Alumni Relations news

A note from the president

In October, VCU and your VCU Alumni Association celebrated the 40^th anniversary of our University.

 

President Dan Massey (B.S.'92/B)

It’s appropriate that we take time to honor those that have come before us and provided the foundation for the incredible institution we see today. As part of this weekend’s activities, the VCU Alumni Association sponsored an event for freshman scholarship recipients. After talking with these energetic, bright minds, I can tell you I am just as excited about our future and as I am thankful for those that set the stage over the past 40 years.

 

Now is the time to celebrate VCU. Take this opportunity to expand your connection with VCU through active participation and membership in your alumni association. When you give your time, energy and resources, you aren’t just giving back to VCU, you are paying it forward to help current and prospective students, fellow alumni and our communities.

 

Today more than ever, VCU needs the support and active voice of the alumni. Together, we can help chart the course for our next 40 years.

Reunion Weekend update

This year, the VCU Alumni Association is inviting all RPI alumni and alumni from the Classes of 1982-1986 back to campus for a Reunion Weekend chock-full of activities and opportunities for engagement with students, faculty and fellow alumni from throughout the university. The weekend is set for April 24-26.

In addition, the VCU African-American Alumni Council also will participate. The Theta Rho chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. and the Eta Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. will celebrate their 35th anniversaries on campus during the festivities.

The weekend will feature a Welcome Reception, school and department open houses, campus tours, a Travelogue featuring teas and coffees from Europe, exciting educational lectures by faculty and students and the Alumni Dinner honoring the 25-year class of 1986 and the 50-year class of 1959.

The Doubletree Hotel will offer rooms for Reunion Weekend for $99 per night. The hotel fills up quickly so make your reservations today by calling 804-644-9871.

For more information, visit www.vcu-mcvalumni.org.

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Commons celebrates 25 years

The year is 1984. Students are dancing on the ceiling and rocking big hair and leg warmers. Virginia Commonwealth University is breaking ground on its first University Student Commons.

Fast-forward 25 years. It's 2009 and VCU is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the commons. Those '80s, '90s and more recent '00s alumni can still dance on the ceiling and spray their hair as high as it can go at the University Student Commons 25th Anniversary celebration at 8 p.m. Jan. 17!

The party will feature '80s cover band The Breakfast Club, heavy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Cocktail attire -- '80s-inspired is best -- is required. Tickets are $25 ($20 for students 21 and older). All proceeds will support the University Student Commons 25th Anniversary Scholarship Fund. If you cannot attend, you still can make a tax-deductible donation to the scholarship.  To register and/or donate, please click here.

If you worked at the Student Commons or served on the SGA or the Activities Programming Board, we especially would like to hear from you at contactusca@vcu.edu. 

All details for this radical party are available at www.usca.vcu.edu/25years. If you have additional questions or need assistance, please call 804-828-6500.

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Benefits & services

As a graduate from the Monroe Park Campus or the MCV Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University you have access to a variety of benefits and services designed to support alumni and the university!

Although active dues-paying and lifetime members are eligible for all benefits and services, some are made available to all alumni regardless of dues-membership status.

The Virginia Commonwealth University Alumni Association and the MCV Alumni Association of Virginia Commonwealth University recently renewed one of these affinity program partnerships with Bank of America. This partnership allows you to share your alumni pride in your alma mater every time you make a purchase with your VCUAA or MCVAA MasterCard.  Each purchase you make with the card provides revenue to the alumni association that directly supports student scholarships and other vital alumni programs.

Because the alumni associations are the sponsors of the cards, each and every marketing and mailing must be pre-approved by the associations. Your personal information is not sold to any company.

Please click on the card for more information.

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Calling all former RAs

The Office of Alumni Relations is currently seeking graduates who served as resident assistants during their years at VCU. A special RA alumni event is being planned for the university's Homecoming on Feb. 7. If you were an RA, please e-mail Diane Stout-Brown for more information.

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Are You on Facebook?

We are! Join more than 600 fans of the association who receive up-to-the minute alumni info and reconnect with old friends. Visit our Facebook page VCU Alumni.

Several schools and units also have their own Facebook presence for alumni:

VCU Athletics

College of Humanities and Sciences

Young Alumni Council

African-American Alumni Council

School of Dentistry

School of Medicine

School of Nursing

School of Pharmacy

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Commonwealth Singers seek alumni

Were you a member of the Commonwealth Singers during your time on campus? If so, here’s your chance to take the stage again!

The Commonwealth Singers Alumni Choir will present a concert Feb. 9, which will be conducted by John Guthmiller, chair of the Department of Music.

The Commonwealth Singers Alumni Choir strives to raise awareness of the Friends of Music at VCU, especially with the more recent graduates. The Friends of VCU Music was founded in 2000 to provide support for scholarships and educational programs in the Department of Music. Friends of VCU Music is the sole source for undergraduate departmental scholarships and has presented more than 200 awards to deserving music students.

For more information about the concert, contact Kimberly Shepherd Hassmer or B.J. Barlow.

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Thanksgiving with the Rams

Don’t miss the opportunity to spend this Thanksgiving with the VCU Rams in Cancun, Mexico. The Rams will participate in the 2008 Cancun Challenge on Saturday, Nov. 29 and Sunday, Nov. 30.

VCU will play New Mexico at the Moon Palace Resort on Saturday and will face either Drake or Vanderbilt on Sunday.

Tickets are limited for this exclusive event, and all fans must book travel packages through Triple Crown Sports for admission into games. For travel packages and information, contact Melissa Koza at 970-223-6644 ext. 167 or e-mail Melissa@triplecrownsports.com. Click here for more information.

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VCU Libraries provide resources for alumni

 VCU Libraries offers resources alumni can access from home or work. 

The General Reference Shelf includes references in categories such as biography, business and economics, college and financial aid information, consumer health, government, law and politics, science, math and technology, religious texts and more.

The Health Sciences Reference Resource Guide offers reference information on associations and societies, education, government agencies, jobs and careers, hospitals and more.

In addition, alumni are welcome to visit James Branch Cabell Library or Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences for assistance with their research needs. 

Alumni are encouraged to join the Friends of the Library. Joining the Friends not only allows alumni to borrow library materials but also is a great way to give back to the VCU Libraries and to support the resource needs of future VCU students.

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