The University of Maryland Alumni Association celebrated its 10th anniversary in May of 1999. Since its founding in 1989, the association has had as its mission to support and promote the university in its pursuits of excellence in teaching, research and public service and to foster a spirit of loyalty, involvement and lifelong commitment to the university by its alumni.

Our Strengths
Areas for Improvement
Opportunities for Growth

A. Our Strengths

In pursuit of this mission, the association has developed a membership base of approximately 28,000 dues paying members. Its membership benefits have grown to include discounted auto, health and life insurance; credit card and financial services; telecommunications and other affinity programs. The newest initiative, the Terp Alumni Network, offers e-mail for life, a new way to relate with alumni and friends, and will propel alumni communications into a range of enhanced connectivity for present and future benefits to alumni, the association, and the wider university.

The staff has grown to 15 full time, four part time and six students for a total of 25. The growth of alumni activities in two colleges on campus has resulted in the dedication of two association staff to the management of those activities in the Robert H. Smith School of Business and the A. James Clark School of Engineering. Avenues for alumni participation have been enhanced by academic chapters for 10 additional schools and colleges; regional clubs in 10 major metropolitan areas around the nation, six local and six special interest clubs; alumni college continuing education experiences; and more. The association has complemented these activities with legislative advocacy, athletic and special events, and awards and recognition as a campus-wide celebration. To nurture our students and build relationships with them as future alumni, we have established mentoring, a professional development series for seniors, and scholarships.

The association continues its strong partnership with the Division of University Relations even though the association remains a separate 501(c)(3) organization. And we continue to be uniquely qualified as the vehicle by which many alumni establish and renew their relationship with the university. For being just over a decade young, the association has made tremendous strides.

B. Areas for Improvement

While the level of alumni involvement (28,000 members) is admirable for a young alumni association, it is inadequate for a university with an alumni base of over 258,000. Though our peer institutions have had decades of a running start in their quest for alumni allegiance, Maryland's current ambitions to be a top research university require that we build membership exponentially to keep up with its new directions and burgeoning success. We must find ways to communicate the intrinsic value of staying connected with the university through the alumni association, and instill an inherent desire to support us in addition to and regardless of tangible membership benefits. While increased membership may resolve some of the association's challenges, a renewed sense of commitment to the university regardless of membership benefits will need to be ignited in the hearts of students before they join the ranks of alumni.

The association's human resources fall behind our peers with similar aspirations, and present challenges given the ambitious vision for the university. Many of our peer institutions have at least double the number of full time staff. Additionally, many boast having staff with 10 or more years tenure, while the tenure at Maryland averages two to three years of continuous service. Given an already stretched staffing plan, tenure affects our ability to provide continuity and quality of programs and services, and affects our relationships with on-campus and off-campus alumni, friends, and partners.

Our history of traditional university programming — club, chapter, athletic, homecoming and reunion events — will need to shift to embrace newly defined university roles in the lives of their graduates, to include a more lifelong learning emphasis. Additionally, meeting the needs of sophisticated customers in an already over-saturated marketplace challenges us to provide unique, exclusive, and high quality programs in the many diverse metropolitan areas where the majority of our alumni reside. The majority of alumni activities are carried out through our club and chapter network. Low response rates to many traditional events demand a clearer definition of what drives alumni participation and what preferred alumni connections are within the wider university.

C. Opportunities for Growth

The next decade for the association presents an opportunity for reinvention that other universities might find more daunting given their long history. The university's new standing as a top research institution among all public universities provides an expectation of change, and predisposition for new ideas and directions while continuing to honor traditions. The rising stature of the university within the state and among all public universities, and the outstanding faculty that help evolve our reputation, provide important resources in the design of learning experiences that draw alumni back to campus. The increasing interest of many alumni and friends in the University's advancement offers a major opportunity for new partnerships with these important members of the university family that will sustain us for years to come.

Introduction
Association Mission
    Statement
Alumni Hall of Fame
Board of Governors
Board of Governors
    Nomination Form
Staff