to do many different things, including research, internships, language study, and tuition support, with international options available for all opportunities. 

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1:30 pm – 2:30 pm - Fraternity & Sorority Life Panel Presentation (Norris ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵRoom 2-160 & 2-172) 

• Families are invited to a presentation provided by the Fraternity & Sorority Life (FSL) staff that will overview the values of our community, benefits of membership, and pathways to joining across our four councils: the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and the Panhellenic Association (PHA). Families will also have a chance to ask questions and engage with a panel of upper-class student leaders within the FSL community about their experiences. 

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1:30 pm – 2:45 pm - Campus Tours led by Family Ambassadors (Leave from The Rock, near Harris Hall)

•  Family Ambassadors will lead campus-walking tours which leave at 1:30 pm. 

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3:00 pm – 4:45 pm -  ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵDance Groups’ Showcase & Lesson (McCormick Auditorium, Norris University Center) 

• Join us for a free and engaging Dance Showcase featuring several of Northwestern’s student dance groups. Each group will showcase a range of dance styles and creativity. After the performances, stick around for a 45-minute dance lesson, where families and students can join in and learn some new moves together. The dance lessons will take place in Wildcat Room 101 in Norris Center around 4 pm. No tickets needed, and seats are first come, first served. 

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7:00 pm – 8:30 pm - The Second City @ ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ (Cahn Auditorium) – SOLD OUT

• The Second City is a world-renowned improv and sketch comedy theatre and training center, operating in Chicago and Toronto for over 60 years, and coming soon to Brooklyn! Their Alumni include folks like Gilda Radner, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Keegan-Michael Key, Amber Ruffin and ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵalumnus Stephen Colbert... and the list goes on! The show will feature custom scenes inspired by life at Northwestern, as well as improv comedy and some Second City classics. The show is rated PG-13. Tickets cost $20 each, must be purchased in advance and are limited. Please note, all ticket sales are final; no refunds will be given. You must purchase a ticket for your ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵstudent as well.
• The same Second City show will be performed at 7pm and 9:30pm. 

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8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Dearborn Observatory (2131 Tech Drive) 

•  Families are invited to drop in and tour the Observatory free of charge.  Weather permitting, you will be able to view the night sky with our historic Dearborn Telescope. 

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9:30 pm – 11:00 pm - The Second City @ ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ (Cahn Auditorium) – SOLD OUT

• The Second City is a world-renowned improv and sketch comedy theatre and training center, operating in Chicago and Toronto for over 60 years, and coming soon to Brooklyn! Their Alumni include folks like Gilda Radner, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Keegan-Michael Key, Amber Ruffin and ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵalumnus Stephen Colbert... and the list goes on! The show will feature custom scenes inspired by life at Northwestern, as well as improv comedy and some Second City classics. The show is rated PG-13. Tickets cost $20 each, must be purchased in advance and are limited. Please note, all ticket sales are final; no refunds will be given. You must purchase a ticket for your ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵstudent as well.
• The same Second City show will be performed at 7pm and 9:30pm. 

8:00 am – 9:00 pm - Complimentary Access to the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion (2311 Campus Dr.)

•  More information and class schedules included under “Additional Info". 

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10:00 am – 5:00 pm - Alice Millar Chapel Open for Visits and Tours (Alice Millar Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Road)  

• Alice Millar Chapel is open for quiet reflection, visits, and student led tours.  

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12:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Block Museum of Art (40 Arts Circle Drive) 

• Visit Northwestern’s campus art museum! The Block is an engine that drives questioning, experimentation, and collaboration across fields of study, with visual arts at the center. Exhibitions on view include Federico Solmi: The Great Farce, Dissident Sisters: Bev Grant and Feminist Activism, 1968–72, and The Block Collects 2024 which will highlight new works of art in the collection including the 2023-2024 Student Acquisition. Take part in a “Gallery Talk” at 12:30 pm. The Block is always free and open to all. For more information, please visit . 

