FAQs
Alumni Weekend @ Home will be using the online conferencing platform Hopin. Learn more about using Hopin as an attendee.
Q: How do I access Alumni Weekend @ Home?
A: As a registered attendee, you will receive an email from the University of Chicago on June 3 with the subject line “Alumni Weekend @ Home starts tomorrow!” This email will include a link to the Hopin event. When the event begins on June 4, just click that link to enter the event on Hopin. You will not be able to enter the event until it begins on June 4. Watch our “Hopin Registration Guide” video for more information.
Q: What technology do I need?
A: Hopin runs in your web browser; there is no app or anything new to download. Use Chrome or Firefox for the best experience. An internet connection that allows you to participate in a Google Meet or Zoom call should be sufficient for the Hopin platform. For optimum audio quality, headphones are recommended. Hopin works best with a desktop device, but web browsers on mobile devices (Android and iOS) are also supported. You can also download the Hopin app, available from the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Q: What time zone does Alumni Weekend @ Home use?
A: The Hopin platform automatically updates the ALW @ Home schedule to match your local time.
Q: How do I attend a session?
A: Go to the Reception area at any time to see the full schedule of sessions, and select Stage at any time to see what is currently live. You can also add individual sessions to your personal calendar. Watch our “Sessions in Hopin” video for more information.
Q: Can I pause a session I am attending?
A: Alumni Weekend @ Home is a live event. You can pause the video in Hopin while a session is playing, but when you click Play again you will be brought back to the live feed, not to where you had initially paused.
Q: What’s the difference between the Event, Stage, and Sessions chat channels?
A: The Event chat is for event-wide discussions and is accessible on every page of the platform. The Stage and Sessions chats are for discussions specific to the presentation happening on a stage or in a session. Stage chats are where attendees can ask presenters questions during the live Q and A portion of each presentation.
Q: What happens when I @mention someone in the public Event chat channels?
A: Users can type the @ symbol and a few characters of an attendee’s first name to highlight that person’s name and profile within the chat stream. The mentioned attendee does not receive a notification.
Q: What is the Networking area? What happens when I click the Ready button?
A: Networking is an opportunity to meet new people during Alumni Weekend @ Home.
When you click the Ready button, you are matched with a random fellow attendee via face-to-face video. Meetings end automatically after five minutes. Attendees can leave at any time.
Conversation partners may decide to share contact information by clicking the Connect button. If both parties click Connect, the pair can find each other’s contact information (email address and social media) via the Connect section of their Hopin profile.
Watch our “Connecting with Attendees” video for more information.
Q: What are the Quads?
A: The Quads are live throughout Alumni Weekend. You can go to the Quads anytime and enter the booths to visit with University of Chicago Alumni teams and partners.
Q: How does direct messaging work on Hopin?
A: Attendees can contact each other through direct messages. To send a direct message, navigate to the People tab and find the person you wish to chat with. Then, select their profile photo and send the message. A red dot in the recipient’s People tab and on the envelope icon (top right) will let them know they have a new message.
Q: How can I get help?
A: Hopin support offers tutorials and FAQs for attendees. Visit the Hopin support hub to learn more.
You can also use the Event chat to report any issues you may be having. While it’s not quite the same as wearing matching shirts, in the public chats University of Chicago organizers will have their comments and responses highlighted so they are identifiable as organizers.