The KU Alumni Association will oversee Homecoming Week activities next fall.

The annual homecoming tradition, which KU began celebrating in 1912, has been directed by various campus entities through the years. For the past four years, the Office of the Dean of Students had led the organization of homecoming, adding a student steering committee and daily events on Wescoe Beach.

The change in leadership enables the alignment of homecoming activities with the Alumni Association, while still enabling collaboration with university departments.

Jennifer Alderdice, director of student programs for the Alumni Association, has worked with homecoming for several years and will be the association's adviser to the student steering committee. She has worked at the association since 1996.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for KU students to work with the Alumni Association and for students to see us as their connection to KU after graduation," Alderdice said. "The association is positioned to ensure a lasting tradition as well as clearly communicate and organize homecoming activities for both students and alumni."

Along with Alderdice, Tricia Woodward, complex director in Student Housing, will advise the student committee. Two graduate students in higher education administration, Andrea Brown and Ashley Wendler, will be graduate assistant advisers.

The 2006 edition of homecoming will be Sept. 30-Oct. 7. The football team will face Texas A&M on Oct. 7 in Memorial Stadium.