Reunion Essentials

Reunion check-in station and onsite registration are in the Great Space in Sayles-Hill.

Hours are:
Thursday: 7:00 pm–10:00 pm (Class of 1998 – 3:00 pm)
Friday: 8:00 am–10:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am–3:00 pm

Please go to Sayles-Hill to pick up your registration materials and housing assignment, if applicable. Thursday evening dinner is only provided for the Classes of 1998 and 1973, who arrive at 3:00 pm. There are many options for food in Northfield. If you arrive after 10:00 pm Thursday or Friday and have received the housing confirmation email in advance, please head to the security office located at Hoppin House (blue house at SW corner of First Street and Winona St). A member of campus security can let you into your room. You can then check-in and pick up your key and name tag when registration opens the following morning.

Class of 1973, please check in at Watson Hall. Hours are Thursday 3:00-8:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am–1:00 pm. If you arrive on Thursday after 8:00 pm and have reserved housing in advance, please head to the security office located at Hoppin House (blue house at SW corner of First Street and Winona St). A member of campus security can let you into your room. You can then check in and pick up your key and name tag Friday morning. If you arrive after 1:00 pm on Friday, please check in at the general check-in station in the Great Space in Sayles-Hill.

Wireless access to the Carleton network is available throughout campus. To log on, select the “CarletonGuests” wireless network. You will be prompted to press the orange “Log In” button, which will connect you to Carleton’s Guest wireless network. This will need to be done separately for each device. Call the ITS Helpdesk 507-222-5999 if you need assistance.

We appreciate your cooperation and assistance as we welcome you and your classmates back to campus while focusing on creating an experience that complies with Carleton’s COVID-19 policies. As always, our guiding principle in our planning is to provide for the best alumni experience while prioritizing the health and safety of our Carleton community: alumni, students, faculty, and staff.

We appreciate your cooperation and assistance as we welcome you and your classmates back to campus while focusing on creating an experience that complies with Carleton’s COVID-19 policies. As always, our guiding principle in our planning is to provide for the best alumni experience while prioritizing the health and safety of our Carleton community: alumni, students, faculty, and staff.

Reunion COVID-19 Policies: Vaccination

• All Reunion attendees attested to being vaccinated—including booster(s), if eligible—when they registered.

Reunion COVID-19 Policies: Testing

• We strongly encourage all Reunion attendees to take a rapid antigen test no more than 24 hours prior to arrival on campus.
• Note that testing is not available through Carleton. If you or your guest(s) become symptomatic you will need to arrange your own testing.
• Any attendee testing positive for COVID-19 during Reunion must mask, isolate from other attendees, and make arrangements to leave campus promptly.

Reunion COVID-19 Policies: Masking

• Mask-wearing expectations for Reunion attendees will be consistent with Carleton policies in effect at the time of Reunion.

If Carleton’s guidelines change, they will be noted here and on Carleton’s Responding to COVID-19 website.

For those who prefer to stay on campus, reunion classes and their guests will be placed in their class residence hall wherever possible (first registered, first served). When your class residence hall is full, alumni will be placed in another hall as space allows. The Reunion package is the only package that offers the option to select campus housing. For the past several reunions, on-campus housing has been filled by early April. If you want to stay on campus during Reunion we strongly recommend registering early (registration opens in early March) to be housed on campus. We will notify those who have reserved campus housing of the building where they will be staying via email by late May. Specific room assignments will not be available until arrival on campus.

What is and isn’t provided in dorm rooms and bathrooms 

Please remember: Rooms are mostly doubles, with some triples, some singles, and a few quads. A linen packet, including 2 flat sheets, a light blanket, a pillow, a pillowcase, and towels, is provided for each bed. Residence halls feature bathrooms down the hall from your room (except Davis, Severance, and James, which have private/semi-private baths). The showers in the bathrooms do not have grab-bars. You may want to bring flip-flops for the shower and a reading light, along with your own toiletries. 

