Does the University work for the Alumni?

[Senusret I]

My university embarked on a similar initiative and I was interviewed last fall. (I guess our development directors went to the same conference, lol)

I will have to reflect on everything else you said. Your thoughts are appreciated.

[ladylike]

How large are your university's alumni endowments?

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by ladylike

How large are your university's alumni endowments?

According to Pepperdine's annual report from last year, the university had a $712 million endowment at the end of 2007. I've heard it's over $800M now. Not bad for a small university established in 1937.

[Quala67]

Does a university work for the current students or the alumni? The answer is yes. Essentially, a university serves two 'masters,' the current student body, and the alumni base, which in most cases, outnumbers the student body. A university has to keep the alums happy, so that they'll give money back to the school. As you may well know, many grants are contingent upon the percentage of alumni and/or employees which donate back to the school, even if it's $1/year. Those grants in turn support programs for the student body.

Look at recent examples in my home state where the university president, who was popular with students, did something that pissed off the alumni. Now one has just installed a new president; the other is still functioning with an interim president. (the schools are the University of Richmond and the College of William & Mary)

It's a balancing act. Some schools do it better than others.

[RU OX Alum]

my university did little for me as an undergrad and they do even less now for the undergrads

they won't care about the alumni untill another couple of weeks or so when they realize that only 1% (from what i've heard, could be wrong) of what they thought were getting in terms of donations from alumni actually will go to them

(everyone hates the new president, and i've always not trusted Dean of Students/VP of whatever he is now)