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• Alumni SitesVanderbilt
  

The Alumni Association

Creating lifelong, meaningful connections.

Alumni Association Board of Directors Membership Information

Mission and Strategic Priorities of the Alumni Association Board:

Alumni Association Mission: Fosters understanding, engagement and support of Vanderbilt and its mission of education and service to create lifelong connections among alumni, as well as students, parents, faculty, staff and friends.

Purposes of the Board: As duly elected representatives of the Alumni Association, Alumni Association Board members are charged to promote the best interests of Vanderbilt and the Association and to perform assignments entrusted to them by the Association. The purposes of the Alumni Association Board of Directors are:

• to strive for the welfare of Vanderbilt University
• to promote a mutually beneficial relationship between the Vanderbilt and its alumni and friends
• to further Vanderbilt’s educational mission

 

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Nomination process:

The Alumni Association Board of Directors candidates are nominated based on demonstrated involvement, support and commitment to the mission of the Alumni Association and Vanderbilt.  If selected, members are expected to fulfill the responsibilities of their membership.

The Alumni Association Board of Directors' selection process calls for nominations from the general alumni population every other year. The current Alumni Association President appoints a nominating committee to select a slate of nominations to be considered by the full board.

The Alumni Association Board of Directors includes a minimum of 18 representatives from six geographic regions, 10 representatives of the largest Vanderbilt Chapters, and liaisons of different Vanderbilt schools. Half of the board is selected in even-numbered years so that rotation of board members, who serve four-year terms, is staggered.

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Expectations and Responsibilities of Alumni Association Board of Directors Members:

The Alumni Association Board of Directors establishes the overall strategic direction of the Alumni Association and provides counsel to the Alumni Relations staff, supporting the development of programs and services for alumni, parents and friends.

Serving on the board is a rewarding experience, as well as an important commitment. Members must enthusiastically support its activities and participate in Vanderbilt life. 

All Alumni Association Board of Directors members have the following expectations as part of their service:

• Be alumni of Vanderbilt
• Serve a four-year term (not including ex-officio members). Upon completion of a four-year term, members may not be nominated to succeed themselves.
• Attend two Board of Directors meetings per year, which are typically one to two weekdays long and are held in early April and over Homecoming/Reunion weekend. 
• Accept additional work, typically assigned at board meetings with set deadlines. (These tasks may include researching best practices of other alumni associations, surveying VU populations, brainstorming ideas for events, etc.) 
• Be responsible for transportation costs to and from meetings, as well as for lodging and other expenses while in Nashville.
• Provide an updated e-mail address, as the majority of communications are via e-mail.
• Identify, recruit and involve other alumni, parents and friends as VU volunteers. This includes assisting with nominating alumni for the Board of Directors, and identifying volunteers for local Chapter leadership.
• Represent the Alumni Association at Vanderbilt University and local Chapter events, and support the local Chapter Steering Committee whenever possible.
• Serve as an advocate for the Alumni Association and Vanderbilt University by promoting services offered by the Alumni Association and encouraging attendance at Reunion/Homecoming, on-campus events and local Chapter events.
• Accept leadership roles within the Alumni Association and work closely with the Alumni Relations staff.
• Attend the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus/a Award event and presentation, and other Alumni Association events whenever possible.
• Encourage annual contributions to Vanderbilt and other fund-raising activities for the benefit of the Alumni Association and Vanderbilt University.

 

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Specific Alumni Association Board of Directors Positions Responsibilities:

In addition to the expectations outlined above, the following board positions have additional responsibilities:

President

The president is elected to a two-year term, and has the following responsibilities:

• Provide leadership to, and direct the activities of, the Board of Directors and Alumni Association.
• Assist Alumni Relations staff in the planning, evaluating and strategy of alumni programs.
• Preside over two full Board meetings and two Executive Committee meetings each year, establishing the meeting agendas.
• Communicate to the Board of Directors between scheduled meetings to keep the Board informed on issues or general information that helps the Board members in their role.
• Attend Reunion/Homecoming and play an active role in the weekend; participate in the Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus/a event and presentation; represent the Association at other VU events whenever possible.
• Appoint a successor to fill any Board of Directors member vacancy caused by death, resignation, or inability to serve.
• Appoint Board of Directors members to serve on committees to consider specific topics; designate each committee chairman and appoint other Alumni Association members to serve; provide guidance to committee chairs.
• In even-numbered years, work with the Executive Committee to appoint a committee of five alumni to nominate a President Elect/Vice President, who will be voted on and elected at the spring Board of Directors meeting of even-numbered years.
• Be nominated by the Alumni Association to the Board of Trust in the even-numbered year; if approved, be elected to a four-year term beginning at the first Board of Trust meeting following the completion of Board of Directors President term.
• Serve as Board of Directors Past President and on the Executive Committee for one year after completing term as President.
• Work with the Executive Director of Alumni Relations and the Vice President/President Elect on Board of Directors business; perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board or the Executive Committee.

