Clark University - Clarknews winter 2006
Alumni news and notes (winter 2006)
Dear Clark Alumni,
Happy New Year everyone. I hope this letter finds you well after the holidays.
With the beginning of a new year, I wanted to talk with you about three of the Alumni Association’s highest priorities, as stated in our strategic plan: admissions, alumni engagement and resources. The Alumni and Parent Admissions Program (APAP) is in the midst of its alumni interview initiative. Our challenge is to offer and complete 1,300 interview assignments this year. Alumni interviews are offered to students who apply by Jan. 1, if they have not already interviewed on campus. Last year, we were unable to offer interviews to more than half of the students who qualified for one and many of those students were from your area.
We need your help now if we hope to meet our goal this year. If you’ve ever considered becoming involved with our admissions effort, please visit www.clarku.edu/joinapap to read about APAP and to complete a membership form. If you have questions, please contact APAP Director Judy Earls at apap@clarku.edu or 1-800-GO-CLARK.
In the area of alumni engagement, the nominating committee of the Alumni Association’s Executive Board proposed a by-law change regarding the Alumni Trustee ballot to the Board of Trustees at its October meeting. The suggested by-law change would streamline the election process and allow the governing body of the Alumni Association to put forth the best candidates for consideration by the Board of Trustees. It would also help increase alumni participation and engagement by opening up the nomination process for Alumni Trustee candidates. The Board of Trustees gave its first approval for this change at the Oct. 22, 2005 meeting. A final vote will take place at the meeting on Feb. 11, 2006. To view the by-law change, please visit www.clarku.edu/bylaw/.
Speaking of engagement, the second-annual Alumni-in-Residence Program was held Nov. 7 and 8. Alumni were guest speakers in classes and on career panels, and they met with students and faculty. Sixteen alumni and more than 40 faculty members participated in this great event. Thanks to all who made this a success.
Did you know that your participation in the Clark Fund is as important as your gift? The Alumni Association has begun a campaign to increase alumni participation in the Clark Fund from 28 percent to 35 percent. While we have been encouraged by the continuous support of a number of you, we need to reach out to many others who have not participated in the annual fund. Toward that end, we are announcing a challenge. Clark Trustee Bill Mosakowski ’76 has pledged up to $50,000 in matching funds to encourage new alumni donors to Clark. If you’ve never given before, you have the opportunity to triple your gift. For every dollar you give to the Clark Fund, Bill will give two. Make your gift today at www.clarku.edu/clarkgift or by calling 1-888-257-5363.
Don’t forget to mark those new calendars for Reunion 2006 Alumni Weekend, May 19-21. Even if this is not your reunion year, think about coming back to see your old friends. Go to www.clarku.edu/reunion to complete the reunion questionnaire, to volunteer for your reunion committee and register to come back. I hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Faith Linsky '76
Alumni Association President
Flinsky@alumni.clarku.edu
News from the Alumni and Parent Admissions program
The admissions cycle changes with the seasons, moving us from one task to the next, constantly challenging us and leaving no room for boredom. In fact, there are so many exciting things happening in APAP, there is not enough room here to update you on every activity. Let me focus on three areas: the college fair program, the development of the parent program and finally,the alumni interview initiative.
Congratulations and thanks are in order for our APAP alumni members who participated in our college fair program this fall. Together, staff and alumni represented Clark at 246 college fairs. With your continued assistance, I project Clark will be on par with last year’s college-fair coverage.
The new APAP membership form and updated descriptions of APAP activities are now available, and a formal invitation to join APAP was sent to parents in November. The APAP team is creating the systems and support we need to engage parents in our activities. Proper planning is essential, so we ask for your patience as this program unfolds. To read about our programs and to join APAP, please visit www.clarku.edu/joinapap.
Finally, we are in the midst of the reading season. Counselors spend almost every waking hour reviewing applications, and our APAP alumni members are in the throes of the alumni interview initiative. The alumni interview allows students to get a closer look at Clark from someone who lived the Clark experience, and for counselors to receive an objective assessment of applicants. The alumni interview reports can make a difference.
Take, for example, the student who was not going to be recommended for admission. His high-school record was less than stellar due to personal circumstances. Clark was his first choice and he wanted to do everything in his power to ensure a positive outcome to his application.
The alumna who interviewed this young man listened to his story. She balanced his circumstances with his desire to attend Clark and believed he would be successful here. Her interview report was thoughtful, thorough and prompt. That interview report prompted the counselor and the admissions committee to take a closer look at this applicant and, ultimately, they offered him admission. This student graduated and is attending graduate school.
This story illustrates the commitment Clark’s staff and alumni give to personalizing the college-search process and to considering each applicant as an individual. Not every interview report makes such a dramatic difference, but each report you submit is reviewed and carefully considered.
As you can see, members of the Alumni and Parent Admissions Program provide a great service to our prospective students, their families and the University. Please accept my thanks for all you do on behalf of Clark.
Sincerely,
Judy Earls
Director, Alumni and Parent Admissions Program
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