Reservations
Parents and family members may make reservations for housing, meals, and entertainment for Commencement/Reunion weekend by going to OBIEweb.
If you have any questions feel free to contact the Alumni Association at 440-775-8692 or send an email to alumni@oberlin.edu.
Contact Information:
- For meals, events, and housing: Alumni Association 440-775-8692 or alumni@oberlin.edu
- General questions/information about Commencement: Office of the General Counsel and Secretary 440-775-8401 or secretary.office@oberlin.edu
- To check or change reservation once on campus: Commencement/Reunion Center (only during the weekend) 440-775-8695
UPDATE NOTICE
Due to unforeseen capacity concerns, the Friday evening picnic is an ALUMNI ONLY event, as in past years. We regret any confusion this may have caused.
Commencement/Reunion Center
Classroom A155 in the Science Center, located at 119 Woodland Street, will serve as the Commencement/Reunion Center. When you arrive, please register there and pick up your reserved tickets, housing assignment, and the updated weekend program. In addition, you may leave messages for friends at the Center.
Center Hours
Friday, May 22: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Saturday, May 23: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 24: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Monday, May 25: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Note: If you will be arriving after the registration desk closes, special arrangements must be made for housing access. Alert the Alumni Office before the weekend or the Commencement/Reunion Center during the weekend if this applies to you.
Because of the large number of people expected to attend the weekend, sending in your reservation form is a necessity. We cannot guarantee tickets or accommodations for those who arrive without reservations.
Housing
Dormitory rooms are available for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, but not Monday night. All dorm rooms must be vacated by 1 p.m. on Monday, May 25, 2009.
Ohio weather can be unpredictable! If warm weather is predicted, we suggest you bring a portable fan since the dormitories are not air conditioned. If cool weather is predicted, we strongly suggest you bring warm sleepwear and an extra blanket, as only one light blanket per bed is provided. Once the heat is turned off for the year it cannot be turned back on. We also suggest that you bring a wash cloth, extra towels, a reading lamp, and clothes hangers.
While we do our best to accommodate the needs of parents and family members, there are very limited facilities for those with special needs such as private baths, wheelchair ramps, and accessible bathrooms. We recommend you consider reserving lodging in a local motel or bed and breakfast.
Mail your reservation form as soon as possible. Please indicate the number of beds required; most rooms have two single beds. Single rooms are available in some dorms. Beds are $35 per bed per night before May 15; $50 per bed per night after May 15. Furnishings include sheets, pillow and case, blanket, towel, and soap. These supplies are not replenished daily.
Camping
The camper and RV site is the Grey Gables parking lot on West College Street across from Dascomb Hall; you may use restroom and shower facilities at Dascomb. Note that electricity is only offered for the camper and RV sites; no dumping stations or water is available. Please sign up on the reservation form. Your parking tag will be included in your ticket envelope.
Tent sites are available, free of charge, north of Jones Fieldhouse. You may park in the Fieldhouse parking lot and use restroom and shower facilities in north campus dormitories.
Dining
General meal dining (cash only, pay at the door) will be available inthe Dascomb food court during the weekend. Several entrees includingvegetarian and vegan options are available. Wild Thymes will have aregular selection of traditional fares featuring savory flavors ofherbs. Ring of Fire will feature authentic Asian cuisines. SouthsideDeli will have traditional items as well as a selection of whole meatsgrilled-to-order at the dinner meal. Focaccino will have calzones,stromboli, pizzas and other Italian dishes. Breakfast, $6.50; Lunch,$8; Dinner, $12. Children ages 4-12, ½ price; ages 3 and under, free.
At class/cluster meals a vegetarian and vegan option will be availableby advance request with your reservation. Due to space restrictions, werequest that only classmates and spouses/partners attend theclass/cluster dinners.
If you have food allergies and are attending a ticketed meal, pleaselist the foods on the reservation form so we may alert the dietitian.
Due to unforeseen capacity concerns, the Friday evening picnic is an ALUMNI ONLY event, as in past years. We regret any confusion this may have caused.
Commencement Exercises
Commencement will be Monday morning, May 25, on Tappan Square, rain or shine. Tickets are not necessary.
Graduation Checklist
Graduation Announcements Graduation announcements may be ordered from Jostens. Please find all related information on their website.
Photography
The official college photographer is Chappell. Parents and students may register with Chappell to arrange for email notifications once photos are available for online viewing and ordering.