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Vice President/President Elect

This position has the following responsibilities:

• The elected President Elect/Vice President shall serve a two-year term as Vice President, and a consecutive two-year term as President.
• Serve actively on the Executive Committee.
• Serve as Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus/a Award Nominating Committee Chair and convene the Nominating Committee meeting to review all nominations.
• Assist the President in providing leadership to the Board of Directors and to the Alumni Association and in directing the activities of the Alumni Association.
• Assist the Alumni Relations staff in the planning, evaluating and strategy of alumni programs.
• Attend Reunion/Homecoming weekend; attend the Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus/a event and presentation.
• Work with the Executive Director of Alumni Relations and the President on Board of Directors business; perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.

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Executive Committee Member

The Executive Committee is the executive body of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and its duties are:

• To consider matters of concern to the Alumni Association
• To initiate policies subject to the approval of the Board of Directors
• To implement policies already determined by the Board of Directors
• To act for the Board between meetings of the Board of Directors

The President serves as chairman of the Executive Committee, which includes the President Elect/Vice President, the most recent Past President (who serves for one year following his/her term as President), and four Alumni Association Board of Directors members appointed by the President annually.

The Board of Directors President convenes the Executive Committee as necessary, at least once in the fall and once in the spring.

The Executive Committee elects a successor for the unexpired term of the President or the President Elect/Vice President in the event of death, resignation, or inability to serve.

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Regional Representative: 

Regional Representatives represent their individual constituencies by providing perspectives on alumni relations topics during meetings. These representatives are expected to:

• Work with Alumni Association Board of Directors Chapter Liaisons as they establish a relationship with the regional Chapter Steering Committee in their local area. Assist with its duties, including identifying and recruiting local volunteers, as well as planning and implementing events.
• Assist with identifying and recruiting volunteers for the Alumni Association, including the Board of Directors and local Chapter leadership.
• Serve as a local Vanderbilt University ambassador to the community.
• Report back to the Chapter on the activities of the Board of Directors.
• Report to the Board of Directors on any relevant activities and information regarding the local Vanderbilt University community.
• Attend local Vanderbilt University events and be identified as a Board of Directors representative.
• Assist with the promotion of Chapter and local events, Reunion/Homecoming and other on- and off-campus events in the local Vanderbilt University community.

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Chapter Liaison:

The 10 Chapters with the largest populations – as determined by the Alumni Relations Office – have a representative on the Alumni Association Board. This Alumni Association Board of Directors representative also holds a position on the local Chapter Steering Committee and is expected to:

• Establish a relationship with any Board of Directors Regional Representatives, if applicable, to better understand and represent the alumni from the area.
• Using the Board of Directors as a model organization, assist the local Chapter Steering Committee with its duties, including identifying and recruiting local volunteers, and planning and implementing local events.
• Serve as a member of the local Chapter Steering Committee for the duration of your term.
• Understand that the Chapter serves local alumni, and that the Board of Directors frames policies to support and provide resources to the local Chapters.
• Serve as a local Vanderbilt University ambassador to the local community.
• Report back to the Chapter on the activities of the Board of Directors.
• Report to the Board of Directors on any relevant activities and information regarding the local Chapter.
• Attend local Chapter events and be identified as a Board of Directors representative.
• Assist with the promotion of Chapter events, Reunion/Homecoming and other on- and off-campus events to others in the local Vanderbilt University community.

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Ex-Officio & School Representative:

There are members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors who are designated as representatives of their Vanderbilt University school or college.  Additionally, the Alumni Association Board of Directors bylaws indicate that an alumni organization of a Vanderbilt University school or college is recognized as an affiliated organization of the Alumni Association. Therefore, the Presidents of these school or college organizations serve as ex-officio members. These two types of representatives are expected to:

• Serve the terms as set by their affiliated organization (ex-officios only)
• Report back to their school or college board or organization on the activities of the Board of Directors
• Report to the Board of Directors on any relevant activities and information regarding their school or college
• Attend Chapter events in their local area and be identified as a Board of Directors representative
• Promote Reunion/Homecoming and other on-campus events to their school/college alumni, as well as its board or organization and its members

 

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Alumni Relations Office

The Alumni Relations Office manages the daily operations and programs of the Alumni Association. It provides staff and financial support to the Board of Directors, its committees, and to other Association volunteers.  Alumni Relations staff members serve assigned Board of Directors committees as needed.

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Alumni Association Bylaws

To see the bylaws for the Alumni Association, please click here.

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