Hey Everybody, What is the purpose of joing the institution's alumni association? What are your experiences of it? THanks..
I joined one (free) because I get really good deals on professional magazine subscriptions (and discounts on other items such as car insurance are available).
It may give you the chance to network with other alumni and that can create connections and maybe jobs opportunities.
My schools have special privileges for alumni association members, including borrowing privileges at libraries, use of campus facilities, and parking (although it's only "after-hours", and only in certain way-out-of-the-way lots), but I haven't bothered to join. UW only sends its alumni magazines to association members, but I get enough mail as it is, and I don't read either of the Duke or Fuqua alumni rags (since my wife is a Fuqua grad as well, we get two of everything...so much for going green). Duke's alumni association claims that if you join as a life member, they'll never solicit money from you again in any form. It's almost worth the $1500.
While still in the kick-off stages, the mission statement for the Aspen University Alumni Association is: "To build a strong network of people which extends the value of an Aspen University degree" We are looking at these areas: Discounts and benefits for alumni, for example Aspen Alumni receive a login to the Aspen website that keeps their access to ProQuest even after they finish their program of study (current benefit). We are looking at Alumni discount to new programs, like the new EdD We’ll be taking on community projects where we collectively find and sponsor a charity that Aspen donates to. And we’re also looking at taking on school projects, like an Alumni sponsored website upgrade. There are many other things in the works also. (For you alumni and current students, this is all going to be communicated and voted on for priority in the officers election ballot that is coming out this weekend or early next week.) DEL
