Alumni Advisory Boards

Going Beyond Begging

David K WatkinsEarth & Atmospheric Sciences

Alum J. Pierpont Morgan answering the Chair of Geosciences

(stolen from internet)

New Hubbard Funds encourage student careers in paleontology

Individual alumni acting in isolation can result in dissipated efforts that can be difficult to manage.

Needs of the Department1. Scholarships and Fellowships2. Enhancements to student learning3. Student research funds4. Post-docs5. Professorships and Chairs6. Capital equipment and renovation7. Space

The Alumni Advisory Board is a vital source of knowledge for the faculty and for the students.

Alumni Boards can be a source of POWER

Alumni Advisory Boards, if used judiciously and sparingly, can help you get the attention of higher administration and cut through the roadblocks.

Possible Dean or Dean-like person at the Alumni Banquet

Composition of the Alumni Advisory Board

Diversity:- in occupation, representing all of the major sectors of employers.- in age, including recent grads as well as veteran alumni.- in education, including B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. grads if you have them.- in person, as students want to see themselves in the alumni group.- be sure to include one or more academics. - you want successful people.

Numbers:- wide variance amongst institutions, so do what fits your situation.- assume that some will join the board but may not participate much.- you want a critical mass so that they can lead the effort.

Executive Secretary (or something)- a member of the faculty whose serves as liaison with the Board- needs to be someone who can and will do the work (rewarded).

Alumni Advisory Board Meetings

Professional Development Workshop for students by Alumni Advisory Board

(every other year)

“It was great to learn from someone in the field I want to go into after graduation. I got tons of information that will help me…from a person who has gone through what I will going through soon.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with the students discussing how things are in my industry. I saw the light bulb go on again and again as we talked about preparing for a career in …”

Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Alumni Advisory Board

Breakfast – 219 Bessey Hall (7:30-8:30)

Morning Sessions – David K. Watkins presiding1. Opening remarks and introductions2. State of the Department: Personnel, Teaching , Research, Outreach/Recruiting3. Budget and Foundation Funds: Student Research and Travel Fund; Hydrogeology Fellowship4. General Business Lunch - 219 Bessey Hall and vicinity

Afternoon Session – Daniel Nietfeld presiding5. UNL Alumni gathering at the AMS – January 2013, Austin6. UNL Alumni gathering at the AAPG – May 19-22, Pittsburgh7. Date for Fall 2013 meeting8. By-Laws/governance9. Membership report10. Distinguished Alumni nominations11. Foundation business: MET fund; Stout Lecture Series12. New Business – AAB

Stout Lecture Series – Jason Head on Titanoboa

Annual Alumni Banquet in Elephant Hall

Shmoozing with alums from the U.S. Weather Service

Associate Dean under attack from students, faculty, and alumni

Keep it short

Walker Southwest Field Trip

10-14 day tour of the Colorado Plateau for 1st & 2nd year undergrads

“get ‘em fired up, and then bring ‘em by the Ranch for a barbeque”

Schramm Field Trip to southern England– at Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset

Cyclostratigraphy and paleontology in the Kimmeridge Clay

Cyclostratigraphy exercise in the Plenus Marls, Isle of Wight

Prof. Paul Bown (UCL) expounds on the Lulworth Crumple

Summary

Alumni Advisory Boards can unite the disparate desires of alums into a focused force for growth

Once educated and oriented, Alumni Boards can pursue departmental goals in ways that the faculty cannot afford to undertake.

The interaction of the alumni and the students is a mutually beneficial relationship that by itself justifies our efforts to organize an Alumni Advisory Board.