Options for On-Campus Mini-Reunions

Option A: Alumnae House and the Heartwood at Vassar
We recommend that you consider the Alumnae House and/or the Heartwood at Vassar as your first housing options. The Alumnae House offers 13 rooms with private bathrooms and seven rooms that share two full bathrooms. For pricing, call (845) 437-7100 or go to their website. The Heartwood offers 50 guest rooms and suites. More information on pricing can be found on their website.

If you would like us to reserve a courtesy block of rooms for you at the Alumnae House and/or the Heartwood, we will check availability and reserve the block(s) for you. Best practice is to pre-arrange room blocks six months prior to the event, but we can try to reserve a block at any time. Reservations for rooms would be made by individuals directly contacting the Alumnae House or the Heartwood.

Option B: Local Hotels
Other local hotels in the area include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Holiday Inn Express
• Homewood Suites by Hilton
• Quality Inn

If you would like us to reserve a courtesy block of rooms for you at one of these local hotels, we will check on availability in order to reserve the block for you. Best practice would be to pre-arrange room blocks six months prior to the date of the event, but we can try to reserve the block at any time. Reservations for rooms would be made by individuals directly contacting the hotel’s main office. Find more information on lodging close to the College.

Option A: Alumnae House
For on-campus dining, consider hosting a formal lunch or dinner at the Alumnae House. Meals at the Alumnae House must be catered by Alumnae House-approved caterers (Twisted Soul, Brasserie 292, or Main Course). Sites fees vary from $200-$500, depending upon the size of the party and the area(s) used, and should be considered in addition to catering costs for food and rentals.  

Option B: The Salt Line Hudson Valley

For more information on menus, hours of operation, and reservations, go to their website. Like the Alumnae House, more formal meals catered by the Salt Line can be hosted at the Institute at Vassar. Site fees vary depending on the size of the party and the area(s) used, and should be considered in addition to catering costs and rentals.  

Option C: Gordon Commons
Campus dining at Gordon Commons may be available for meals during regular dining hours. Volunteer Engagement staff partners can reserve a limited number of spaces on the first floor. Classmates can pay at the door for their meal (credit or debit only).

Option D: Other Local Restaurants
If you would prefer to meet for a meal off campus, below is a list of local restaurants that may be able to accommodate your group in a private space. (A more extensive list is available by request.) You may work directly with the restaurant’s staff to decide upon a cost per person for the event:

• Savona’s Trattoria 
• Farmers and Chefs
• Cosimo’s Trattoria and Bar

Option A: Faculty or Alum Presentation
You would work directly with staff in the Volunteer Engagement team to agree on the desired subject matter. Once the subject matter is decided, Vassar staff will approach a faculty member or an alum expert in that field with the request.

If you choose to enhance your meal at the Alumnae House or the Institute at Vassar with a faculty or alum presentation, please consider offering this before or during your meal to avoid an additional charge for the site fee. Best practice is to invite the presenter(s) to attend dinner. Registration fees should cover the site fee and dinner for the presenter(s).

Option B: Private Tour of the Loeb
You would work directly with the Volunteer Engagement team to determine when/if a tour could be held for your group, and, if known, what the subject matter may include.

Option C: Campus Walking Tour

• Self-guided: We can provide campus maps and point out new construction to visit.
• Student-guided: Depending upon the time of year, one of our student workers may be able to give a guided tour.

Note: If a bus tour is desired, the cost of the bus(es) must be added to the registration or paid by the class treasury, if applicable. Depending on the bus’s size, certain areas of campus may be inaccessible. Staff in the Volunteer Engagement team can provide contact information for local bus companies you may work with to fit your specific needs.

• Unavailable Dates: Due to the preparation and implementation of large on-campus events (Commencement, Reunion, etc.), campus will not be available for class mini-reunions in April, May, and June.

• Note that in July and August, access to faculty is limited and students are not on campus.

• Ideal Planning Window: We encourage you to plan an on-campus mini-reunion six months in advance, especially given caterers’ schedules, the availability of courtesy room blocks, and the time needed to plan programming, etc.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Cost of meal(s) at Alumnae House, the Heartwood, and the Institute at Vassar College, including food, beverages, rental fees, dinner for presenter(s) if applicable
• Transportation costs, e.g., bus shuttle