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12:30 pm – 11:00 pm - Visit the Norris Game Room (Norris University Center)  

• Visit the Game Room in the underground of Norris University Center for some family fun! The Norris Game Room has six Brunswick Gold Crown billiards tables, and a variety of video games on Xbox One, Playstation 4, and the Nintendo Switch, as well as several board games and a foosball table. All activities are free for NU Families.  

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1:00 pm – 2:00 pm - ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Black Alumni Association (NUBAA) Family Weekend Campus Prayer Walk (The Black House, 1914 Sheridan Rd.)   

• All are welcome to join NUBAA members as we pray for continued health, safety, and overall well-being for all those on campus this academic year and beyond, with a special emphasis on Black students as they continue on their journey of academic success. If you have any questions, please direct them to nubaa@alum.northwestern.edu. 

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2:00 pm - 3:30 pm - The Seagullman presented by Vertigo (Shanley Pavilion, 2031 Sheridan Rd) 

• Two Coast Guard volunteer workers conduct a report on the abandoned oil wells in Houston’s Trinity Bay. These wells, left unattended and improperly shut down, are possible environmental hazards—but the Texas government hasn’t been inclined to force companies to clean up their own abandoned wells. The volunteers’ well-intentioned mission to raise awareness about the issue becomes complicated by their discovery on a particularly strange platform: a trash-eating anthropomorphic mutant seagull. Faced with the moral question of destroying the seagullman’s home and opposed by the seagullman’s charismatic (and off-putting) lawyer, the volunteers grapple with what it means to try to save the world. This is a free event, and seats are first come, first served.

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7:00 pm - 8:30 pm - The Seagullman presented by Vertigo (Shanley Pavilion, 2031 Sheridan Rd) 

• Two Coast Guard volunteer workers conduct a report on the abandoned oil wells in Houston’s Trinity Bay. These wells, left unattended and improperly shut down, are possible environmental hazards—but the Texas government hasn’t been inclined to force companies to clean up their own abandoned wells. The volunteers’ well-intentioned mission to raise awareness about the issue becomes complicated by their discovery on a particularly strange platform: a trash-eating anthropomorphic mutant seagull. Faced with the moral question of destroying the seagullman’s home and opposed by the seagullman’s charismatic (and off-putting) lawyer, the volunteers grapple with what it means to try to save the world. This is a free event, and seats are first come, first served.

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7:30 pm - University Chorale: Just a passing phase... (Galvin Recital Hall)

J. Keller and Ari Carillo, conductors; Chuck Foster, collaborative pianist

• Join for a contemplation (and celebration) of the transient nature of the human condition with a selection of works by Johannes Brahms, Orlando Gibbons, Pawel Łukaszewski, Ingrid Stölzel, Stephen Paulus, Ēriks Ešenvalds, and others. Tickets & more information is available at (847) 467-4000 or

Dining

If you are looking for a quick bite during the weekend, check out the Norris University Center for dining options:   

Saturday  

• Wildcat Deli, 847 Burger, and ShakeSmart: CLOSED  
• Chicken & Boba: 10:30am-7:00pm 
• Starbucks and The Market: 9:00am-8:00pm 
• Mod Pizza: 11:00am-8:00pm

Bookstore

Visit the University Bookstore on the Ground Floor of Norris. 

Hours:

• Saturday:  9am – 5pm  

Visit the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion 

ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵparents and families are invited to enjoy complimentary access to and all throughout Family Weekend. Join us and see how ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵRecreation can elevate your student’s university experience!  

Hours: 

• Saturday: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm 

Group Exercise Class Schedule

Saturday

Saturday Class Schedule

TIME	CLASS	INSTRUCTOR	LOCATION
9:00-9:45 am	Cycle Express	Tina-Marie	Spin Studio
10:00-11:00 am	Bootcamp	Elah	Studio 1AB
11:00 am-Noon	Vinyasa Flow Yoga	Donna	Studio 2

All day - The Great Game Digital Adventure: ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵEdition

