University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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the Alumni Association. Under the direction of T. Hawley Tapping, general secretary, the Alumni Association organizes and coordinates the activities of Michigan ' s international body of Alumni. The work of organization and contact is accomplished through three main branches: through the University of Michigan Clubs; through Class organizations; and through its publication, the Michigan Alumnus. The University Club system of Michigan is generally acknowledged as the best in the United States, and it is the strongest of the Alumni organizations. University of Michigan Clubs embrace all classes and function along with class organizations. Under the present plan of Class organization, the president of each senior class appoints a permanent secretary of the group before the graduation activities take place. Secretaries contact members of their classes in many ways, ranging from aristocratic form letters to personal cor- respondence. Classes have identified themselves to the University by making gifts ranging from rocks to loan funds. Material representations such as railings and benches are becoming less common as classes have adopted the device of creating student loan funds. The Michigan Alumnus , edited by Mr. Tapping, is designed to present news of the University and alumni activities. It is published on a fortnightly basis with two exceptions, and it has an independent circulation list of about six thousand subscribers. Michigan ' s Alumni Ten- Year Program, a plan for financing needed University projects, was put into effect by the Alumni Association in 1927. The originator of this plan, Mr. Elmer J. Otta- way, President of the Alumni Association, sought a long time project in which a large proportion of the initiative came from the alumni, themselves. His Ten- Year Program calls for a statement by the University of its needs and then for the adoption of one or more of these needs, as their own particular objective, by one of the organized alumni groups such as the University of Michigan Clubs, the Alumnae Chapters, or the Alumni Classes. He also saw the possibility that individual alumni would find in the University statement a project which they might satisfy alone. Though seriously hampered by the depression, the Ten-Year Plan has proven successful. Perhaps its chief merit lies in the fact that instead of contributing to a general fund, each organi- zation can select a project of its own and work to carry it through. This brings a sense of respon- sibility and achievement to alumni groups. If any conclusion were to be drawn from the history of the Alumni Ten- Year Program to date, it would be to the effect that it is now, and is destined to be, a very important part of Michigan ' s Alumni history. THE BOARD OF REGENTS HEMANS SHIELDS ELLIOTT R. R. SMITH BEAL STONE MURFIN CRAM COOK RTTHVEN S. W. SMITH Page 18

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the University can furnish will lie in this field. From the point of view of the University ' s fundamental educational purpose, the desirability of developing a closer educa- tional tie with the alumni is obvious, particularly when its respon- sibility to the State is considered. But may it not be argued that an obligation rests upon it to show, in the educational coin in which it deals, its appreciation of these great benefits which have come, and are coming, from the alumni? Thus the creation of the Bureau of Alumni Relations as a division of the University, in no way related to the Alumni organization save in sympathetic cooperation, may be taken as at once a recognition of newly recognized educational responsibility and an acknowledgement in practical form of benefits received from Michigan ' s great alumni body. The Bureau of Alumni Relations ' value lies in its ability to act as a coordinating agent for the many departments of the University and seeing that the services desired by the Alumni are made available to them by these different divisions. It creates no additional and unnecessary depart- ments but merely utilizes to a fuller extent those already existing in the University. At the present date the Bureau of Alumni Relations offers many types of services to the alumni. Some typical services are as follows: (l) Study and discussion groups organized in cooperation with members of the faculty, with outlines and reading references supplied if desired; (2) The issuing of bulletins from time to time containing information about events of general interest; (3) guidance in study programs. Through the Bureau of Alumni Relations, alumni who desire personal guidance in some study may take advantage of the University: (4) publication of the Quarterly Review. As its name indicates, the magazine is published four times yearly and is sent to subscribers to the Michigan Alumnus. The Quarterly Review contains a number of interesting articles contributed by faculty members and others connected with the University. Mr. Shaw edits the publication; (5) the Alumni University. This consists of a week of classroom work on the campus for alumni, usually in the latter part of June. Mr. Shaw has had long experience in alumni relations. Before his appointment to his present position he was for twenty-five years the General Secretary 7 of the Alumni Association and editor of the Michigan Alumnus. That the Bureau of Alumni Relations is past the experimental stage is due to the fine work of Mr. Shaw. However, Mr. Shaw states that Its future development depends upon the respons e it continues to receive from those alumni who wish to develop and maintain an intellectual fellow- ship with the University. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Michigan ' s relations with her great Alumni body have been particularly happy and fortunate. Frcm the earliest years her graduates have shown their vi al interest in the University ' s welfare. They have gi -en their best to the University in the way oisdvice and personal help; they have supported its interests in the communities in Which they live; and increasingly, they have given financial assistance. Significant of this last aspect of their support is the fact that nearly one-half of the University ' s present worth in building and endowment is represented by gifts from the alumni. Instrumental in the creation and maintenance of this great alumni spirit is LOBBY ALVMXI MEMORIAL HALL JAMES D. Bart E ' I R SMITH Rfgittrar HEXBEKT G. WATKIXC Atsittext Secretory ALICE C. LAOTD Dram of Womiem

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