Message from the Alumni Association President
As president of the Alumni Association, it is my immense privilege and great pleasure to present the University at Albany Alumni Association Annual Report 2011-2012. This annual report provides a splendid opportunity to pay tribute to the tireless, wonderfully dedicated board of directors; our wise, patient executive director; our experienced, long-serving staff; and our more than 2,000 dynamic, loyal volunteers for their enormous contributions to making this proud association what it is today. Their indomitable spirit, creativity, resolve, and good humor are visible and much inevidence throughout this report.
The board of directors are leaders in the UAlbany Alumni Association network of alumni and friends. The role of the board is to establish and enhance a continuing relationship between UAlbany and its alumni. The association is a strong community of over 155,000 members, spread across all 50 states and more than 100 countries worldwide. The board is at the forefront of advancing the association’s mission to provide all UAlbany alumni, regardless of their college, school or subject affiliations, with an alumni experience commensurate with their world-class education and to offer a varied program of benefits, events and communications to help keep alumni in touch and involved with the university. Additionally, the board’s common goals are to help enrich the educational experience for all UAlbany students and to develop a community that endorses and supports the university’s critical priorities. We are abidingly grateful to the board for its vision, wisdom, inspiration, dedication, and philanthropy.
First, from among the many initiatives of the past year, I wish to begin by singling out our strategic planning process. The byword for all we do now and will continue to do in the future is “excellence.” In response to the Alumni Association’s commitment to excellence and to our achievement of excellence, the association undertook a strategic planning process in 2010 that produced a measurable, specific, and high-profile plan entitled Vision 2014. The strategic plan will result in increased resource allocations to support all UAlbany students and alumni with their careers, support the university’s admissions mission to attract the brightest and best students, and greatly enhance volunteer outreach opportunities for all alumni. In other words, the association’s Vision 2014 will advance university priorities, support numerous college and school initiatives and contribute by fostering quality and excellence, the bedrock on which the continuing success of the university lies.
While clearly dedicating resources toward longer-term planning, the association has kept a sharp focus on current initiatives and the challenges we must meet in order to remain a visible, dynamic, and successful Alumni Association, relevant and responsive to our alumni and students. During the past 12 months, the Alumni Association has developed articulated and integrated front-line communication strategies to foster beneficial relationships with alumni and to make it easy for alumni to network with each other and remain linked to the university. Our ongoing commitment to providing social interaction opportunities, both online and in person, is crucial to reinforce our alumni’s sense of belonging to the association and to the university. Adopting the phrase, “Can You Give 15 Minutes to a UAlbany Student?,” we launched one of our most important initiatives this year: the UAlbany Career Advisory Network (UCAN).Research results from our alumni, students and national data clearly indicate that career support is paramount in addressing the needs of our alumni and students. At the conclusion of our spring launch of UCAN, the association will have recruited and made available 1,200 alumni advisors early this fall. The advisors will connect online with students and alumni to share their insights and professional experiences, provide guidance on career paths, and offer inspiration and encouragement.
Our commitment to enhancing the student experience sparked numerous initiatives, most notably $10,000 in scholarship funds awarded to UAlbany students through the Alumni Association scholarship program. In addition we increased participation in the DANEger Zone, introducing over 3,000 new students to the university’s only student fan club.
This is a concluding thought worth bearing in mind as you read this annual report: we are a thriving Alumni Association; we proudly value our past; we make the most of our present; and we are working together to build the association’s future. We are full of new, ambitious plans and ideas for the future. We invite you to join us, stayconnected, and make UAlbany stronger.
During my second year as president of the Alumni Association, I hope to hear from you. If you have any memories to share, or opinions to express, or questions to raise, please do get in touch with me by contacting the Alumni Office.
With warmest regards and best wishes,
Canon Kay C. Hotaling ’67, ’70
President, UAlbany Alumni Association
Welcome to the Alumni Association!
Dear UAlbany Student,
As president of the Alumni Association, it's my great pleasure to welcome you into the University at Albany Alumni Association, which is the UAlbany community of students, alumni, faculty and friends. We hope to get to know you over the next few years as you take advantage of the programs and services offered by the Association.
