Building the Association
President of the university’s Alumni Association, Vern Kimball highlights the Alumni Strategy and opportunities for alumni to connect.
Historically, the Alumni Association Board fulfilled its obligations under the Post-Secondary Learning Act to nominate alumni to serve on the Board of Governors and the Senate, and to support the Chancellor’s selection. In addition, it selected alumni to serve on various other university bodies and committees, initiated and provided alumni programs and services and even volunteered on the front line at various events and activities.
In 2012, we conducted a comprehensive survey of alumni and reviewed the full alumni program. From this, we drafted the Alumni Strategy. The strategy is focused on fostering alumni pride in the university, building engagement with alumni and ensuring alumni access to the intellectual riches of the institution. The university has supported the Alumni Strategy with an expansion of the Alumni department led by Associate Vice-President Mark Sollis.
The Alumni Association Board of Directors has just completed a governance review. In partnership with the university, it will focus on the following:
Achieving the goals of the Alumni Strategy;
Expanding alumni involvement in the various positions set out in legislation and university policies;
Increasing alumni recognition within the university and broader community;
Fostering collaboration and coordination of research and community connections between alumni and the university, including partnerships with the respective faculty alumni communities; and
Advising the university on matters related to alumni.
I look forward to updating you next time on the success of implementing the Alumni Strategy.
Thanks for your support of the university. Happy holidays to everyone across the alumni community — may they be enjoyable and safe wherever your travels take you.
— Vern Kimball, CEO of the Calgary Stampede and president of the university’s Alumni Association