Spring 2003

New Credit Card Will Help Underwrite Campus Programs

The Alumni Affairs Office has recently signed an agreement with MBNA to offer a Rose-Human affinity credit card to alumni and friends.

MBNA will make a donation when a new account is opened, and when the account is renewed. MBNA will make an additional contribution to assist the Alumni Association every time a card is used to make a purchase — at no additional cost to each alumnus.

Proceeds will be used to help underwrite programs for students, alumni and their families during Homecoming and through-out the year.

For more information, contact Brian Dyer, director of alumni affairs and special events, at 812-877-8359 or via e-mail at brian.dyer@rose-hulman.edu.

Recruiting the nation's best students gets more competitive every year. Every college or university is looking for a recruiting edge to be successful. At Rose-Hulman, a group of alumni is increasingly giving Rose-Hulman an edge that is having a positive impact on the college's admissions' success.

The group is called RARE — Rose Alumni Recruiting Engineers. RARE members are located in nearly 20 states. Some areas such as Chicago have as many as 20 RARE volunteers. This year, RARE volunteers will expand the college's admissions efforts by representing their alma mater at more than 60 college fair programs nationwide. They also help in other ways such as writing letters, sending e-mails or calling admitted students.

Jim Goecker, Rose-Hulman associate dean of admissions, has coordinated the group since its creation six years ago. "RARE volunteers have had an impact on our ability to increase interest in Rose-Hulman among students outside of Indiana. Rose-Hulman's reputation is growing and RARE enables us to be represented at more national college fairs," he noted. "Alumni are convincing. They do an excellent job talking about the value of their Rose-Hulman education."

Goecker noted that this year, RARE volunteers in the Chicago area have helped generate a record 200 applications from prospective students - a 75% increase in six years. "Chicago has served as our model group," he commented. The RARE program is expanding this spring to the Seattle area, according to Goecker.

Darrin Davidson, a 1986 alumnus, has been a RARE volunteer in the Chicago area ever since the program was created. "I feel that it's every alum's responsibility to sell the school and this is a way to participate," says Davidson, central region manager for Sears. "The most rewarding experience I've had is helping young people and their families make informed decisions," he said.

Davidson noted that younger alumni relate well with high-school seniors, while alumni like him can connect better with parents. "I got involved because I believe Rose-Hulman is a great place for people to pursue their dreams," he stated.

If you're interested in learning more about the RARE program, contact Goecker at james.goecker@rose-hulman.edu.

Alumni are among the most important assets of the Rose-Hulman family. We now have 10,500 living alumni and 36 percent have graduated in the last 10 years, with 51 percent graduating since 1980.

The alumni advisory board has 14 members. That includes nine committee chairs, association officers, and Brian Dyer, director of alumni affairs and special events. We welcome two new members to the board – Sam Reed (’81), chair of the Student Recruitment Committee, and David Boodt (’81), chair of the Alumni Clubs Committee. The board meets four times a year, and conducts a meeting during Homecoming weekend with all attending Rose-Hulman alumni.

At our Nov. 9 meeting, Doug Stearley (’79), vice president, presented the Alumni Association Benchmarking Survey. Information was solicited from 22 colleges, and 10 responded to the survey. The alumni advisory board will process the results of the study and narrow down recommendations that might be beneficial to Rose-Hulman.

Alumni office staff highlights for the year have included a new online alumni directory and more than 40 meetings and events with alumni clubs throughout the country.

I hope you will join me this year in moving our association forward. It takes all of us to succeed.