After a 39-year hiatus, homecoming has returned to College of DuPage, with student affairs and marketing divisions in charge of organizing the festivities.

According to Director of Marketing and Creative Services Laurie Jorgensen, 1,000 to 1,200 people are expected to attend the homecoming football game, weather permitting. The average turnout for a home game is at least 300 people.

Alumni attendance has also been a focus for Jorgensen. Approximately 5,500 alumni were mailed homecoming promotions as another way of boosting attendance.

An alumni brunch will take place prior to the game. President Robert Breuder will be present along with current students who will provide guided tours of the campus. Alumni are also invited to participate in a pre-game party and tailgating alongside current and prospective students, staff, and community members.

The student affairs and marketing divisions aim to provide students a traditional college experience, according to Jorgensen.

“Our mission is to help provide students that four-year experience and bring more prospective students to the campus to experience the culture of COD,” Jorgensen said.

Research conducted during the college’s rebranding efforts revealed students felt the least appealing aspect of the college was the feeling associated with two-year institutions.

In total, homecoming festivities will total an estimated $15,000. The marketing and student affairs divisions will front the cost. Radio station B96 will DJ the pre-game, free-of-charge, and the College of DuPage Alumni Program will be donating food

“For an event of this size, the cost is relatively low,” said Jorgensen.

Planning for homecoming began in May with a homecoming committee comprised of student representatives and faculty members tasked to oversee Homecoming Week and the festivities leading up to and during the football game.

The 1975 homecoming was a successful event, according to Joseph Moore, vice president of marketing and communications. Moore expects the same success for this year’s homecoming.

“We believe this will be a wonderful reignition of a tradition that will serve this community very well,” Moore said.