Parent & Family Weekend

Registration and Hospitality Lounge

10 a.m.–5 p.m., Kaul Foyer
Please check in upon arrival to campus for your badge and other event materials. Mingle with other parents and staff in our hospitality lounge.

Lunch

11 a.m.–4 p.m., Commons
Enjoy some tasty food - pay for your meal in Commons.

Biology Seminar

12–1 p.m., Psych 105
Description coming soon

Hum 110 Lecture & Q&A

1:15–2:15 p.m., Vollum Lecture Hall
This flagship session offers a taste of Reed’s cornerstone course, Humanities 110. Families are invited to attend a faculty panel about teaching in HUM 110, followed by a Q&A about the course and academics at Reed more broadly. In past years, this has been one of the most impactful events of the weekend, giving families a glimpse into the academic rigor and intellectual curiosity that define the Reed experience. Whether you’ve read the syllabus or are coming in fresh, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how Reed teaches students to think critically, ask big questions, and engage meaningfully with ideas across time and place.

Cooley Gallery Tour

1–1:45 p.m., meet in Library Lobby
Derek Franklin, Director and Curator of the Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery, will provide a guided tour of Afterlife in Public by artist Rose Salane, a newly commissioned exhibition featuring a multi-channel video installation.

Architecture of Reed College: Gothic to Modernism to Post-Modernism and Back Again

1–2 p.m., Library 389 & walking tour
The architecture of Reed College is a window on the evolution of 20th Century architecture and the history of the college itself. This tour will take us from the Collegiate Gothic of A.E. Doyle's Eliot Hall through the Modernism of Pietro Belluschi, Reed Alum Neil Farnham, and others, and fiNOlly the Postmodernism of the Zimmer Gunsel Frasca era and newer buildings. (Tour starts in a classroom and then features a 1 hour walk around campus.)

Canyon Tour

1–2 p.m., meet outside admission office at Eliot Hall
Explore the heart of campus on a guided walk of Reed Canyon, a 28-acre watershed and wildlife refuge that runs through the middle of campus. This tour highlights the canyon’s biodiversity, history, and role in campus life. Expect scenic views, insights into restoration efforts, and a moment of calm in one of Reed’s most beloved spaces.

Reactor Tour

2–3 p.m., Chemistry Lobby
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Reed’s nuclear research reactor—one of the only undergraduate-operated reactors in the country. Led by trained student operators, this tour offers an inside view of the facility. You'll learn how students from a range of majors engage with this unique research opportunity. Closed-toe shoes required. Space is limited, please only sign up for one tour.

Calligraphy Scriptorium

2–4 p.m., Trillium Multipurpose Room
Experience a unique Reed tradition rooted in the college’s rich history of the written word. The Calligraphy Scriptorium invites participants to try their hand at calligraphy in a relaxed, welcoming setting. Inspired by legendary Reed professors Lloyd Reynolds and Robert Palladino, this hands-on workshop introduces the art of historical lettering and the meditative practice of writing by hand. No experience needed—just curiosity and a steady hand. All materials provided. Families and students are welcome to participate together.

Reactor Tour

3:30–4:30 p.m., Chemistry Lobby
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Reed’s nuclear research reactor—one of the only undergraduate-operated reactors in the country. Led by trained student operators, this tour offers an inside view of the facility. You'll learn how students from a range of majors engage with this unique research opportunity. Closed-toe shoes required. Space is limited, please only sign up for one tour.

Friday @ 4 Music Perfomance: Featuring the ROOTS Vocal Ensemble

4–5 p.m., Performing Arts Building Atrium
Join us for a free music recital featuring Reed music students and faculty. The event is free, and no tickets are required.

Reactor Tour

5–6 p.m., Chemistry Lobby
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Reed’s nuclear research reactor—one of the only undergraduate-operated reactors in the country. Led by trained student operators, this tour offers an inside view of the facility. You'll learn how students from a range of majors engage with this unique research opportunity. Closed-toe shoes required. Space is limited, please only sign up for one tour.

FearNoMusic Recital

7 p.m., Eliot Chapel
Fear No Music (FNM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit redefining what classical music can be. Through bold performances of contemporary classical works and transformative mentorship for young composers, we’re building a more inclusive and innovative future for the art form.

We spotlight the voices of composers from historically margiNOlized communities, as well as those living and working in the Pacific Northwest. And through our Young Composers Project, we help the next generation find their voice—and share it with the world.

At Fear No Music, we teach, mentor, and inspire through the power of live ensemble music. From nurturing young composers to presenting bold, socially conscious performances, we are committed to building community and driving change through music.

