Local Associations

Since Jan. 1, 2008, your 13 local associations have hosted 41 events, including happy hours, days of service, Road Scholars presentations, ball games, barbecues and other family events.

More local associations are in the process of forming in:

• Chicago
• Pacific Northwest
• San Diego

Check the alumni events calendar at www.sugrads.org to keep up with local association activities in your area.

Interested in building a local association in your area? Contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at alumni@southwestern.edu or 800-960-6363.

Alumni Connection Groups

Good news travels fast! There are now 13 alumni connection groups affiliated with The Association spanning several categories of affiliation—

• Greek
• Professional/vocational
• Fine arts
• Social
• Special interest

—and more are in the works. Consider these possibilities:

ARRRdent Readers: For avid alumni readers interested in connecting with others who love reading and sharing what they have read.

SU Finance Alumni: For alumni working in the world of finance, banking and financial planning.

SU Government Alumni: For alumni interested or engaged in government, government affairs, public policy or public service.

Alumni connection groups engage in a broad range of activities, from hosting receptions at Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, to mentoring current students, to professional networking. To participate in any of these up-and-coming groups, or to start an alumni connection group that matches your affinity—be it academic, athletic, artistic—anything that interests you—contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at 800-960-6363 or alumni@southwestern.edu. The possibilities are endless!

2008 Reunion News

The following classes are getting ready to rock their reunions at Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Nov. 7–9, 2008:

1948 (60^th) 1958 (50^th) 1963 (45^th) 1968 (40^th)
1973 (35^th) 1978 (30^th) 1983 (25^th) 1988 (20^th)
1993 (15^th) 1998 (10^th) 2003 (5^th)

Visit www.southwestern.edu/alumni/reunions for reunion details, and see the ads for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2008: “Southwestern’s Greatest Hits” in this issue of Southwestern magazine.

Alumni Council and Alumni Assembly

In April, the Alumni Council gathered for its second meeting of the year, where the discussion focused on the responsibilities of the relatively new Alumni Assembly. This body of 50 or more alumni who represent the alumni constituency includes delegates from local associations, class reunions and alumni connection groups. Who are the members of the Alumni Assembly? Visit www.sugrads.org to find out. The next meeting of the Alumni Assembly is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, during Volunteer Leadership Weekend. By expanding the activities of the Alumni Assembly, the Alumni Council seeks to provide alumni with even more opportunities to become involved in The Association and in the life of the University.

Hats Off to HEDS Respondents

Many thanks to the Classes of 1997 and 2002 for their participation in a national survey, prepared and tabulated by the Higher Education Data Sharing (HEDS) Consortium, that asks alumni about their college experience and how it has prepared them for their life and work. The University administers this survey every year to the five and ten year reunion classes. Southwestern will use the aggregated survey results in a variety of ways, including institutional improvement and prompting discussion on the quality of preparation that the University provides to students for graduate studies, professional pursuits, volunteer services and civic involvement.

72.2% of respondents indicated that they were “very satisfied” with their undergraduate education.

Look What’s Coming!

The Association Web site is getting a face-lift! The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations is working vigorously with a team of Web designers and programmers to produce a fresh new look and format for The Association Web site. The redesigned site will offer many new features, such as customized news feeds, streamlined event registration and the ability for alumni to create content within their own profiles, add personal photos and create hyperlinks to popular virtual communities like Facebook^© and LinkedIn^©. But don’t worry, the alumni directory, event calendar, and other standard features will still be there for you to use. Get ready for some great changes to enhance your Southwestern Web experience!