All residence halls and houses are non-smoking. The residence halls are not air-conditioned (except Davis, Nourse, Watson, and the townhouses; James and Cassat have portable air conditioning units). Some fans are available for rent at check-in in Sayles-Hill; you may also bring one from home. Cribs are not available, nor are irons. 

Accessibility for residential buildings

Alumni Guest House, Burton, Cassat, Davis, Evans, Goodhue, James, Severance and Watson have elevators. Myers elevator goes to 3rd floor; it does not service the 4th floor. Other residential locations do not have elevators. Please make note when reserving campus housing if you are not able to climb stairs.

Requesting roommates or no roommates

There are far fewer single rooms on campus than there are people who register alone. We will not be able to accommodate as many people on campus if those registering alone are not willing to share double rooms with a friend. Registrants not bringing a guest are encouraged to find a friend who is also coming without a guest, and make plans to share a room. Please list their name in the “I would like to room with…” section of the registration form. If a registrant coming alone does not list any roommates, we will NOT assign a roommate. You do not need to provide an explanation about why you don’t want a roommate.

Rooms are assigned in order of registrations received. If you are planning to room with a classmate or friend, you will be assigned a room when both your registration and your roommate(s) registration(s) have been received, or you may register together.

Housing families

Classes that traditionally bring children are placed carefully so that all of the family will be in the same room/suite or near each other. Some dorms have triples, quads, and quints available while others only have singles and doubles. If you need more than two beds for your party, multiple rooms next to each other may be assigned for you and your guests. If you have questions about these arrangements, email the Office of Alumni Relations or call 800-729-2586.

There is no housing charge for children (11 years old and younger) sleeping on the floor in their parents’ room with their own sleeping bag and pillow; no linen packet is provided. If you would like to add a bed for your children, you can do so by selecting housing for that child when you register your children for a fee of $50. Carleton does not have cribs; local classmates have been a great resource on this front and we encourage you to contact them directly.

Housing check-in & check-out information

Early check-in for Reunion begins at 7:00 pm the Thursday of Reunion weekend. Regular check-in and  programming begin on Friday morning (except for the Classes of 1973 and 1998, who can check-in on Thursday at 3:00 pm). Residence halls will not be open in advance (facilities staff are working hard up to that time to clean out all the halls following Commencement).

Please check out of your residence hall and return your room key(s) by noon Sunday in the class lounge (please return to Class Host) or to the express checkout boxes in many dorms. A charge of $50 for each lost key and $20 for each lost card will be assessed.

Please remember that there will be parties around campus on Friday and Saturday nights, which may affect your sleep if you turn in before your classmates.

You will receive a confirmation of your room reservation when you register for Reunion; however, you will not receive your room assignment or roommates until you arrive on campus. 

Housing Waitlist

When campus housing is full, the registration will offer a housing waitlist option rather than the option to request a bed on campus. It may be possible you will still get campus housing if you are on the waitlist, but you should make alternate plans for accommodations. We will have cancellations occurring around June 1, and we will backfill spaces from the waitlist. We will contact people on the waitlist as soon as we know we can offer a space on campus.

Class Housing Assignments

Assignments are based on class size, seniority, and other considerations. Housing assignments are made as reservations are received, and later registrants may not be housed near their class.

These are the tentative assignments for Reunion 2023:

• 75th Reunion: Alumni Guest House
• 70th Reunion: Fairfield Inn
• 65th Reunion: Davis
• 60th Reunion: Davis
• 55th Reunion: Nourse
• 50th Reunion: Watson
• 45th Reunion: Cassat
• 40th Reunion: Cassat
• 35th Reunion: Townhouses
• 30th Reunion: Myers
• 25th Reunion: Burton/Severance
• 20th Reunion: James
• 15th Reunion: Evans/Houses 
• 10th Reunion: Evans/Houses
•   5th Reunion: Goodhue

Hotels

Campus housing has filled to capacity the past several years and we expect that to be the case this year.  If you would like to make a hotel reservation, there are several options in Northfield and the surrounding area. Please check our Northfield Area Lodging page for links to area hotels.

