Spring 2007

Q: What are the key objectives of the alumni board?
A: The alumni board strives to re-involve, refocus and reconnect people to Rose. In today’s fast-moving society, people are disjointed and have no long-term connections in their lives. One connection that will always be there is their relationship to Rose-Hulman. While the board does provide a “feel-good” relationship, we don’t wallow in nostalgia. We’re moving forward on many fronts and I’m excited about some of the directions were heading. The alumni association can always be exciting when it’s backing a place like Rose-Hulman.

Q: What is the makeup of the board?
A: We have 20 members. The board leadership is elected by the total alumni body. A person is elected as secretary and then rotates through the positions of vice president, president and past president. This provides continuity to the group while allowing new ideas to breathe into the association. I’m impressed by the depth and breadth of the board. Many times in such a volunteer organization, the board is dominated by a bunch of old guys like me. That’s not the case with us. We have a cross section of representation of the total alumni population.

Q: How does the board operate?
A: The board operates by a committee structure covering the following areas: alumni clubs, alumni giving, career services, continuing education, homecoming, honors and awards, student alumni association, student recruitment, young alumni and alumni representatives to the Rose-Hulman Board of Trustees. We meet five times a year, including the annual association meeting during homecoming.

Q: Does geography limit participation rates?
A: Not really. With today’s technology, we can have meetings via the Internet or via conference calls and take input from across the country. If anyone is interested in serving, we can use them and they will be able to participate.

Q: Explain the role of the representatives to the Board of Trustees.
A: Those two people are the alumni voice on the Board of Trustees. There are several alumni on that board, but the two alumni reps are elected specifically to represent all alumni. They hear what is on the minds and hearts of alumni and take that information to the full Board of Trustees. Alumni form one of the biggest, if not the biggest, Rose-Hulman constituencies. Representation on the Board of Trustees is vital to maintaining the tradition of excellence the college has enjoyed for more than 130 years.

Q: Isn’t the alumni board just a fundraising front for the college?
A: No. While giving to the college is part of the alumni experience, it is not the sole mission of the association. Contrary to the belief of some skeptics, the annual fund and the alumni association are not joined at the hip. While we do have a fundraising committee and have an active class scholarship program, we provide many other opportunities for alumni.

Q: Could you expand on what the board can do for alumni?
A: As previously stated, our key mission is to keep alumni connected to their alma mater, and we do that through a variety of club events around the country, career assistance, an online directory, continuing education opportunities, special alumni trips, the Echoes alumni magazine and, of course, Homecoming. We are always open to other ways we can serve our alumni and we want to hear from them.

Q: How do I join the alumni association?
A: The answer is quite simple — once you graduate, you are a member. If you received your degree from Rose-Hulman, you are a member of the association and allowed to participate in all of our activities. We don’t charge membership dues, and you have access to all alumni amenities.