HANDBOOK: Guidelines for student send-off parties

The Office of Alumni Affairs is pleased to support student send-off parties as part of our regional programming efforts. From an institutional perspective, student send-off parties meet the following goals:

	They provide for interaction between regional alumni and current students
	They provide opportunities for regional alumni to be involved in ARA programming as event hosts
	They serve an augmentative role in welcoming new students and their families into the Rice community (the primary effort being fulfilled by O-Week and Families Weekend)

Requirements and responsibilities for hosting send-off parties:

	A minimum number of 10 new students is required in order to host a successful event. Given that an average of 40% of new students attend if invited, this would yield 4 attendees, which is the minimum required to foster meaningful interaction.
	Events must be led by willing alumni volunteers. Alumni staff will not seek to facilitate gatherings in the absence of dedicated alumni leadership for the event.
	In general, parties must be self-sufficient or financially supported by the hosts.
	If the conditions are met and the alumni team confirms that a send-off is feasible, all relevant event details must be provided to the alumni office for publicity purposes by a date to be determined each year (typically late May)

Regional group staff members in the alumni office will provide the following support for student send-off parties in cities meeting the conditions above:

	Publicity, to include one printed event mailing and one email. Alumni volunteers should be prepared to call new students if necessary if RSVPs are not forthcoming
	A send-off "party packet" with Rice goodies, decorations, and information on effective hosting
	Information about alumni resources for students
	Optional staffing for a limited number of events to be determined by alumni staff availability and ARA priorities

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Chad Benedict '01.