PLEASE NOTE: Each hotel has its own reservation and cancellation policies and it is up to the individual to adhere to those guidelines. Carleton does not hold or manage the reservations. Other options include Airbnb, VRBO, or a local bed and breakfast.

The following hotels may have available rooms during Reunion weekend. Rooms will fill quickly and there are no room guarantees until an individual reserves with the hotel directly. Please indicate you are with Carleton Reunion when making reservations.

• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, 114 2nd St W (507-366-5000)
  • Book your group rate for Carleton Reunion
• Country Inn and Suites, 300 South Highway 3 (507-645-2286)
• AmericInn, 1320 Bollenbacher Dr. (507-645-7761)

Camping

For those who may be interested in a more outdoorsy experience during Reunion, there are several local camping options near Northfield. While visitors to the Carleton Arboretum are always welcome, because of the lack of sanitary facilities and access to shelter in the case of severe weather, the Arboretum and campus grounds are not open for camping. See information about local camping options. 

Pets are not allowed in campus buildings. Please see the campus handbook for more information. Several local boarding facilities are available with Sunday pickup options. Please follow these links for more information on boarding facilities.

• Cannon Valley Veterinary Clinic
• Canine Country Club 
• Northfield Kennels

Share Carleton with your family!

Camp Carleton — Children’s Program

Camp Carleton provides interesting and fun activities for children who are from 6 to 11 years old at the time of Reunion, there are no exceptions. The program is very popular and early registration is recommended. We are unable to offer same-day registration. There will be time on campus in our morning sessions to explore the Arb, enjoy picnics, play yard games, and engage in art activities under the supervision of our Camp Carleton director and student staff.

We are also offering two opportunities to visit the Riverbend Nature Center this year.

Friday afternoon:

• Survival Skills:  Learn about the survival rule of threes, then try your hand at building shelters and fires.
• Archery/Atlatls: Skilled staff will instruct you how to properly shoot a bow and arrow. Then you’ll learn how indigenous people used to hunt bison and other game by throwing spears with an atlatl. 

Saturday afternoon:

• Compass Course: You’ll be taught how to use a compass and then practice on River Bend Nature Center’s compass courses that wind through our maple-basswood forest.
• Pond Dipping: Discover the wild world of pond life! We’ll be using nets, buckets, and a dichotomous key to identify macro-invertebrates that dwell below the surface of the water. 

Teen Programming

Teen Camp provides a chance for your teens to explore campus and other fun activities for teens who are from 12 to 17 years old at the time of Reunion. We are unable to offer same-day registration. There will be time on campus to explore the Arb, play yard games, and walk downtown to a local sandwich shop, all under the supervision of our Teen Camp director and student staff.

We are also offering an opportunity to visit the Riverbend Nature Center this year.

Saturday morning:

• Fire Making and Shelter Building: Ever wondered what it would be like if you had to survive in the wilderness? Learn the “rule of 3’s” and practice the art of fire making and shelter building to help you feel confident the next time you are outside exploring. 

Teens are encouraged to check out supplies from the Rec Center to enjoy on their own or with friends, visit the Libe, and take a campus tour as well throughout the weekend. Teens may also attend classes at the Rec Center if supervised by an adult.

Family-Friendly Spots in Northfield

A list of family-friendly events can be found on the Reunion Schedule. In addition, there are many activities around Northfield to do with children and families.

• Central Park, 421 4th St E. This park is adjacent to the Weitz Center of Creativity and across the street from Parish House. A large playground, swings, and lots of green space make this park a family favorite.
• Northfield Public Library, 801 Washington St. The public library, located near Carleton, has been extensively remodeled and includes an expanded children’s area. The library offers many children’s programs and events; see the library calendar for times and program information.
• Northfield Pool, 801 7th St E. The community pool features a separate toddler pool, zero-depth entry, a 50-meter section, a diving board, a 1/2-court basketball court, a climbing wall, a concession stand, and plenty of decks and grass space for everyone to enjoy.

