UNL Chancellor Perlman announces alumni association restructuring

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman today announced that the Nebraska Alumni Association, the UNL Chancellor's Office and the University of Nebraska Foundation have restructured the Alumni Association to provide more integrated alumni engagement and a stronger connection between the association and the university.

The new structure emphasizes alumni programs that will build a stronger connection with the university for UNL alumni, a more integrated program of alumni involvement between the three organizations and stronger financial and management controls for the organization.

The Alumni Association board voted to restructure the governing body of the 134-year-old organization by creating a seven-member executive board. The 25 members of the current board will become the Alumni Advisory Council, which will advise the chancellor on alumni matters and work with him to grow alumni networks locally and nationally. The board will no longer have management responsibilities.

Prior to the passage of a resolution by the Alumni Association board, the association was managed by a 25-member volunteer board that functioned independently from the university or the foundation. Efforts to restructure came after board members raised concerns related to financial management of the association by the executive director who has since left the association. An audit was undertaken by the board, which turned up some questionable transactions without proper documentation. An interim director was appointed after the executive director left the post in September 2007.

The board's decision to move the financial management of the association to the University of Nebraska Foundation assures the same rigorous internal controls will be applied to the alumni association finances as are applied to all foundation accounts.

The new structure also engages the chancellor's office and the University of Nebraska Foundation in the management and oversight of Alumni Association activities.

"It is unfortunate that the former executive director took advantage of the circumstances, but the result is an organization that brings the university, the foundation, and the Alumni Association closer together to focus on serving alumni," said UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman.

A universitywide Alumni Engagement Committee will be formed to bring together all areas of the university to develop programs to connect with alumni. The committee will include representatives from the Alumni Association, several colleges, Student Affairs, the Office of Admissions, the University of Nebraska Foundation and Athletics, and will coordinate efforts to provide attractive opportunities for alumni to remain involved with UNL.

New programs that will serve more alumni and bring them together in the "Big Red" community include a greater emphasis on class reunions. A 50-year reunion of the class of 1958 is being planned for Oct. 3-4. Planning is also under way for a first ever all-class reunion to be held in April 2009. The UNL Alumni trips, to be coordinated by a Nebraska travel company, include educational experiences with faculty before and after many trips.

"We are making plans to engage more alumni with the university in ways that connect them more closely with UNL faculty, students and staff, as well as with fellow alumni. We also are planning more ways to provide meaningful assistance to the university," said Interim Alumni Association Director Jim O'Hanlon. "The association will also focus on developing new ways to engage our younger alumni with more programming aimed at keeping them tied to the UNL community and involving more alumni if they have lost touch with the university."

Highlights of the change:

- Restructure the association's governance to a seven-person executive committee to include the UNL Chancellor, Harvey Perlman, or designee; NU Foundation President Clarey Castner or his designee and five of the current Alumni Association Board members. The current board is comprised of 25 members, who will serve in an advisory capacity.

- Hire a new Executive Director. It is hoped that a new director will be in place for the start of the fall semester. The new director will report to the executive committee.

- Consolidate business functions with NU Foundation for efficiency and reduce Alumni Association staffing accordingly, allowing the association to place its primary emphasis on programming for alumni.

- Develop programs and services that serve all UNL alumni, Association members as well as other UNL alumni. As one example, the publication, "Good NUz" is now being distributed to all 135,000 UNL alumni. Association members will continue to receive the Nebraska Magazine in addition to other member benefits. More opportunities for alumni to engage with UNL faculty in learning about new discoveries and life-enhancing topics are in the planning stages.