Champlain College Prepares for Annual Family Weekend

Prospective students enjoy Champlain campus in the fall at open house.

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Though it has only been a few short weeks since parents were dropping their students off on campus, there is definitely an anticipation growing for the Champlain College 2015 Family Weekend Sept. 25-27.

The annual event gives students and families the opportunity to spend time on campus and explore the beautiful city of Burlington. Lisa Mazzariello, the director of the Champlain College Student Life Center, explained, "We're encouraging people to soak up the campus and get to know our faculty, staff, and students."

The weekend begins with a reception dinner on Friday night, where families and students can connect with each other and listen to faculty and staff talk about what's been happening in and outside the classroom. Throughout the weekend, there will be presentations on a variety of topics such as studying abroad, the LEAD (Life Experience and Action Dimension) program, and the transition to college life. Parents and students will have the chance to meet President Donald Laackman, Vice President of Student Life Leslie Averill, and Provost Laurie Quinn, as well as talk with deans, faculty members and program directors in each of the divisions.

Prospective students enjoy Champlain's campus in the fall.For those interested in seeing some of Champlain's students perform, there will be entertainment from Champlain's improv group Los Volcanoes and other talented students at The Grind. In addition, there will be an adults only "Mix & Mingle" on Saturday at the Generator at Memorial Auditorium, a unique space described as "a combination of artist studio, classroom, and business incubator at the intersection of art, science, and technology" that is located only a short walk from campus.

Campus officials also encourage families and students to get out and explore Burlington, which is known as one of America's "best college towns." Make sure to take some time to walk through the city's downtown area, which features art galleries, shops, restaurants, a farmers' market and street performers. A visit to the Lake Champlain waterfront is a must, along with taking in the breathtaking fall foliage views that Vermont has to offer. On Sunday, Champlain will host its annual 5K run/walk through the Hill section of Burlington where the campus is located.

Visiting families can also take advantage of Champlain rates at a number of area hotels for the weekend; make sure to reserve a room as early as possible! In addition, registration for Family Weekend can be found here on the Champlain College website. Any further questions can be directed to familyweekend@champlain.edu.


Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, not-for-profit, private college in Burlington, Vermont, with additional campuses in Montreal, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain offers a traditional undergraduate experience from its beautiful campus overlooking Lake Champlain and over 90 residential undergraduate and online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates. Champlain's distinctive career-driven approach to higher education embodies the notion that true learning occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain College is included in the Princeton Review's The Best 384 Colleges: 2019 Edition. For the fourth year in a row, Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" in the North by U.S. News & World Report's 2019 "America's Best Colleges,” and a “Best Value School” and is ranked in the top 100 “Regional Universities of the North” and in the top 25 for “Best Undergraduate Teaching.” Champlain is also featured in the Fiske Guide to Colleges for 2019 as one of the "best and most interesting schools" in the United States, Canada and Great Britain and is a 2019 College of Distinction. For more information, visit champlain.edu.