Graduating from your US university goes beyond the university name at the top of your transcript or getting together for a tailgating event. Joining your alumni association and being active with fellow graduates is about connection — a connection that lasts long after you toss your graduation cap in the air and move out of the dorms.
Once you graduate from university, you and your classmates will move away, perhaps even across the globe. You will get jobs, maybe even get married and have kids. Your life will change and move forward, but your college days will always have the feel of a home base. Being active in your alumni association and maintaining that connection to campus means that you speak a common language and always will be part of your university family.
What Is an Alumni Association?
The term “alumni association” refers to a group or organization that connects and represents the former students who have graduated from a particular institution, typically a university or college. When you join your college’s alumni association, you are officially recognized as an alum and you may get access to certain perks.
You will see several related terms on the internet, so let’s first look at some definitions:
Alumnus: a male graduate (plural is alumni)
Alumna: a female graduate (plural is alumnae)
Alumni: the gender-inclusive plural form
You may also hear the common shorthand version — “alum.”
Now that we have answered the question “what is an alumni association” and looked at the alumni association meaning, let us go over the benefits of an alumni association and the reasons to join.
What Are the Advantages of Being Active in Your Alumni Network?
Once you graduate from a university, you are always a part of its alumni network. If you want to support scholarship programs, attend alumni-only events, or get access to special discounts, you may need to officially join your alumni association, which usually involves a simple application and annual fee. Contributions go toward hiring staff, hosting events, and offering scholarships.
There are three main reasons you will want to be active in your alumni network:
1. Professional Networking and Career Opportunities
From CEOs to entry-level coordinators, everyone who graduated from college is an alum. Looking for a job or mentor? Want to find a good financial advisor? It might be a fellow alum. With the mention of a funny campus anecdote or a popular professor, a near stranger may become your introduction to a hiring manager or other important professional connection.
A few examples of how you can connect with your fellow graduates:
Alumni association message board
LinkedIn and, more specifically, the Alumni Tool, which allows you to filter and search by university and see where LinkedIn members work, what industries they are connected to, etc.
Reddit groups, like /olemiss
Facebook groups, like the KU alumni page
Events and social mixers organized on sites like Eventbrite and MeetUp
Homecoming, graduation, and other on-campus events
Most universities offer career services to alumni, too. Some examples are:
Resume and interview prep courses
Mentoring programs
Venture capital and start-up workshops and grants
Workplace alumni days
Job posting boards with exclusive listings
Shadow opportunities and informational interviews
Continuing education courses on Lynda or edX
2. Community and Events
Keeping in touch with your fellow alumni includes connections beyond the workplace, too. If you stay connected online, you will be invited to alumni-only happy hours in your city, networking lunches, volunteering events, and fundraisers for local charities. You may meet your next business colleague, romantic partner, or lifelong friend at an alumni event.
3. Exclusive Discounts and Perks
Joining your alumni association can also mean saving a few dollars or getting access to exclusive perks. Alumni groups encourage association sign-ups by offering a range of member-only offerings, products, and services like:
Financial and investment services
Lifelong learning courses
Fee-free bank accounts
Low-rate credit cards
Travel and entertainment discounts
Life insurance
Free .edu email
Shopping sites
Here are some notable perks and exclusive events for alumni at Shorelight universities:
Sustaining alumni members at Auburn University can book vacations with the War Eagle Travelers Club and get priority game day parking
UIC graduates get access to health care, fitness, libraries, and other campus facilities and resources well after graduation
“Once a Zag, always a Zag” at Gonzaga, where alumni family members can apply for legacy scholarship opportunities ($2.9 million and counting!)
Hotel, car rental, and many other travel and shopping discounts are available via the American University alumni association
“Geaux Tigers!” is heard around the world at LSU’s global alumni networking events
Active Rebel alums at Ole Miss get discounts to Varsity Tutors, movie tickets, Dell laptops, and more
Getting Involved with Your Alumni Network
Becoming a part of an alumni network is more than just a formal membership, it is about staying connected to your university community while continuing to grow personally and professionally. After graduation, you will find that the alumni association offers countless ways to get involved, from career-focused opportunities to building lifelong friendships.
Some meaningful ways alumni students can get involved include:
Volunteering: Support scholarship programs, fundraising campaigns, or organized projects in your local community.
Attending events: Participate in networking receptions, alumni meetings, reunions, and regional gatherings to reconnect with classmates and meet new peers.
Mentorship: Share career experiences with current students or recent graduates, or seek guidance from alumni in your own industry.
Taking up leadership roles: Many universities invite alumni to serve on boards or committees where you can shape programming and strengthen alumni engagement.
Staying connected online: Stay active through alumni social media groups, join virtual events, and use platforms like LinkedIn to expand your professional network.
The greatest value of joining your alumni association is the sense of belonging. Whether you are advancing your career, giving back to your university, or building new connections, your alumni network is a community you can be a part of throughout your life.
Bonus: Notable Alumni at Shorelight Universities
Shorelight partners with top-ranking universities, which means accessing strong alumni networks full of Nobel Prize winners, famous celebrities, Fortune 500 CEOs, award-winning artists, and world leaders. Here are a few highlights of notable alumni:
Adelphi University
Chris Armas (soccer player)
Leona Marlin-Romeo (former Prime Minister, Saint Maarten)
Hamdi Ulukaya (CEO, Chobani)
American University
Muriel Bowser (mayor of Washington, DC)
Goldie Hawn (actor)
Judge Judy (TV personality)
Auburn University
Charles Barkley (NBA player)
Tim Cook (CEO, Apple)
Octavia Spencer (actor)
Cleveland State University
Koo Bon-moo (executive, LG Group)
Norris Cole (NBA player)
Gonzaga University
Bing Crosby (singer)
Rui Hachimura (NBA player)
Florida International University
Carlos Arroyo (NBA player, reggaeton singer)
Jonnu Smith (NFL player)
Francis Xavier Suarez (mayor of Miami)
Louisiana State University
Alex Bregman (MLB player)
Don Lemon (CNN news anchor)
Shaquille O’Neal (NBA player)
University of Dayton
Anthony Grant (basketball coach)
Ally Malott (WNBA player)
University of Illinois Chicago
Alaa Al Aswany (writer)
Jesus Garcia (US representative)
Qasim Rashid (author)
Azhar Usman (comedian)
UMass Boston
Joseph Abboud (fashion designer)
Bella Disu (businesswoman)
Olekina Ledama (politician, Kenya)
Donaldo Macedo (author, linguist)
Juana Matias (attorney, politician)
Biz Stone (cofounder, Twitter)
University of South Carolina
Mike Colter (actor)
Jasper Johns (artist)
A’ja Wilson (WNBA player)
University of the Pacific
Jose Hernandez (astronaut)
Matt de la Pena (author)
Dolores Huerta (labor leader)
Ally Iskandar (TV personality)
Sharon Ito (journalist)
Guei-Min Lee (politician)
Michael Olowokandi (NBA player)
University of Utah
Andrew Bogut (NBA player)
Lee Isaac Chung (director)
Cha Joo-young (actor)
J. Willard Marriott (hotel entrepreneur)
Wataru Misaka (NBA player)
Emre Uslu (journalist)
After you graduate, there will be many reasons to join your alumni network, such as giving back at an organized volunteering event or supporting a merit scholarship fund through association dues. And obviously, getting a response on LinkedIn for an informational interview because you are a fellow alum is a huge plus. But perhaps the most important reason is the sense of belonging, fellowship, and pride.
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