A Return to In-Person Tours and Programming

Over the past months, members of OAR, Campus and Visitor Relations (CAVR), and the Center for the First-Year Experience (CFYE) have met regularly to work together in developing a plan for in-person tours and programming for admitted, deposited, and prospective students. The team has met weekly to navigate new direction and changing policies to develop a collaborative effort to meet the goal of opening campus to visitors, while making sure to serve our various audiences and stakeholder needs. This past Friday, May 14, we were able to formally launch registration and corresponding communications regarding the offerings. Detail on Messaging, Registration, and Launch
  • On Friday, May 14, we emailed deposited freshmen and admitted and deposited transfer students to invite them to participate in Badger Jumpstart, along with self-guided and virtual tours.
  • Wednesday, May 12 was the soft open for Visit Bucky in-person tour registration. Tours were private and accessible by a link until the Badger Jumpstart invite was sent. In response to inquiries from students and families, CAVR and OAR were able to provide the link to the tour registration and, if they were newly admitted/deposited students, let them know they would receive information about a special program for them that includes a campus tour, if they wished to wait.
  • On Friday, May 14, we communicated to rising seniors and upcoming term transfer students to invite them to join us for a campus tour. Registration will be public/accessible to all students/families.
  • Registration for in-person tours and Badger Jumpstart will be in Visit Bucky. Both students and their (1) guest will need to register and indicate that they have read the COVID-19 Safety Protocols & Campus Visitor Agreement before finalizing their registration.
    • These include face masks while inside buildings and while outside on the tour. 
Badger Jumpstart
  • Badger Jumpstart is for deposited and matriculated freshmen and admitted, deposited, and matriculated transfer students. Late admits will be invited as space permits.
  • There will be freshmen and transfer-specific sessions.
  • Badger Jumpstart is the primary in-person program being promoted to this audience.
    • While admitted and deposited students can register for an in-person prospective tour, it will duplicate what is offered as part of Badger Jumpstart.
  • The program will include a short information session about campus, followed by a 75-minute walking tour.
  • Sessions have a maximum attendance of 60 attendees.
  • Students can bring up to one guest.
  • The program duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
  • The program is optional.
  • Sessions will take place June 17 through August 13 and will run Tuesday through Friday to start.
  • Advertised alternative options for Badger Jumpstart include the self-guided campus tour, virtual guided tour, and self-guided campus virtual tour.
In-Person Campus Tours
  • Campus tours will begin on Monday, May 17
  • They will be targeted to prospective rising seniors and upcoming term transfer students but are open to all.
  • They will be 75 minutes in length.
  • They depart from Union South, with two tours every hour from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Tours will run Monday – Saturday, with virtual tours on Sundays.
  • Tours will have a max of ten registrants, with students being able to bring up to one guest.
Tours spots are limited and may fill quickly. Should restrictions change, tours may expand, opening more spots. We also anticipate a range of in-person offerings this coming fall, including Open House and additional campus tour options. Folx unable to visit campus will also have the option of our self-guided virtual tours, the self-guided on-campus tours, and the guided virtual tours, which will be shared as options. Guidebook is being put into place as an improved virtual self-guided tour option, and we hope to have that live in the next couple weeks.