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“This will allow the alumni association to be more inclusive and provide benefits for all alumni. It will also enable us to be more focused on alumni engagement, which supports the university’s mission.”
-Tom Messina, Executive Director |
- Taking Care of Business -
Effective July 1, 2010, the UCF Alumni Association will change its membership structure to engage all 175,000 alumni of the university. Without the restrictions of a member-based organization, every graduate of UCF will be able to maintain a lifelong relationship with their alma mater as the UCF Alumni Association will be able focus on its core function: fostering relationships with ALL alumni. The association will be the university’s link to alumni through:
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Engagement - Regular communication that will encourage alumni to take pride in UCF and compel them to stay involved by volunteering, attending events, visiting the campus, giving gifts or simply sending news of their lives to be shared with other alumni. |
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Advocacy - Informed alumni care about their university’s future and are more likely to contribute their time, talent and/or financial support to support the university’s mission. |
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Affinity - Once ignited, the passion of alumni toward their alma mater can inspire devotion that is second to none. |
Graduates experiencing this cutting edge approach to alumni relations will find a UCF Alumni Association that seeks the participation, expertise and involvement of all alumni beginning from their earliest years as graduates. We are very excited about this undertaking and, because you are a dedicated volunteer and loyal supporter of the association, we wanted you to be the first to know. We welcome your input on this new endeavor and urge you to speak to your staff liaison or visit the transition FAQ for more information.
As chair of a UCF Alumni Chapter/Club, alumni may look to you for clarification on our structural change. Here are some questions to anticipate from your alumni base and the responses to share with them.
Q: Why is the alumni association restructuring?
A: The UCF Alumni Association began a dues program in 1989 to fill a financial void. In the 20 years that followed, UCF experienced unparalleled growth, becoming the third largest university in the nation. The extensive efforts expended to obtain and retain paying members have diluted the association’s ability to serve ALL alumni and resulted in an exclusive, rather than inclusive, organization.
Q: How will the restructuring process work?
A: The initial step will be the elimination of the association’s current dues program on July 1, 2010. From now on, all UCF graduates, both recent and past, will have automatic affiliation to the association without the requirement of membership dues.
Q: Where will the UCF Alumni Association receive funding from?
A: The UCF Foundation, Inc. will provide the UCF Alumni Association with additional support for programming. (Sponsorships, affinity programs and advertising sales will continue to generate funding for the alumni association as well.)
Q: What happens to my membership?
A: The UCF Alumni Association will continue to honor current memberships through the renewal date, providing the same service and benefits you have come to know.
Q: What if I’m a Lifetime Member?
A: You will not lose your status and will still be referred to as Lifetime Members.
Q: Will a benefits program be available to UCF alumni?
A: Yes! Most of the benefits you have come to know will not change at all. Additionally, all alumni will receive Pegasus magazine, quarterly E-newsletters and biannual emails from Dr. Hitt.
Q: How will I access my benefits?
A: All alumni will receive a key card that can be used to access benefits. Check your August issue of Pegasus magazine for your new card. If there are multiple alumni in your family, additional key cards can be requested by calling or e-mailing the UCF Alumni Association. Replacements cards can also be downloaded from the transition website. |
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Q: How will the restructure affect the administration of my UCF Alumni Chapter/Club?
A1: In terms of activities, staff and volunteer actions will shift to be inclusive of ALL alumni. Events will be open to all alumni and alumni will be treated equally when it comes to registering and paying for activities.
A2: In terms of funding, the Chapter & Club Membership Incentive Program will discontinue on July 1, 2010. The UCF Alumni Association will still offer monetary allocations to existing chapters and clubs ($300 per chapter/$100 per club) to help with operations. Monetary allocations will be available for use beginning July 1, 2010. Additional funds can also be acquired by securing sponsorships and charging event registration fees.
Q: What other universities have taken this new approach to alumni relations?
A: Rutgers University and the University of Illinois have both switched from member-based organizations to all inclusive organizations. Rutgers University is over 100 years old and serves 350,000 alumni. The University of Illinois had an alumni base of 150,000 members and then made the switch in 2009. They now serve 600,000 alumni.
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- Best Practice Tips-
>>Leadership Succession<<
Besides structure, leadership is also essential to the viability of your chapter/club. Chapter/club leaders should have a plan for the continuation of leadership and constantly be on the lookout for members to fill leadership positions on the executive committee. Having the right people, in the right place, at the right time is important to ensure the continuity and longevity of the chapter/club. Some ideas for leadership succession include:
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Mentor your current executive committee members |
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Recruit a friend or colleague |
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Send out a “Call to Action”
mass Email |
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Collect business cards at events |
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Cultivate alumni who regularly attend your events and meetings |
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Work with your staff liaison to identify key alumni |
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Just ask! |
>>Event Calendars<<
Work with your executive committees in June and July to develop the coming year’s event calendar. By doing so, you can launch the complete calendar with the start of the fall semester and take advantage of the buzz that a new academic year and a new football season can create.
“It is essential to plan ahead to provide your alumni base with quality programs and networking opportunities. It is often necessary to make contacts and establish relationships months before the actual event. The planning process begins with discussing potential chapter events with your executive committee. After the committee agrees on having an event, it is important to get the ball rolling as soon as possible.”
~Karemah Campbell, ’02
Chair, Black Alumni Chapter
2009 Constituent
Chapter/Club Volunteer of the Year
>>Milestone Degree<<
UCF awarded its 200,000 degree to Andrea Long during the May graduation ceremonies. The additional 6,650 students who graduated boosted the total number of degrees earned to
more than 204,000 since classes began in 1968.
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