Hosting alumni events is an important responsibility for volunteers. It provides you with opportunities to connect with fellow alumni and to celebrate your shared Tulane spirit. Listed below are common event types organized by broader interest areas; they are designed to help you brainstorm your next alumni event.
When given enough time to plan in advance (four weeks), the Marketing Department will provide support by creating a promotional email schedule and registration page for your event.
If you have questions about how to begin planning, reach out the Office of Alumni Relations (OAR), and your Club Manager will help you get started.
Academic
- Faculty Lectures & Receptions: Alumni around the world embrace Tulane faculty and are interested in the new research and programs put forth by the university.
- Alumni Experts: Intimate gatherings to mid-size formal talks excite people who are interested in how Tulanians are making a difference everywhere.
- Virtual Webinars: Clubs are encouraged to continue with virtual events, especially where academics are concerned.
Athletics
- Tailgating Events: Tulane is competing against your regional college team, and you would like to help host a Tailgate Party. Connect with your Club Manager about whether Tulane is planning on hosting a tailgate.
- Watch Parties: These events are low-key and usually hosted at sports bars or people’s homes. Sometimes games are not announced in a timely fashion, but OAR staff is flexible and will help as much as possible to help spread the word for those last-minute games!
Cultural
- Tulane Alumni Museum Tours: Is there a fabulous new exhibition about to open at a local museum? One that maybe connects to New Orleans? Do you know a local Tulane alumni who is a curator or director? These can include exclusive museum tours for local alumni.
- A Concert with Tulane Alumni: Tulane alumni have a true love for music, especially after having spent so much time in New Orleans. Find a concert or symphony locally that will resonate with your Club members and reach out to the venue about group ticketing options.
Professional
- Networking Events: Our colleagues in Career & Professional Development have many formats of networking events, and they can help shape an event to fit your connectivity goals.
- Community Cocktail Hours: Does a professional community have a strong representation in your area? Is there a large conference bringing with it alumni attendees? Hosting a happy hour or cocktail reception for your community might be the perfect way to take advantage of a larger-than-usual in-person constituency.
Social
- Happy Hours: If you really want to visit or re-visit a beautiful rooftop bar or local watering hole while connecting with alumni, a happy hour is a perfect solution. You can add a trivia component to your gathering, or even ask folks to bring along icebreaker stories about their favorite Tulane memories.
- Book Clubs: Book Clubs took off during the pandemic, and we hope they stick around for in-person events in the future. Some folks focus on books about New Orleans or are written by Tulane alumni or faculty, while others have no theme whatsoever!
- Professional/Semi-Pro Athletic Events: Join fellow local Tulanians for the big game!
- Intramural Sports Teams: From darts to kickball or baseball, many Tulanians find a shared love of activities! Consider creating a small intramural team that compete against itself or other local teams.
Signature Series Events
These are the flagship events for regional clubs, designed to highlight an aspect of the Tulane experience. They include:
- Welcome TU [Your City]
- Outreach Tulane
- Mardi Gras Events
- Crawfish Boils
Click here to learn more about our Signature Events.