Forward (play)

7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Building Diver Studio Theatre
The second play of Chantal Bilodeau's "Arctic Cycle", Forward moves between the story of Norwegian Arctic explorer, Fridtjof Nansen, and our present-day anxiety over the rapidly changing climate. Woven throughout is the relationship between Nansen and the character Ice. A blend of theatre and electropop music, the humorous and poetic play progresses backwards from 2013 to 1893 and zeroes in on over forty characters whose choices have unintended consequences that ripple through the generations.

Registration and Hospitality Lounge

9:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Kaul Foyer
Please check in upon arrival to campus for your badge and other event materials. Mingle with other parents and staff in our hospitality lounge.

Brunch

10 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Commons
Enjoy some tasty food - pay for your meal in Commons.

Welcome to Reed

10:30–11:30 a.m., Vollum Lecture Hall
Join President Audrey Bilger for a welcome to Parent & Family Weekend and an update on what’s happening at Reed. President Bilger will share news and perspectives from across the college, followed by an open Q&A with members of Reed’s leadership team. Bring your questions and hear directly from college leaders about the Reed experience today.

Architecture of Reed College: Gothic to Modernism to Post-Modernism and Back Again

1–2 p.m., Library 389 & walking tour
The architecture of Reed College is a window on the evolution of 20th Century architecture and the history of the college itself. This tour will take us from the Collegiate Gothic of A.E. Doyle's Eliot Hall through the Modernism of Pietro Belluschi, Reed Alum Neil Farnham, and others, and fiNOlly the Postmodernism of the Zimmer Gunsel Frasca era and newer buildings. (Tour starts in a classroom and then features a 1 hour walk around campus.)

Reactor Tour

1:30–2:30 p.m., Chemistry Lobby
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Reed’s nuclear research reactor—one of the only undergraduate-operated reactors in the country. Led by trained student operators, this tour offers an inside view of the facility. You'll learn how students from a range of majors engage with this unique research opportunity. Closed-toe shoes required. Space is limited, please only sign up for one tour.

Family Connection Roundtable

2–3 p.m., Vollum Lounge
Join Professor Kristin Scheible, Chair of Reed's Religion Department, Chair of the Environmental Humanities Committee, and a parent of two Reed students majoring in Biology, for a discussion roundtable designed for parents and families. Drawing on her perspectives as both a faculty member and Reed parent, Kristin will lead a conversation about the Reed experience, answer questions, and invite parents to share their own observations and experiences. Whether you're navigating your student's first year or preparing for graduation, this session offers an opportunity to connect with other families and explore topics that matter most to you.

International Studies Program Info Session

3:30–4:30 p.m., Performing Arts Building 320
Join Dr. Alberto del Río Malo, head of Reed's International Programs office and Professor Charlene Makley, faculty chair of the Off-Campus Study Committee to hear about study abroad opportunites for your student. This session offers an overview of Reed’s international program and insight into how students engage with experiences both in and beyond the classroom. Topics include study abroad programs and globally focused academic pathways. Students who work as international program advisors will also be in attendance to answer questions about their experiences.

Reactor Tour

3–4 p.m., Chemistry Lobby
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Reed’s nuclear research reactor—one of the only undergraduate-operated reactors in the country. Led by trained student operators, this tour offers an inside view of the facility. You'll learn how students from a range of majors engage with this unique research opportunity. Closed-toe shoes required. Space is limited, please only sign up for one tour.

From Proactive Parents to Proactive Career Navigators with the Center for Life Beyond Reed (CLBR)

3:30–4:30 p.m., Vollum Lounge
Get an inside look at how Reed prepares students for life after college. This session, led by staff from the Center for Life Beyond Reed (CLBR), highlights the resources available to students, from career advising to alumni connections, and everything in between. Learn effective strategies parents can use to help students be career-ready. Students are encouraged to attend with their families.

Closing Reception & Student Showcase

5–6 p.m., Performing Arts Building Atrium
Wrap up the weekend with a celebration of student work and community connection. Hosted in PAB, this reception showcases student research, internships, and summer experiences, organized in partnership with CLBR. Families can browse posters and talk with students. Light refreshments will be served as we celebrate the creativity, curiosity, and impact of the Reed student experience.

Forward (play)

7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Building Diver Studio Theatre
The second play of Chantal Bilodeau's "Arctic Cycle", Forward moves between the story of Norwegian Arctic explorer, Fridtjof Nansen, and our present-day anxiety over the rapidly changing climate. Woven throughout is the relationship between Nansen and the character Ice. A blend of theatre and electropop music, the humorous and poetic play progresses backwards from 2013 to 1893 and zeroes in on over forty characters whose choices have unintended consequences that ripple through the generations.