Complimentary Alumni Reunion Tours Added to the Visitors Tour Program at UC San Diego

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Niki de Saint Phalle’s Sun God, the first work commissioned by the Stuart Collection. Photo by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications.

When the class of 1980 graduated from the University of California, San Diego, there were just four of the six colleges established and the iconic Sun God statue had not yet been installed. The class of 1995 saw the opening of the Recreation, Intramural and Athletics Complex (RIMAC) and the renaming of the University Library in honor of Theodor (“Dr. Seuss”) Geisel. Those who graduated in 2008 left the campus before the Conrad Prebys Music Center opened and before “Fallen Star,” the latest addition to the Stuart Collection, landed on top of the Jacobs School of Engineering. To help graduates get reacquainted with the campus and discover what’s new, the UC San Diego Visitors Tour Program has established Alumni Reunion Tours.

“Reunion tours are a great way to come back and see how the campus has grown, as well as an opportunity to visit those favorite places from your time at UC San Diego,” said Suzi Sterner, senior director of Alumni Affairs.

Led by knowledgeable adult guides, the Alumni Reunion Tours are 90-minute walking tours of campus that are tailored to the interests of the individuals who book the tour. Sights may include a graduate’s former college, the newest LEED-certified buildings or highlights of the Stuart Collection. Group size may range from five to 15 people and the tours will be available at 11 a.m. on Sundays, with advance notice.

“When UC San Diego alumni come on one of our tours, they are often astounded both by what is new since they were on campus and—to their surprise—what was already here when they were that they didn’t even know about,” said John Meyers, a tour guide with the Visitors Tour Program.

Ranked among the top 10 public universities in the United States, UC San Diego has more than 150,000 alumni worldwide, with 28 percent residing in San Diego. In addition to the Alumni Reunion Tours, the Visitors Tour Program offers free campus tours for new faculty and staff as well as San Diego residents and the general public. Offerings include walking tours, bus tours and architectural tours—all of which highlight campus landmarks while providing information about the university and its history.

Alumni Reunion Tours may be arranged for Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. with advance notice. Please call UC San Diego Alumni Affairs at (858) 534-3900 to make a reservation. To learn more about the Visitors Tour Program and its services, visit ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/tours.