A Message from Chris Marshall
Greetings from Ithaca!
Since beginning my tenure as associate vice president for alumni affairs nearly a year ago, I have been immersing myself in the Cornell culture. I've met with more than 600 alumni around the country and exchanged e-mails and phone calls with hundreds more. With each interaction, I feel more and more like a Cornellian—so thank you to all who have tutored me on the University's rich history and traditions, and also to those who have so thoughtfully shared your ideas as we move ahead.
Last month—after gathering all that input from alumni, my staff, the division's leadership team, and the Board of Trustees—I put the finishing touches on a thirty-four-page "Strategic Plan for Alumni Affairs." It is a plan that I and my team believe in strongly—one that we are confident will guide Cornell into a prosperous future. For this plan to succeed, I need your help. It is my hope that you and your fellow Cornellians will embrace the strategies I have outlined and that you'll help us reach our lofty goals.
Below I have listed excerpts from the plan, and I encourage you to read the full executive summary. (Go to alumni.cornell.edu/caco/mwm2009.cfm and click on MWM Presentations.) As always, I welcome any comments, questions, or concerns; please contact me at any time at chris.marshall@cornell.edu.
Projects and action steps are already under way, and I eagerly anticipate all that we can accomplish together. In the months ahead, I will continue to keep you informed of our progress in print, in person, and online—and remember, you can always visit our website (alumni.cornell.edu) to learn about current happenings, events, and ways to get involved.
Regards, Chris
Creating the Platinum Standard
Counted among Cornell's greatest assets are its alumni, parents, and friends. Their involvement and leadership help to shape the University, make real its aspirations, and enrich community life and university culture. As Cornell seeks to meet its goals, alumni and other constituents represent a critically important resource. But their engagement and support, and their gifts of time, treasure, and talent, result not only from good will toward their alma mater but from widely shared perceptions that their affiliation with Cornell offers them value.
Cornell has a successful, well-established tradition of engaging alumni and friends; indeed, few other universities can match their loyalty and generosity. However, the University faces new challenges and opportunities. Cornell's alumni population, some 210,000, is larger and more diverse than ever before, and reaching them effectively requires new tools and approaches based on audience segmentation. Interested parents of current students represent a largely untapped resource. And, in recent years, new technology tools have offered unprecedented communications opportunities at the same time that they have raised expectations.
By developing and implementing new programs that are both targeted and strategic, and by enhancing ongoing programs of merit, Cornell's alumni affairs program can become even better. While this entails challenges in terms of resource allocation, management, and creative program development, these challenges also present opportunities for us to become truly great—the platinum standard by which all other alumni affairs programs will be measured.
This plan outlines the rationale and tactics for advancing our alumni affairs programming.
General Program Assessment
Cornell's alumni affairs program has achieved today's level of success because of its remarkable cadre of volunteers and dedicated staff. However, its success has been limited by several factors:
- We have underinvested in the alumni affairs staff and program budget.
- We have been somewhat insular for several years in growing our staff and creating new programs. It is time to look outside for new ideas while maintaining institutional knowledge.
- We have been reactive rather than proactive in providing new programs.
- We have not always been strategic in our approach to deploying resources.
- We have not done a good enough job in supporting and collaborating with our development operation and our college and unit alumni affairs programs.
Vision
To become the platinum standard in alumni affairs programming by 2014.
Mission
To connect Cornellians to Cornell and to each other.
Overarching Goals
- Establish alumni affairs as a vital partner to the division's development operation.
- Coordinate alumni affairs programming with colleges, units, graduate and professional schools, college and unit advisory boards, other university offices, the Cornell University Council (CUC), the Cornell Alumni Federation (CAF), and the Cornell Association of Class Officers (CACO) to increase effectiveness.
- Eliminate barriers to participation and strive to create a dues-free, payas-you-go program.
- Ensure that all Cornellians have opportunities to stay up to date and participate in the life of the University through strategic and regular communications via multiple print and electronic channels.
Overarching Objectives
- Broaden the scope of alumni, parent, and friend connections with Cornell by establishing more affinity-based linkages.
- Help alumni organizations become more effective by coordinating their activities with the University and other alumni groups.
- Identify, train, and promote volunteers capable of assuming leadership positions.
- Ensure that volunteer leaders and alumni are effectively recognized and rewarded for their achievements.
- Measure and monitor the success of alumni affairs programming using a common set of metrics that allows for peer comparisons.
'Passing It On'
Classes of '57 and '07 bridge generations
Sharing experiences. Forging a bond that leads to a lifetime relationship. These are meaningful values for every Cornellian, and they served as a catalyst for class president Dori Albert '57 and her fellow class officers in initiating a long-term partnership with the alumni leaders from the Class of 2007.
A chance conversation with a young alumnus on an airport shuttle inspired Dori to look at how she and the Class of 1957 could make a difference—a difference in strengthening bonds between fellow class leaders and in support of efforts to engage young alumni with their class and the University. Their Cornell experiences are separated by half a century—Dori and her classmates were on the Hill in the post-World War II era, while the Class of 2007 are twenty-first century graduates—but both have experienced their share of successes and difficulties in striving to strengthen these connections.
