Washington and Lee University
My first few months as president of the Alumni Association have been wonderful. Many of you have asked me what we do. Let me try to answer with this FAQ.
What do the Alumni Board and the Alumni Affairs Office do?
Alumni Board members are the elected representatives of our 24,000-plus alumni. Each serves a four-year term. We act as a bridge between alumni and the University. We do not make policy; rather, we are the eyes and ears of alumni. Our campus meetings allow us to be informed on University affairs, and we would be glad to hear from you. Other duties include selecting the recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Awards and submitting to the Board of Trustees every other year a slate of alumni candidates.
The talented Alumni Affairs Office, headed by Beau Dudley ’74, 79L, is the campus administrative arm of the board and the association. They plan and stage three main campus reunions: Five-Star Festival, Young Alumni Weekend / Homecoming and Alumni Weekend. The office also supports our 88 alumni chapters. No school our size has anything like this large network.
The board and the office are partners under a detailed written strategic plan. Strengthening the chapters where 80 percent of our alumni live is our top priority. Each board member is the liaison for four chapters. We support our chapter leaders and bring the University to your area by sponsoring faculty visits and a wide variety of gatherings. Did you know that President Ruscio Skyped with a group of alumni in Tokyo this summer?
What about legacy admissions?
Please help us dispel the myth that W&L’s competitive admissions profile precludes alumni children from coming to Lexington. We continue to be fortunate to attract a strong and big group of legacy applicants. Their overall acceptance rate is much higher than that of the regular applicant pool. Over 70 legacies earned a place here and were offered admission; 48 of them enrolled in the class of 2015. Bravo to these fine young people; they are a great thread in the fabric of our student body.
How can I get involved?
There are many ways to connect. The campus reunions are fantastic, and I urge you to attend. For information on your local chapter, go to alumni.wlu.edu/ chapters, or contact Alumni Affairs at (540) 458-8472. Attend a function and expand your W&L network. You can serve on the local board, get involved in the alumni admissions program or help with events. The Alumni Board is proud of our chapters and the service they provide to our alumni.
I hope this has answered a few of your questions. I hope you’ll engage more often with W&L. The Alumni Association exists to serve our members. I am excited about this year and the future for our great school. If you have a question or an idea for us, please contact me or anyone in the Alumni Affairs office. Go Generals!
