Can families depart Chicago after the Family reception with President Zimmer on the 18th, or is there anything to attend the next day? What was it like last year?
News flash: Families can depart Chicago any time they want. They are excess to requirements. All the family stuff, including but certainly not limited to the post-convocation reception with President Zimmer, are somewhat patronizing efforts to be kind to people who are paying a lot of money for their children’s education and are somewhat in denial about how unnecessary their physical attendance is to their children and the college.
@JHS Knowing all that, are there any events on Monday? Being in denial is sometimes wonderful 
I don’t actually know. Last year, it looks like Convocation was on Monday, although I don’t know why. They only recently went to a two-day format; when my kids attended, move-in and Convocation were the same day, and they kicked parents out after the post-Convocation reception. You were explicitly asked NOT to attempt to see your child again that night or the next day, because that would interfere with house bonding activities. But I think that over time enough parents were violating the injunction that they went to a two-day format with Convocation on the second day, so it was OK for parents to have one last day’s worth of meals with their dears. Also, that effectively gave families a choice between Saturday and Sunday for move-in if they could only do one day. (And . . . O-week time is so underutilized, they didn’t desperately need the extra day for house bonding activities.)
All of which means: I can’t think of a reason why they would have family events the day after Convocation, but maybe someone else has. They haven’t published the schedule yet, but I’m sure if you call they will know whether they plan to have any family events on Monday.
No there is not.
However, from previous experience as a parent dropping a kid off, we chose to spend the night in the city after kid left us for his new life. It seemed bit hasty to immediately get on a plane and fly back across the country, ‘just in case’ something came up during the first 24 hours or so. Completely unnecessary and it was bit teary/empty to go have (at least 2 glasses of wine) dinner with only DH, I felt better being nearby. This time, we will find something fun to do in Chicago Sunday night with friends.
If you live not too far off, that’s moot.
For my D’s class (2017) there were two-day events which parents were involved in.
Sunday - move-in
Monday - Convocation and reception.
Many patents had left just after reception. Yes. they said parents be better not to see their students.
I do not think you will miss anything after reception.