What happened next is testimony to the enduring power of Cornell traditions and the desire of many Cornellians to lend others a hand and "pass on" knowledge and experience. Dori and her fellow officers discussed the idea of fostering a relationship with the Class of 2007, fifty years their junior. Leaders of '57 readily agreed that mentoring their younger counterparts would benefit both classes. On February 7, 2009, at the annual Mid-Winter Meeting of the Cornell Association of Class Officers (CACO) in Philadelphia, the Class of 1957 surprised the Class of 2007 with a $10,000 check with the understanding that this initiative will be continued in the future.
Edvard Gumbs and Kara Tappen, co-presidents of the Class of 2007, accepted the gift with gratitude. Together they are putting the funds to work in helping their classmates continue to connect with Cornell. The class officers of 1957 hope that this new initiative will serve as an example and an inspiration for other older classes to follow suit.
New Directors Chosen for CAF Board
At its February 7, 2009, meeting, the Cornell Alumni Federation Board unanimously endorsed the nominations committee's slate of candidates for seven at-large and nine director-from-the-region positions to serve for two years beginning in May 2009.
Beginning new two-year terms as directors-at-large are: Krishna Collie '96, Richard Furbush Jr. '71, and Mary (Mollie) Pulver '80. Retiring directors-at-large whose terms ended in May are: Mary Maxon Grainger '79, MPS '87, Kenneth Gurrola, MBA '95, and Sheyna Horowitz '99. Beginning their second two-year terms are: Deborah Arrindell '79, Jonelle Bradshaw de Hernandez '96, Nicole DelToro '91, and Howard Sobel '66.
Beginning new two-year terms as directors-from-the-regions are: Susan Chang '84 (International) and Charles Wu '91 (Western). Beginning their second two-year terms are: Laura Fratt '81 (Metro New York), Margaret Tallman '92 (Mid-Atlantic), Rebecca Bagdy '97 (Midwest), Janet Fallon '76 (New York/Ontario), Jeffrey Lee '89, MEng '90 (Northeast), and Richard Boyan, MBA '91 (Southwest/Mountain). Retiring directors-from-the regions whose terms ended in May are: Mark Yuan '96 (International), Charles Hunt '68 (Southeast), and Cynthia Lang '91 (Western). In all, there are eighteen directors-from-the-regions, representing Cornell clubs and alumni associations from nine regions across the globe.
In addition, the Federation Board unanimously approved the following slate of 2009-11 officers presented by its nominations committee: Nancy Abrams Dreier '86 (president); Stephanie Keene Fox '89 (vice president); Kenneth Gurrola, MBA '95 (vice president); Ross Lanzafame '77, MPS '79 (vice president); Sally Anne Levine '70, JD '73 (vice president); and Annie Wong '77 (vice president). Associate Vice President for Alumni Affairs Christopher Marshall continues as secretary/treasurer. The retiring executive committee member whose term ends in May is Rolf Frantz '66, ME '67 (outgoing president).
Vanneman Award Nominations Sought
The Cornell Association of Class Officers (CACO) is seeking nominations for one of its most prestigious honors, the William "Bill" Vanneman '31 Outstanding Class Leader Award for 2010. The award recognizes class officers who have provided long-term exemplary service to the University and to their individual classes. CACO created the award in 2005 to honor Bill, who has served his class tirelessly for more than seventy-five years and continues to actively volunteer today. The honor is presented annually at CACO's Mid-Winter Meeting, in February.
One of Cornell's strengths is the commitment of its alumni, many of whom continue to serve the University for decades after graduation. They include class officers—more than 1,700 men and women who organize reunions, create scholarship funds, plan regional activities, and otherwise keep classmates connected with each other and with Cornell. All Cornellians are invited to nominate officers who have worked actively for a sustained period on behalf of their graduating classes. Current and past officers are eligible for the Vanneman Award after they have celebrated their 40th Reunion. Recipients are selected solely on the basis of their contributions as class leaders.
For additional information and a nomination form, please visit www. alumni.cornell.edu/caco/. Forms can be returned at any time, but only those received by November 4, 2009, will be considered for the 2010 award. Nominations will be considered in the applicant pool for three consecutive years. Take this opportunity to recognize one of the many unsung heroes whose hard work is a tribute to Cornell and an inspiration to fellow alumni.
Cornell Black Alumni Association Reunion Set
Come join your fellow CBAA members and alumni as we return to Ithaca on June 4-7 to celebrate and reflect on our Cornell legacy. Reunion 2009 marks milestones for class years ending in 4 and 9. Co-chairs Deborah Arrindell '79 and Donell Hicks '97 and dedicated committee members promise a weekend full of opportunities to re-connect with classmates through participation in informative seminars and workshops, a CBAA General Body meeting (and officer election), and outrageous fun. Don't miss CBAA Idol Night, where we will determine America's next singing/dancing sensation (or not . . .).
So mark your calendars now and plan to join us in Ithaca. Stay tuned for updates regarding registration fees, housing, meals, and other details. This is one reunion you will not want to miss. Please spread the word to fellow alumni to maximize turnout and revelry.