Harper Lecture Series

The traveling faculty lecture series named for the University’s founding president William Rainey Harper brings faculty to alumni communities to give lectures and seminars on a variety of topics. The series highlights current research and teaching at the University and the programs are extremely popular with alumni. The general format for the series is an afternoon or evening lecture and discussion (90 minutes) either preceded or followed by a reception (30-60 minutes).

If a Harper Lecture is planned in your region, the Alumni Office will handle the following:***

• Identify topics and faculty speakers they believe will be particularly interesting to your local alumni.
• Invite the faculty speaker and establish a date that will work with your club schedule of events.
• Make travel arrangements and confirm details with the speaker.
• Write, design, and mail the direct mail promotion of the event and provide broadcast e-mail notice when appropriate.
• Provide an introduction to the faculty speaker.
• Arrange for audio-visual equipment, if needed.
• Cover traveling expenses and accommodations for the faculty speaker.
• Subsidize event price if needed.

In turn, the club is responsible for the following:

• Help identify a good venue for the lecture. If possible, take advantage of local cultural programs or exhibitions to add value to the event.
• Keep a range of dates in mind for the event. The more flexible the club is with its calendar, the faster the Alumni Association can confirm a speaker.
• Recruit a volunteer, ideally the club president or event coordinator, to introduce the speaker and provide volunteers to help with hospitality.