The University at Albany is an internationally recognized public research institution that brings The WorldWithin Reach, with a rich history and a strong alumni constituency. Founded over 150 years ago, the University at Albany - your University - was the first public institution of higher education in New York. Today, student achievement, faculty excellence and the breakthroughs of University researchers make your University one of the strongest public universities in the nation. Strategically located in the capital region, you will benefit from the University's proximity to the heart of New York State government and the excitement and growth that is taking place throughout Tech Valley. The variedperspectives and life experiences of a student body and faculty which represent more than 100 nations provide a diversity that enriches learning at UAlbany.
A great university experience doesn't just happen. You make it happen by taking advantage of the many opportunities available to you both on and off campus. This includes taking advantage of the programs, activities and events made possible by the Alumni Association. The Association has been working over the last several years to greatly expand our outreach to students in order to significantly enhance your campus experience.
When you arrive at UAlbany this fall, I want to make sure you are aware of the numerous Alumni Association programs and services available to you. I also want you to know that all students are considered members of the Alumni Association, the benefits of which will follow you long after you've graduated. Since 1849, the University at Albany Alumni Association and its predecessors have been keeping alumni connected - to each other and to their alma mater. The UAlbany community extends well beyond the campus, with alumni in every state and more than 115 countries, many of whom continue to be engaged in the life of the University and to contribute to its successes.
The UAlbany Alumni Association is committed to creating connections between students and alumni. Our goal is to offer services and programs that prepare you for success when you graduate. These include our network of alumni volunteers around the globe, which you can access as a student and after you graduate. You also can apply for one of the Alumni Association scholarships or perhaps sign up for Dinner with A Dozen Danes. The Dinner program connects current students with alumni and adds a personal touch to the UAlbany student experience. Alumni host students for small dinner parties (lunch or breakfast works, too), bringing Great Danes together in a warm, friendly environment for good food, advice and camaraderie.
You also can apply to become a Purple & Gold Student Ambassador, a group that represents UAlbany at high-profile functions. Purple & Gold members serve as ambassadors for UAlbany and represent the University to its constituencies: alumni, University guests, the campus and the community.
The Association's events are built around a variety of University academic, cultural and athletic activities. By attending them, you will be able to meet alumni, build your professional network and grow your school spirit. Your presence at a visiting alum's lecture, poetry reading or career workshop will help augment your University experience. You also shouldn't miss some of the major special events, including Homecoming in the fall, the Big Purple Growl in the winter and Spring Stomp in the spring. Our career workshops on resume writing, interviewing and networking, as well as our job fairs, have proven particularly useful as they prepare participants for their careers.
Your membership in the Association also provides you with discounts, benefits and services. The Association offers graduate school LSAT, GRE and GMAT test prep classes to students for less than half the price of other national test prep courses. You also can receive discounts of up to 40 percent from national car rental companies, more than a dozen national and international hotel chains, movie theatres, theme parks, hotels, ski resorts, Broadway theatre, sporting events, family events, online shopping and more!
Whether it's through our LinkedIn page, Facebook group, or our own internal AlumNet database, I encourage you to use our online social and professional networks to connect with your fellow Alumni Association members. UAlbany alumni can provide valuable connections and information on job search strategies, specific companies, industry trends and professional organizations. You also will gain access to the alumni volunteer mentoring program. These are just a few examples of what is available to you. But suffice it to say, make a connection - you never know when it will pay off!
This global network of more than 145,000 alumni is made available in large part through the Student-Alumni Partnership fund which is paid each semester as part of your semester tuition and fees. Students who do not wish to support the partnership may opt out. However, this collaboration fosters a mutually beneficial relationship between the students, University and its alumni and perpetuates a sense of pride in and commitment to the outstanding qualities of the University. We look forward to our continued partnership which begins your first day on campus through graduation and beyond. Together, we will promote a positive image of the University, its students and alumni through communication, service and leadership.
On behalf the University at Albany Alumni Association, it is a pleasure and a privilege to welcome you into the University at Albany alumni community. We look forward to seeing you on campus and offer you nothing but best wishes in the semester ahead.
With warm regards and yours in UAlbany,
Canon Kay C. Hotaling '67, '70
President
P.S. When you have a chance, stop by Alumni House for a cup of coffee and to find out how you can Make UAlbany Stronger!
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