• Families have asked for more interactive activities to do with their students during Family Weekend. You asked, we listened! Learn more about campus by creating a team and playing The Great Game Digital Adventure. Families can participate by using their smartphones to solve a series of puzzles that will take teams to the most interesting parts of campus. All families who complete the adventure will be entered into a drawing for a $500 gift card to the Norris Bookstore. This activity is self-guided and can be done anytime during Family Weekend. How to get started:
  1. Form a team of 1-8 players
  2. Have at least one player download TheGreatGame on the   or
  3. Sign up with an email address, click "Register for a game", and then click on ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ
  4. Have one team member click "Create Team" and choose a team name and password. Other teammates click "Join Team" and log in.
  5. Once everyone has joined your team, go to the start location and begin your adventure!

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9:00 am – 10:30 am - Acapalooza Brunch (Louis Room, Norris University Center) – SOLD OUT

• Join ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Dance Marathon (NUDM) and Family Engagement for a cappella music and brunch! Hear Northwestern’s incredible a cappella groups perform while helping to raise money for NUDM's primary beneficiary, Chicago HOPES for Kids and secondary beneficiary, the Evanston Community Foundation. 

  Tickets are required and cost $20 each which includes breakfast and mimosas (mimosas are for those guests 21 years of age and older). $10 from the sale of every ticket will be donated to NUDM. Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan food options will be available. Tickets must be purchased in advance and space is limited. Please note, all ticket sales are final; no refunds will be given. Your ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵstudent must also have a paid ticket if they wish to attend (unless they are performing in an a cappella group). 

• For those families who did not get tickets to the Acapalooza Brunch but would like to see the performances, the event will be live-streamed in McCormick Auditorium, Norris University Center. The shows will take place from 9:15 am - 10:15 am and 11:45 am - 12:45 pm. Seats are first come, first-served!

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11:00 am – 5:00 pm - Visit the Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL) 

• ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵundergraduates always enjoy free access to the museum when they present their Wildcard. During Family Weekend (11/8-/10), this benefit extends to up to three guests who will be allowed free entry when they visit either the Michigan Ave or Modern Wing ticketing counter with a Wildcard-wielding undergraduate! Information about visitor policies, special exhibits and more available at: artic.edu This program is supported by the Division of Student Affairs and managed by Student Organizations & Activities. 

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11:30 am – 1:00 pm - Acapalooza Brunch (Louis Room, Norris University Center) – SOLD OUT

• Join ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ Dance Marathon (NUDM) and Family Engagement for a cappella music and brunch! Hear Northwestern’s incredible a cappella groups perform while helping to raise money for NUDM's primary beneficiary, Chicago HOPES for Kids and secondary beneficiary, the Evanston Community Foundation. 

  Tickets are required and cost $20 each which includes breakfast and mimosas (mimosas are for those guests 21 years of age and older). $10 from the sale of every ticket will be donated to NUDM. Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan food options will be available. Tickets must be purchased in advance and space is limited. Please note, all ticket sales are final; no refunds will be given. Your ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵstudent must also have a paid ticket if they wish to attend (unless they are performing in an a cappella group).

• For those families who did not get tickets to the Acapalooza Brunch but would like to see the performances, the event will be live-streamed in McCormick Auditorium, Norris University Center. The shows will take place from 9:15 am - 10:15 am and 11:45 am - 12:45 pm. Seats are first come, first-served!

8:00 am – 10:00 pm - Complimentary Access to the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion (2311 Campus Dr.)

•  More information and class schedules included under “Additional Info". 

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9:30 am - Sheil Catholic Center Sunday Mass (2110 Sheridan Road)  

• All families are invited to join the Catholic campus community for Mass, followed by hospitality.  

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10:00 am -12:00 pm - Lutheran Campus Ministry Breakfast & Worship (2204 Orrington Avenue)  

• All students and families are invited to a continental breakfast at 10:00-10:45am followed by 11am worship with Holy Communion.     

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10:00 am – 12:00 pm - ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵHillel Family Bagel Brunch (629 Foster St.) 

