Students, family members and alums will be welcomed to campus to take part in Homecoming and Family Weekend starting Thursday Oct. 21. Attendees of the Homecoming events will have to follow multiple COVID guidelines created by Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Programs, Leadership, & Orientation (SPLO) Carol Sacchetti. Sacchetti said she also consulted the Reopening Roger Steering Committee (which she is a member of) when coming up with the guidelines.

“Our planning committee is recommending all visitors wear masks during the weekend,” said Sacchetti. “Mask wearing is mandatory for all indoor events.”

“Our indoor events are Friday when we do Casino Night and Saturday night when we have [Mentalist Jon Stetson],” said Sacchetti. “Everything else is going to be outside.”

Outdoors, non-vaccinated guests and students must remain masked at all times when three feet of distance cannot be maintained according to Sacchetti.

Sacchetti said RWU wants to “encourage correct mask wearing” around campus with “a mask over your nose.” Gaiter masks will not be allowed as well.

Family members are not allowed in Upper Commons to dine-in or the residence halls, said Sacchetti because it helps prevent transmission of COVID-19.

Students can register up to three family members to attend Homecoming events with them, according to the Homecoming & Family Weekend section under Student Life on the RWU website.

Each event will have different ticket limits for family members to attend. Sacchetti said the family member ticket limits were made to leave room for students who did not bring their family, but want to attend a Homecoming event.

“I have a count for students and a count for families because I always want to make sure there’s tickets for students as well.” said Sacchetti.

Traditionally there would be an indoor homecoming lunch for students and their families pre-COVID and to take proper precautions, that lunch this year has become picnic style.

“We’re going to have tables spread out through campus,” said Sacchetti. “Bring a blanket and sit by the water.”

“If there is bad weather,” said Sacchetti. “We have a plan of how we’re spreading families throughout campus to take this picnic lunch.”

Sacchetti shared some highlights of upcoming Homecoming events.

On Friday night for events there will be “some specific networking receptions for alumni and students who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQ,” said Sacchetti. Casino Night will be 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and “you’re not winning money, but you win tickets that can be entered in to win some lovely prizes.”

Inter-Class Council (ICC) and The Campus Entertainment Network (CEN) “are doing Swoopin’ through the Air where we’re going to have exciting student performances with a special guest aerialist.”

On Saturday morning the 5K Road Race will happen at 10 a.m.

“Our cross country team leads the race,” said Sacchetti. “What’s nice about that is, in years past, cross country’s home meets have been at Colt State Park and they can’t do that this year so it’s nice that they will actually be able to run on campus for their whole match.”

“The race is open to anybody,” said Sacchetti. “We just ask you to sign a waiver.”

Students are encouraged to bring a canned good to the road race to donate to the local food pantry.

One p.m. to 4 p.m. is the Autumn Festival that will feature carnival games, arts and crafts, mementos, and free food trucks. Performances by student vocal and dance groups are encouraged according to Sacchetti. Some student groups will fundraise and sell raffle tickets there as well.

The night caps off with mentalist John Stetson performing at 8 p.m. Sachetti said at events students and families will be checked in not only to provide a feeling of security where the university knows “who’s here” but also to get feedback on events.

Several athletic competitions will take place over the course of the weekend in addition to all the other Homecoming festivities.

“Homecoming weekend is a great time for athletic competitions,” said Sacchetti. “We have women’s soccer, men’s soccer, volleyball, and men’s rugby all home that weekend. It’s a great time to grab a group of friends and really support the Hawks.”

While Homecoming will start the 21, in-person events will not begin until Friday the 22. Thursday will have two virtual events. One from the Center for Career & Professional Development Resources and another from President Ioannis Miaoulis with a Presidential State of University.