Bringing prospective Carls?

If you have a high school student who is interested in Carleton, you may wish to review the Admissions visit page. General campus tours will be offered to all alumni on Friday, June 17 at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm These begin at Scoville Hall and prospective students are welcome to join. The Carleton Admissions Office will be open on Friday of Reunion weekend from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. You can also add your child to the mailing list to receive Admissions publications.

There are many different costs associated with bringing your classmates together and supporting Reunion classes on campus (including class communications, lectures and performances, golf carts and tent rentals, and more). Carleton does not profit from Reunion fees. Here is a breakdown of the costs for Reunion 2023.

• The Reunion package is the only package that offers the option to select campus housing. It also includes your registration fee, Alumni College programs, evening entertainment, special class programs, all meals from Friday breakfast through Sunday breakfast, and housing while available. This package includes a linen packet with sheets, a blanket, a pillow, and towels for those staying on campus.
• The Reunion package rate is $290 for the 5th and 10th Reunion classes and $325 for the 15th-45th classes. The Reunion package rate for the 50th Reunion class is $50. The Reunion package rate is $100 for the 55th-75th Reunion classes. These rates are applicable to alumni and their adult guests.
• The Reunion package rate for teens is $220 for the 5th and 10th Reunion classes and $245 for the 15th-45th classes. This package includes housing for your teens, while available.
• The Reunion package rate for children (age 6-11) is $125 for the 5th and 10th ($175 with bed), and $145 for the 15th-45th ($195 with bed). Children ages 0-5 do not pay any registration fees (a bed can be added for $50).
• Single-day registration packages do NOT include the option to purchase housing, and fees vary by the class year and day. These packages include all programs and events, class special events, and meals for that day. Please see online registration for specific fees.
• Camp Carleton is for children who are 6-11 years old at the time of Reunion. There are four sessions available. The cost for a children’s morning session is $40 and an afternoon/evening session is $60.
• Teen Camp is for teens who are 12-17 years old at the time of Reunion. There are three sessions available. The cost for the morning session is $50 and an afternoon/evening session is $35.
• Airport Shuttle: Chartered motor coach shuttle service is available for $70 round trip ($35 one way) from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Children 0-5 are free, and children 6-17 are $34 round trip ($17 one way). Pre-registration is required and shuttles from the airport are only available on Thursday and Friday, with return shuttles from campus to the airport on Sunday. Remember to allow one hour for travel time between Carleton and the airport. Children’s car seats are not available. 

Cancellation Policy:  Refunds will be issued if we receive notice of cancellation or changes before 5:00 p.m. central time on June 1. Due to fixed costs incurred, no refunds will be made after that time.

Reunion weekend meals are prepared by Bon Appétit, Carleton’s catering service, and feature locally sourced organic ingredients. Costs reflect actual charges from Bon Appétit.

Meal numbers are confirmed on June 1. We strongly recommend you register in advance to ensure you will be able to eat with your class. We cannot guarantee that special dietary requests will be available or that there will be space available if you register onsite during Reunion weekend.

Vegetarian meals are always available. Special dietary needs (gluten-free, etc.) can be accommodated if you notify the Alumni Relations office in advance via your registration.

Alcohol on Campus

Under Minnesota state law, people younger than 21 may not purchase or be served alcoholic beverages. The College requests that all alumni conform to the letter and spirit of the law.

Carleton’s food service, Bon Appétit, holds the liquor license for service on campus.  Access to alcohol provided during Reunion weekend (at dinners and at large event venues) will be regulated as follows:

• No outside alcohol is allowed at a Reunion event where Bon Appétit is serving.  
• Alcohol needs to remain within the venue in which it is being served.
• Bon Appétit will serve alcohol at meals and other all-Reunion and class-specific events. 

For safety reasons, glass containers are prohibited on the Hill of Three Oaks and all athletic fields. Please help keep our athletic fields safe for students.

