Virtual Open Houses Get a Reboot for Fall

This summer, we launched our first ever summer Virtual Open House events. In addition to being offered virtually, it was the first time we were able to offer summer programming for prospective students. Traditionally, we hosted three Open House events every October and did not host any other larger prospective student events the rest of the year. Space and parking as well as a busy fall and spring schedule have always made larger events more difficult in a physical space, but the new virtual platform meant we could serve more students, more often. Summer Open House proved successful as a way to share what the University of Wisconsin–Madison can offer future students, but we wanted to take what we learned from our own experience, and from what other universities were seeing, and implement virtual event best practices to make our future events even more successful. Thus the new design for the Fall Virtual Open Houses was born. While the Fall Open Houses will take place during the usual no-school dates for Wisconsin (October 23), Illinois (October 12), and Minnesota (October 16), most other details of the event will be changing. In addition to events that cover the existing three dates, we will also be adding a September and a December Open House to serve even more students. Along with more open houses, the open houses will be longer. Rather than a single day of overlapping, conference-style sessions, the new Open Houses will span multiple days, eliminating the need to choose competing sessions and taking the pressure off a single busy day. Instead we will offer a three-day event, except on October 12-16 when we will offer a full week of programming to cover the Monday and Friday dates. Instead of pre-selecting their schedule during registration, which was previously required due to physical space limitations, students and their families will simply register for the overall event and join the sessions they wish to attend in the moment, like a true open house. Students and families can review the schedule for each event online before registering. After registering, they’ll receive a reminder that includes the Open House website link. The comprehensive Open House website will include all event details, links to live Zoom sessions, pre-recorded information, and additional ways to connect with partners and resources across campus to make the most of their Open House Experience.   Fall Virtual Open House Dates Wednesday, September 23 – Friday, September 25 Monday, October 12 – Friday, October 16 Wednesday, October 21 – Friday, October 23 Wednesday, December 2 – Friday, December 4