STUDENT RELATED INFORMATION

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The Georgia Tech Alumni Association was chartered in June 1908 and incorporated in 1947 as a not-for-profit organization with policies, goals, and objectives guided by a board of trustees.

The mission of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association is to promote and serve our alumni and the Institute. We will continually create relevant and meaningful programs for current and future alumni to foster lifelong participation and philanthropic support. We will communicate the achievements of the Institute, maintain its traditions and engage the campus community. Underlying all that we do is the belief in the value of education, the commitment to integrity and exceptional customer service, and a pledge that we will perform in a fiscally responsible manner.

The association’s business can be categorized into four major disciplines: the acquisition and management of information about Tech’s alumni and friends, communication to these constituents, engagement of these supporters and fund raising. It is currently organized into five departments: Administration, Communications, Marketing Services, Constituent Services and Fund Raising/Business Development.

Administration is responsible for accounting, purchasing, finance and budgeting, data entry and maintenance of biographical records for the Institute’s extensive database, computing and information services and management of the organization’s facilities and other assets. Accounting maintains business records, manages investments and cash flows, and produces all financial reports. Technical Services is responsible for computing and information services, including hardware, software, networking and telephony in addition to mass e-mail messaging services. The Biographical Data Processing department continually updates more than 159,000 constituent biographical records and provides data for other departments for solicitation and program support. The gift entry department records all donations to the annual fund which represents approximately 30,000 gifts per year. Administration is also responsible for the management of the Association's facility at 190 North Avenue and its other hard assets.

The Communications Department produces alumni publications and directs the Living History program which records the personal memories of select members of the Georgia Tech family. Communications publishes two major printed periodicals that serve as primary news links between Georgia Tech and its alumni. TECH TOPICS is a quarterly tabloid mailed to more than 120,000 alumni and friends. The GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI MAGAZINE focuses on technology, the management of technology and alumni news stories. Its mailing list of more than 35,000 includes Roll Call donors. Communications also publishes the primary electronic publication of the association known as BUZZWORDS. This is produced and distributed monthly to more than 65,000 subscribers. The Living History group has produced more than 700 video interviews with alumni, key Georgia Tech faculty, staff and friends and is focused on gathering relevant oral histories of Tech’s alumni and supporters.

Marketing Services serves a variety of roles in the association. Through its research arm, it provides data to shape the association’s strategies and planning. Its web department drives the association’s electronic services and offerings and maintains the association’s web presence by fostering electronic networking among alumni via real-time online alumni directory, “listservs” and free hosting services and technical consultation with customized website templates for clubs network. The website recorded 2,082,166 user sessions. The Event Management team plans and stages the association’s major events. The team engaged 20,735 alumni during 104 events in 2008, including the George C. Griffin Pi Mile Road Race and Homecoming. This year Homecoming included all of the favorite traditions, along with its stellar event, Buzz Bash - the all-alumni reunion party - which drew 833 alumni family and friends. The department partners with other association departments to stage events such as Family Weekend, Phoenix Dinner, Alumni Career Conference, association board meetings andLeadership Georgia Tech. The team also planned and executed the annual President’s Dinner, a stewardship celebration for the Roll Call’s Leadership Circle donors, held this year at Epps Aviation, as well as Rappel for Roll Call described in detail below.

Constituent Services - also known as Outreach - focuses on alumni, the campus community, volunteer recruiting and engagement at the association. Its responsibilities include Alumni Career Services, Alumni Groups & Clubs, Alumni Travel, Student Recruiting and Scholarships, Student Programs, Campus Relations and Parent Programs. The Career Services group provides job postings and resume database through JacketNet Jobs, career advisement, skill-building workshops and the annual Alumni Career Fair. More than 100 Georgia Tech clubs and affinity groups located throughout the United States and abroad provide opportunities for alumni to network professionally, socialize, recruit students, raise funds and perform community service. This effort engaged more than 35,000 of Tech’s alumni and friends and raised $195,000+ in scholarship money in 2008. The Travel Department led over 30 educational group tours to exciting destinations around the world for approximately 550 of its alumni and friends. The association manages two student programs in the service of Georgia Tech - Student Ambassadors and the GT Student Foundation. After more than 20 years managing the Parents Program, the association is transitioning the operation to the Division of Student Affairs. The Parents Program facilitates and promotes interaction among students, alumni, parents and friends of Georgia Tech in ways which enhance Tech experiences for these groups. The program raised $152,000 for student life on campus in 2008. A biweekly e-mail newsletter was published for parents that provided information about campus happenings. This e-mail reached more than 11,500 parents.

The Fund raising/Business Development department is responsible for raising monies through the association’s annual Roll Call and for building external revenue streams to support the association’s ability to run its operations. The Business Development department handles advertising and sponsorships, merchandise and affinity relationships with the Association’s vendors. The Roll Call is the single largest source of predictable, unrestricted funds at Georgia Tech, representing the broadest base of support for the Institute. More than 31,000 donors contributed more than $8.5 million to the 61st annual Roll Call. Research-driven direct marketing and telemarketing and personal contacts are used to manage a program that leads all public institutions in the percentage of alumni annual giving. Unrestricted funds provide for student scholarships and financial aid, assist the Institute in recruiting and retaining top faculty and support new academic programs. The spotlight turned to Young Alumni this year to garner support for Roll Call with “Rappel for Roll Call,” whereby those Young Alumni who raised $1,000 rappelled from The Viewpoint, a high rise condominium in midtown Atlanta. More than $32,000 was raised through this effort.

Offices of the Alumni Association are located in the L. W. “Chip” Robert, Jr. Alumni House at 190 North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30313. Inquiries may be directed to 404-894-2391 or 1-800-GT ALUMS or Fax 404-894-5113. E-mail: web@gtalumni.org

Source: Office of the President, Alumni Association