If you are interested in a meal off campus, please take a look at a list of local restaurants.

Reunion Airport Transport Service: available Thursday, Friday, and Sunday only

Chartered motorcoach shuttle service is available for $70 round trip per person ($35 one way per person) from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Pre-registration is required and shuttles from the airport to campus are only available on Thursday and Friday and return shuttles from campus to the airport are only available on Sunday. To add a shuttle registration after you’ve registered for Reunion, contact the Alumni Relations office at 800-729-2586 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Central time). If no one has registered in advance for a particular shuttle time, a shuttle will not be provided. Remember to allow one hour for travel time between Carleton and the airport. Children’s car seats are not available.

NORTHFIELD LINES AND ALL MOTOR COACHES PICK UP IN THE SILVER PARKING RAMP

From baggage claim at TERMINAL 1, go down to Level T to access the Tram to the Silver Parking Ramp.  Take the tram to the next stop (there is only one) and go up a level to the Silver Parking Ramp.

Please note: You will need to go outside to look for your bus. There will be a Carleton sign in the window of the bus. 

Please Note: Several airlines (Allegiant, Condor, Frontier, Icelandair, Jet Blue, Southwest, and Sun Country) use the smaller Terminal 2. The shuttle does not stop at Terminal 2. You can travel between MSP’s terminals via the free Light Rail Transit (LRT) service. Trains run between terminals around the clock, seven days a week, approximately every 10 minutes.

Schedule

Thursday, June 15

Arrival shuttles are scheduled on Thursday of Reunion weekend, departing the airport at 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm, and 8:00 pm. If no one has registered in advance for a particular shuttle time, a shuttle will not be provided. Please note that children’s car seats are not available. Remember to allow one hour for travel time between the MSP airport and Carleton.

Friday, June 16

Arrival shuttles are scheduled on Friday of Reunion weekend, departing the airport at 8:00 am and 11:00 am. If no one has registered in advance for a particular shuttle time, a shuttle will not be provided. Please note that children’s car seats are not available. Remember to allow one hour for travel time between the MSP airport and Carleton.

Sunday, June 19

Departure shuttles are scheduled for Sunday of Reunion weekend, leaving campus at 6:30 am, 8:00 am, 10:00 am, and 12:00 pm/noon. If no one has registered in advance for a particular shuttle time, a shuttle will not be provided. Remember to allow one hour for travel time between Carleton and the MSP airport.

Commercial Transport Services

• First Choice Shuttle offers many options for transport from the airport and other destinations: call 507-339-1651 or visit their website.

Missed your shuttle?

If you miss your shuttle, the airport shuttle coordinators will assign you to the next one if space is available. If you miss the last shuttle of the day, your options include taking a taxi or an Uber/Lyft, renting a car, or making your own arrangements. Because of fixed costs, we cannot issue refunds for unused shuttle reservations.

Parking

Parking on campus is limited and certain areas have been posted as handicapped, no-parking, or reserved areas to allow for pick-up and delivery of people, equipment, and food. There are also areas blocked off to allow for events. Please do not move signs or park in these designated areas. To learn more about parking on campus, please see our Vehicles and Parking webpage. Cars parked in no-parking areas may be towed at the owner’s expense. Please observe the signs.

Golf Cart Shuttles

During peak hours, shuttles will circulate constantly to pick up riders. During non-peak hours, drivers will be stationed at one of the stops awaiting a call. If you need immediate assistance, please call the shuttle line at 507-649-2401. 

If you forget anything, you can probably find what you need in the College Bookstore or just down the road at one of Northfield’s fine retail stores. But here are a few reminders of what to bring for your return to campus.

