Dear fellow alumni,
As the College prepares for a
new academic year
amidst the ongoing global pandemic, the Office of Alumni Engagement has been working with colleagues around campus to explore opportunities for our alumni family to celebrate North Central College’s 100th Homecoming. These unprecedented times have required sacrifices and adjustments to our daily lives; however, those sacrifices are made with the knowledge and intention of keeping ourselves and our loved ones healthy and safe! After exploring several possible scenarios and with careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to forgo this year’s Homecoming celebration.
While I’m disappointed that we will not have the opportunity to invite you to campus this fall, I’m confident that this is the right course of action. The State of Illinois is currently in “Phase 4” of its reopening plan, which allows colleges and universities to open. However, the State’s guidelines restrict meetings and events larger than 50 people. This limitation impacts traditional events such as the Homecoming Reunion Celebration and Outstanding Alumni Awards ceremony, the Athletic Hall of Fame, the 50-Year Club Induction Ceremony, the Homecoming Concert, and the individual class and affinity reunions we have held in previous years. Additionally, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) announced that its Council of Presidents has voted to postpone all conference competition and championships for all fall sports. Consequently, North Central will not be participating in intercollegiate athletic competition this fall. Homecoming wouldn’t be the same without the weekend’s much anticipated athletic events, including the football game. No matter how creative we tried to be, the idea of hosting our traditional Homecoming events while trying to maintain a safe and healthy environment became too difficult. We have turned our attention to Homecoming 2021 and will share more information about what we hope will be a centennial Homecoming celebration for our entire alumni family.
On behalf of the Alumni Board and Office of Alumni Engagement, thank you for your understanding and patience as we work hard to serve and keep you engaged with our alma mater. I encourage you to continue to regularly visit the
alumni website
and to follow us on social media to stay connected and informed of virtual and, when safely possible, in-person alumni events that are already being planned.
In the meantime, I wish you good health and wellness in the weeks and months to come.
With Cardinal Pride,
