Reunion 2023: FAQs

Reunion weekend is our largest alumni gathering of the year which takes place on campus. Macalester College proudly welcomes all alumni back to campus for four days of social and educational events with special celebrations for milestone anniversaries: 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th (including 1981-1985 Cluster Reunion), 45th, and 50th year, and our Golden Scots. Over 1,800 alumni, family, and friends gather during the weekend to reflect, reminisce, and reconnect with the college and each other. Whether you can come for the whole weekend or just one day, there is something for everyone. Register for Reunion 2023 today!

Registration for Reunion will open online on March 15, 2023. All alumni with an active email will receive an invitation to register online. Online registration will close on May 26, 2023. Register for Reunion online today!

Online registration opens March 15, 2023. You can register for Reunion online or by phone at 651-696-6295. Please email the Reunion Planning team at [email protected] with any questions. Online registration closes May 26, 2023.

Your $5 registration fee gets you access to a full schedule of faculty lectures, campus tours, and social gatherings as well as a discount at the Highlander Bookstore. In addition, we have on-campus housing and a variety of meals available that you may add to your registration. Please view our Reunion Costs page for more information.

*Please note that there are many different costs associated with bringing your classmates together and supporting reunion classes on campus (including class communications, lectures and performances, golf cart and tent rentals, and more). Macalester does not profit from Reunion fees.

Online registration will close on May 26, 2023. After this date, you may register on-site when you arrive on campus. We strongly recommend advanced registration if you wish to stay in on-campus housing – limited housing may be available at walk-up registration, but is not guaranteed. Advance registration is also strongly recommended if you wish to attend your class-specific meal as space is limited (see the ‘Class Dinners’ section below for more information).

Some events have discounted Early Bird pricing. Early Bird pricing ends May 18, 2023. Please view our Reunion Costs page for more information.

Check-in and Registration for All Classes:
Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center, second floor McPherson Atrium
Thursday, June 8: 1–7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 9: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 10: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Accepted forms of payment include: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and check. To pay by check, you will need to register over the phone. Please make checks payable to Macalester College.

Attendees will be sent a confirmation email after registering, which will include your registration details.

All alumni are welcome back to campus. We ask that everyone registers so we can plan for how many will be attending in advance. We have many events that are open to all including faculty office hours and panels, the All-Class Picnic, and more. For more information, please view our Schedule of Events.

You may cancel until May 26, 2023 and receive a full refund for your registration. Refunds will be processed by the method of original payment. Email [email protected] or call 651-696-6980. Gifts made to the Macalester Fund are not refundable. Due to fixed costs incurred, no refunds will be made after May 26, 2023.

You can update your registration after you have received your registration confirmation by emailing [email protected] or by calling 651-696-6295.

Many events at Reunion are included with a $5 registration fee and are open to all to attend. Reunion festivities that do incur a fee include meals and housing. At this time, we do not offer financial assistance for transit, housing, or meals.

No matter your gender identity, gender is important to one’s sense of self. To be misgendered can cause someone to feel threatened, disrespected, or alienated. In a community that values multiculturalism, and as a school that is consistently ranked highly as a place where transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals can live authentically as themselves, we believe it is important to not make assumptions about someone’s gender identity. We ask that all attendees use and respect the pronouns of all community members. Pronoun buttons will be available if you wish to have your pronouns on your nametag.

$115 flat rate per person for Golden Scots Housing: Classes of 1973 and earlier
$150 flat rate per person for General Housing: Classes of 1974 and later

Rooms are assigned at the close of registration. When you arrive on campus you will receive notice of your room assignment and key. Space is limited. If you are hoping to stay on campus during Reunion we strongly recommend registering as early as possible (registration opens in mid-March) for the best chance to be housed on campus. Registration for housing will be closed once all space has been filled.

Check-in (Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center, second floor McPherson Atrium)
Thursday, June 8: 1–7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 9: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 10: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Check-out (Return keys to the George Draper Dayton Hall Office)
Sunday, June 11: 8 a.m.–12 p.m. (noon)
Please note that we are not able to extend reservations for additional days before or after Reunion.

For those arriving on campus after general check-in hours, Public Safety will be on-call to meet you with your dorm key. Once you arrive on campus, please call Public Safety staff at 651-696-6555. You will meet them at the Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center on campus to pick up your dorm key. Please be ready to provide them with your name and class year. In the morning, you will need to check in at registration to receive your reunion packet.

