Spring 1998

Alumni play role in spreading the word

Our graduates serve as vital Rose-Hulman ambassadors who help tell our story on

several fronts

by President Samuel F. Hulbert

One key trait Rose-Hulman graduates carry with them upon graduation is role of ambassador. The college has enjoyed much success in recent years, and our alumni are among the top reasons for our many achievements. Our 9,537 living alumni serve their alma mater well through their professional and civic involvement.

One of the main benefits we derive from our alumni is increased national reputation. We have excellent faculty, the best students in the country and a top-flight public relations office, but our alumni still are among the best ways Rose-Hulman becomes known. We don’t have major research centers or big-time NCAA Division I sports to draw national media coverage. Unfortunately, national media overall have minimal interest in reporting on the importance of teaching undergraduate engineering, science and mathematics at the college level. We’re working on correcting that problem, and one of the ways is through our alumni. Their professional success shows that our graduates are real people helping other people through solving problems. Our alumni are recognized for achievement, leadership and strong work ethic in their companies and communities.

A prime example of how business and industry perceive our alumni shines in our career services effort. We are having one of our best years ever in career placement. Our career services office has been aggresive, but alumni success factors into the equation. Simply put, companies of all sizes are happy with our graduates. They are proven performers, and corporate/ business recruiters want more of them. A broad approach to engineering and science is one of the reasons companies seek our graduates. A Rose-Hulman-educated engineer receives a broad-view education that lets him or her see the total scope of a project, not just the small part they might be working on. For example, some automobile door lock engineers focus only on their particular part of the car. A Rose-Hulman engineer not only knows the complete machinations of the door lock , but also appreciates and understands how it fits into the total package being developed.

Our alumni also help in our placement success by being advocates for Rose-Hulman within their respective companies. Each year, we conduct a two-day, on-campus career fair. I am pleased and humbled by the number of alumni who take time from their schedules to attend the career fair on behalf of their companies, and on behalf of Rose-Hulman. They share information with students and help land summer jobs and full-time employment.

Alumni also carry the Rose-Hulman banner to their companies’ philanthropic offices and foundations. Many times, an alumnus getting us a foot in the door makes the difference in final decisions on Rose-Hulman grant proposals.

Student recruitment has been another area where alumni play a key role. Dean of Admissions Chuck Howard and his staff are the best admissions office in the nation, but covering an entire country with a professional staff of four provides a major challenge. That is where our alumni step in and help spread the word about Rose-Hulman. They also do a fine job informing neighbors about why Johnny and Susie should attend Rose-Hulman. The one-on-one contact they bring is priceless as they answer questions for the prospective student and mom and dad. We look for greater alumni help in the future. (See The Chairman’s Corner on page 5.)

I’ve talked about alumni helping students get here and when they leave, but they are also a vibrant part of the academic experience. Many alumni return as guest lecturers, bringing real-world experience to the classroom. I ask alumni to lecture on their specialties in my biomedical engineering classes. Alumni who are now surgeons, cardiologists, biomedical engineers and medical equipment entrepreneurs have graced the podium in my classes. When my teaching is evaluated by students, alumni visits always rank high on what made the class a positive learning experience.

When current students meet alumni, a pre-existing bond surfaces because of the Rose-Hulman experience they share. Students enjoy hearing from those who have gone before that there is life after Rose-Hulman. We can’t make engineering education easy, and alumni provide a real source of encouragement to students that the hard work and long hours are worth it. Such testimony provides a valuable part of the educational process.

I would be remiss if I did not cite the valuable role alumni play through their financial support of Rose-Hulman. Our Vision to be the Best campaign is running ahead of schedule because of the generosity of alumni who have made financial contributions to the Vision. Many of the major multimillion dollar campaign gifts came from alumni. Alumni bring an unselfish attitude to their giving. They are giving back to a place that gave so much to them, and their philanthropy is based on a builder’s vision. They want their alma mater to be better today than it was yesterday. They want it to be the best. Such support is an inspiration to faculty, staff and students.

One hundred years ago, President Carl Leo Mees called our loyal alumni “the college’s most valued asset.” As Rose-Hulman moves into another century in an age where change is recognized as a constant, it’s nice to know a few things never change.