• Water bottle (there will be water stations around campus), camera, scrapbooks, Carleton memorabilia, music, and anything else that will make the weekend special. We recommend you put your name on anything important, in case it’s accidentally left behind.
• If you’re staying on campus, you may wish to bring a small reading lamp, hangers, alarm clock, small fan, and extra blanket or pillow if needed, and a shower caddy or something in which to carry your toiletries to the bathrooms down the hall.
• June weather is unpredictable. We strongly recommend bringing a light jacket, umbrella, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent. Check the latest weather forecast when packing.
• Carleton’s athletic facilities and fields are open throughout Reunion weekend. Bring your racket/softball glove/Frisbee, etc., and check your final schedule on arrival for open times. Please note that glass is prohibited on Carleton’s athletic fields; we appreciate your cooperation in keeping our fields safe for students.

Carleton strives to be a model of stewardship for the environment by incorporating ideals of sustainability into the operations of the College, including Reunion.

Sustainable Initiatives at Reunion

• In former years all Reunion classes were offered a small piece of Carleton memorabilia as an identity item. In an effort to reduce unnecessary waste, these items will now only be given to our 25th and 50th Reunion classes. Dig in your closets for your old Carleton items or buy a piece of gently used gear at the Lighten Up! “Pop Up” sale to wear during the Parade of Classes.
• All outdoor meals at Reunion feature compostable tableware. All utensils, plates, cups, packaging and napkins can be discarded in containers labeled “compost” and will be taken to a nearby compost site after Reunion.
• We select more sustainable food options by offering locally sourced foods as well as vegetarian and vegan dishes.
• We regularly monitor our waste during Reunion weekend to work towards making Reunion a “Zero Landfill” event.
• In an effort to protect our environment, we are not offering fireworks this Reunion weekend. While they can be enjoyable to watch, fireworks produce unnecessary harm to the environment, people, and animals.
• Carleton is supporting the local drinking water infrastructure by providing water on tap in place of single-use plastic water bottles. There are water bottle filling stations located in many buildings throughout campus.
• Wind turbine tours can be found on the Reunion schedule. To learn more about sustainable efforts at Carleton, view the Carleton Sustainability website.

What You Can Do

We’re working to make Reunion as green as we can, and we need your help! Learn more about what you can do to help keep Reunion sustainable below, and feel free to ask questions when you get to campus.

• Pack your favorite reusable water bottle! There will be some available for purchase in the Carleton Bookstore as well. Water coolers are located in class lounges, as well as filling stations on both the north and south ends of the Bald Spot and in most buildings around campus. We hope to eliminate plastic bottle waste as we continue to reduce single-use plastics across the event.
• Travel to Reunion sustainably. Consider taking a shuttle to and from the airport, carpooling with your classmates across the country, or offsetting your carbon emissions from travel.
• Return your nametag and lanyard to your class host or your class lounge when you check out so that they can be reused for future Reunions.
• Stop by the Lighten Up! “Pop Up” Sale and update your Carleton t-shirt collections with the latest academic department and spring concert contemporary styles! All gear is donated by current students for reuse. Visit the CCCE office in Sayles 151 on Thursday, June 15 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm or Friday, June 16 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Help improve the natural habitat of the arboretum on Friday morning of Reunion by participating in the Arb Service Project. Indicate in your Reunion registration form that you will participate in this event. Past Arb Service Projects have included tree and shrub planting, buckthorn and honeysuckle removal, and planting wildflower seeds. Consider leading yourself on an Arb walk (here’s a map of the Arb).
• Help support the above initiatives at Reunion as we transition towards a more sustainable future!

Dial 911 to reach Northfield Police, fire, or ambulance from a campus phone. 

Dial 507-222-4444 (x4444) for Campus Security. 

Call the Northfield Hospital at 507-646-1000 for non-emergency medical assistance. 

Call Northfield police at 507-645-4475 for the Northfield Police for non-emergency assistance  

Carleton College has a comprehensive sexual harassment and assault policy. The college requests that all alumni conform to the letter and spirit of these policies. If you feel that you have been the victim of harassment or assault, please notify Campus Security immediately.

You can subscribe to security alerts to be notified of any emergencies or severe weather by texting CCSUBSCRIBE to 888777. At the end of your time on campus, you can opt-out by texting STOP to 888777.