You can request a specific residence hall or room – however it is not guaranteed. Room assignments for the overall class are based on the number of requests per class. Classes are housed in the same general area. Residence halls available during Reunion Weekend are Wallace, Turck, Doty, and 30Mac.

George Draper Dayton will be reserved for those in the Class of 1973 for the 50th Reunion and Golden Scots.

All registrants will have the option to add in their housing preferences when using our online system and should list the name of the person that they wish to room with on the form. Please note that if the person you want to room with does not also request you, we will not place you in the room together.

You can request a single room, or if you do not put the name of another person on your registration form, you will automatically be placed in a room on your own. There is no additional fee to be in a single room.

A linen package, including sheets, blanket, pillow, and towels, is provided for each registered guest in a room. Those staying in the dorms will be responsible for making their own beds. All beds are twin-sized. Cribs are not available. Individuals will need to bring toiletries, hair dryers, iron, fans, alarm clock, etc. Note that only George Draper Dayton is air-conditioned. Residence hall accommodations feature bathrooms down the hall from your room (except George Draper Dayton which has private/semi-private baths).

You will receive your keys upon check-in at the Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center, second floor Atrium.
All keys should be returned to the George Draper Dayton (GDD) hall office entry by 12 p.m. (noon) on Sunday morning.

Just like in your student days, communal housing means there will likely be noise from your fellow alumni Reunion attendees. We try to group attendees by class year when possible to give you the best chance to reconnect and engage with fellow classmates. We have a limited number of rooms that face away from the action which may provide a quieter experience. These rooms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who don’t mind staying in a more intergenerational setting. If you’d prefer the possibility of a quieter room, please indicate that preference in the registration housing section.

If staying in a residence hall doesn’t sound appealing, check out one of the hotels located near Macalester and the airport. Courtesy rates have been established at some hotels and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a listing available on our Reunion Lodging Options page (transportation between your choice of lodging and campus will be your responsibility).

Early Bird pricing until May 18
$30 for the 5th, 10th & 40th (‘81-’85 Cluster) Reunion
$55 for the 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th & 45th Reunion
$55 for the 50th Reunion

After May 18 and on-site
$35 for the 5th, 10th & 40th (‘81-’85 Cluster) Reunion
$65 for the 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th & 45th Reunion
$65 for the 50th Reunion

For more information, please see the Reunion Costs page.

Milestone class dinners will be held on campus. Specific dinner locations are not available until Reunion Weekend as spaces are assigned based on registration numbers. Exact locations will be posted at registration on the second floor of the Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center as well as the Reunion website on the weekend.

We strongly recommend registering in advance if you wish to attend your class dinner, as space is determined based on registered numbers. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase on-site. Please note that we have had class dinners sell out in previous years.

Here! Thank you to all the Reunion volunteers. Reunion could not happen without you.

Please check out the Reunion Schedule of Events for the most up-to-date information.

You need to register for Reunion with a $5 registration fee. This will include the opportunity to attend Reunion lectures or panels. Seating for events is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Macalester is committed to hosting inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or inquire about accessibility, please contact [email protected] or call 651-696-6275. Requests and inquiries may also be included with registration.

Service animals are permitted to accompany people with disabilities in all areas at Macalester, including facilities where students, members of the public, and other participants in services, programs, or activities are allowed to go. Assistance animals (also known as emotional support animals or ESAs) are generally not allowed to accompany persons with disabilities in the same areas (classrooms, facilities, event spaces) that a service animal is allowed. If an assistance animal is requested for campus housing areas/overnight accommodations, please contact Disability Services for more information (email [email protected] or call 651-696-6275).

Golf carts, a.k.a. “alumni taxis,” will be available all weekend to help alumni get around on campus. Signs will be posted letting individuals know where they can wait to be picked up or they can just flag down one of the many carts that will be driving around campus looking for anyone who may need a ride.

Parking lots are open for alumni parking across campus. Please follow posted signage. Street parking is also available on most residential neighborhood streets. Make sure to check for posted city parking signage when parking in neighborhood streets.

There is no dress code for Reunion. Please dress comfortably. Some have shared they plan for casual attire for daytime activities and dressy attire for Saturday dinners. Note that the Saturday night party takes place on the lawn, so heels are not suggested.

You can check our Who’s Coming website to see who has registered on your class website. Please note that it may take forty-eight hours for your name to appear after you have registered. If you don’t want your name listed on the website, please contact our office.

Connect with your fellow classmates on MacDirect, Macalester’s community platform., re-launched in February 2021 with improved functionality and new features. Search for classmates, update your profile, post a class note, review your giving history, and more. Visit MacDirect.