• Stop by ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵHillel for bagels and lox before you head home! 

 for Family Weekend events with ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵHillel 

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11:00 am – 11:45 am - Musical Morning at Alice Millar Chapel (Alice Millar Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Road)  

• The Chapel Choir and soloists will offer a sublime musical experience in the splendor of Millar Chapel with selections by Maurice Duruflé, and a variety of contemporary works.  

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11:00 am - Sheil Catholic Center Sunday Mass (2110 Sheridan Road)  

• All families are invited to join the Catholic campus community for Mass, followed by hospitality.  

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12:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Block Museum of Art (40 Arts Circle Drive) 

• Visit Northwestern’s campus art museum! The Block is an engine that drives questioning, experimentation, and collaboration across fields of study, with visual arts at the center. Exhibitions on view include Federico Solmi: The Great Farce, Dissident Sisters: Bev Grant and Feminist Activism, 1968–72, and The Block Collects 2024 which will highlight new works of art in the collection including the 2023-2024 Student Acquisition. The Block is always free and open to all. For more information, please visit . 

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2:00 pm - Women’s Basketball vs. Lehigh (Welsh-Ryan Arena) 

• The ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵWomen’s Basketball team continues their 2024-25 season with the second game of the year vs. Lehigh at home in Welsh-Ryan Arena! Come support the ‘Cats as they fight for victory! Single game tickets go on sale October 16 at . If you have questions about the game or tickets, please email the Athletic Ticket Office at cat-tix@northwestern.edu or call 888-GO-PURPLE (467-8775).  

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2:30 pm – 11:00 pm - Visit the Norris Game Room (Norris University Center)  

• Visit the Game Room in the underground of Norris University Center for some family fun! The Norris Game Room has six Brunswick Gold Crown billiards tables, and a variety of video games on Xbox One, Playstation 4, and the Nintendo Switch, as well as several board games and a foosball table. All activities are free for NU Families.  

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3:00 pm - ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵCamerata: Welcome Joy and Welcome Sorrow (Galvin Recital Hall)  

• Join the as they explore the nuanced emotions of joy and sorrow in the human experience through music. This concert features a diverse range of repertoire, from heartfelt farewells to exuberant celebrations. At the heart of the program is Imogen Holst’s Welcome Joy and Welcome Sorrow, a poignant work that sets John Keats’s poetry to exquisite harp accompaniment. This piece delves into the interplay between joy and sorrow, illuminating how one cannot exist without the other. The program also showcases works by William Billings, Benjamin Britten, Henry Purcell, and Joni Mitchell. Tickets & more information is available at (847) 467-4000 or  

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 5:00 pm - Sheil Catholic Center Sunday Mass (2110 Sheridan Road)  

• All families are invited to join the Catholic campus community for Mass, followed by hospitality. 

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7:30 pm Baroque Music Ensemble (Galvin Recital Hall) 

• Talented members of the are featured in a variety of Baroque concertos, including J. S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 and C. P. E. Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto in G Minor. Works for numerous solo instruments by Telemann and Fasch round out this enjoyable evening. Tickets & more information is available at (847) 467-4000 or  

Dining

If you are looking for a quick bite during the weekend, check out the Norris University Center for dining options:   

Sunday  

• Wildcat Deli, 847 Burger, ShakeSmart, and Chicken & Boba: CLOSED  
• Starbucks and The Market: 10:00am-8:00pm 
• Mod Pizza: 11:00am-8:00pm 

Bookstore

Visit the University Bookstore on the Ground Floor of Norris. 

Hours:

• Sunday:  10am – 2pm 

Visit the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion 

ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵparents and families are invited to enjoy complimentary access to and all throughout Family Weekend. Join us and see how ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵRecreation can elevate your student’s university experience!  

Hours: 

• Sunday: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm 

Group Exercise Class Schedule

Sunday

Sunday Class Schedule

TIME	CLASS	INSTRUCTOR	LOCATION
11:00 am–Noon	Hatha Yoga	Katherine G	Studio 2
Noon–1:00 pm	BODYPUMP™	Rachelle	Studio 1AB
2:00–3:00 pm	Zumba®	Symphony	Studio 1AB