Florist
Flowers may be ordered through Carlyle Shop. Please find an order form on the link. Download form
Carlyle Shop
17 W College St.
440.775.3871
Caps and Gowns are not required for the commencement exercises; however, should your graduate choose to wear a cap and gown, the regalia may be ordered from: Download Information
Ben Franklin
13 W. College Street
(440) 774-5711
Activities for Children
Children's Daytime Activities: Supervised recreational activities for children ages 4-12 will be available Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Children should be dropped off and picked up at the Commencement/Reunion Center. Please provide children with a water bottle with their choice of drink. Children should not carry any money. Cost is $50.00 per day with lunch included. Please sign up on the reservation form.
Children's Pizza Supper: A supervised pizza supper with soft drinks and videos will be available in Wilder Hall for children ages 4-12 whose parents attend class/cluster dinners on Sunday, May 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $6.00. Please sign up on the reservation form.
Traveling With An Infant: Traveling to Oberlin with your infant is a great experience, but it does require some advance planning. Make sure you reserve a crib for your dorm room. The mattress can double as a changing table pad. Bring baby blankets since only two adult-sized blankets are provided. Bring your child’s favorite toys to help him/her adjust to the strange surroundings. You may want to bring a stroller; the dining halls have a few highchairs.
Children with sleeping bags in a parent's room are not charged. Cribs are available by advance request at $15 per room for the weekend; please sign up on the reservation form.
Recreation
The Philips Physical Education Center will be open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, for those interested in aerobic exercise, racquetball, squash, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, weight training, or running the outdoor fitness trail. Racquets for racquetball, squash and tennis, tennis balls, and volleyballs may be borrowed from the equipment room. Racquetballs and squash balls may be purchased there. Those wishing to swim must bring suits. Lockers and towels are available for a small daily fee. Please note that non-marking shoes must be worn in the gym. You may also bowl in Hales Gymnasium or golf at the Oberlin Golf Club.
Attending Performances
You may order tickets on the reservation form. Weekend performance descriptions and times are listed in the weekend schedule.
Special Needs
Wheelchairs will be available for the weekend from the Commencement/Reunion Center. There is a $50.00 deposit (cash, check, MC or VISA only) fee of which $35.00 will be refunded when the wheelchair is returned at the end of the weekend. All wheelchairs must be returned by 12:45 p.m. on Monday, May 25, or you will forfeit your deposit.
An American Sign Language Interpreter will be available during the Champagne Alumni Luncheon and the Commencement exercises. Please make a note on the reservation form if you need to be near the speaker's platform.
Rideshare Program
Your journey can be part of the celebration and help us green Oberlin: Fly or Drive Together!
Whether you fly or drive to Commencement/Reunion Weekend, you now have an opportunity to connect with your neighbors on your journey. You can carpool to Oberlin or share a cab or rental from the airport. Does your car have an extra seat? Use your trip as a mini-reunion and find other Oberlin alumni and friends in your region, while reducing the number of cars traveling to Oberlin in May.
Go to http://www.spaceshare.com/oberlin175/ and make a connection.
Airport Shuttles
Oberlin College has partnered with Hopkins Transportation Service and Charters in order to provide shuttle service between Cleveland Hopkins Airport and Oberlin for Commencement/Reunion Weekend. Shuttle service is available from Cleveland Hopkins Airport to Oberlin on Thursday, May 21, through Sunday, May 24. Shuttle service from Oberlin to Cleveland Hopkins Airport is available Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25.
You can make online shuttle reservations by visiting http://www.gohopkins.com/ and selecting Oberlin under “Groups” in the left navigation bar.
The online reservation system will request your flight arrival and departure information and will schedule your shuttle service accordingly. If you require a wheelchair lift, please call Hopkins Transportation Service and Charters directly at 1-800-543-9912 to make arrangements.
At Cleveland Hopkins Airport the shuttle arrives and departs from Door 7 (baggage lane at Continental).
In Oberlin the shuttle arrives and departs from the Woodland Street entrance of the Science Center and the rear entrance of the Oberlin Inn. Please be at the pick-up location ten minutes before departure. The trip to and from Oberlin is approximately one hour. One-way fare is $16.00 per person.
Taxi Services
- A 2 Point B Transportation 440-775-7222
- Lorain County Cab Company 440-322-6555
- West Side Town Car 440-647-4500 or 877-647-4500
New Green Initiative in 2009 -
Bring Your Own Water Bottle
As part of our ongoing effort to make Commencement/Reunion Weekend have as little impact on the planet as possible, the Green Commencement/Reunion Committee has asked Campus Dining Services to eliminate single use water bottles. Water will be available throughout the weekend in several locations - we welcome you to fill your own reusable bottle. Help us reduce the amount of plastic on campus during this busy weekend by bringing your water bottle with you!
