Alumni Community Frequently Asked Questions


Alumni communities support community building and provide visibility and practical support to alumni and friends around the world. Alumni Communities:

  • Act as advocates for the University of Iowa.
  • Encourage UI alumni and friends to maintain an active relationship with the university and each other.
  • Facilitate events and programming focused on increasing involvement within all alumni age groups and for diversified interest areas.
  • Foster a spirit of camaraderie among alumni who share similar interests and identities.
  • Inspire and support students.
  • Receive access to services, benefits, and support from the UI.
  • Strengthen the alumni community and its relationship to the university.
  • Engage in intellectual, cultural, and athletic life, as well as social and networking opportunities, to enhance professional development.
  • Enhance and enrich the scholarly and cultural resources of the UI.

  • What are the group’s goals? Do they align with the university’s goals?
  • Can an existing group or university entity accomplish these goals?
  • How is the group different from other alumni affinity groups?
  • Is there sufficient interest among alumni to support the new group?
  • Is this a viable short-term and/or long-term organization?
  • How would this group offer value to the university?
  • What affinity are you interested in connecting in support of the UI?
  • Are there current students on campus who can continue your group’s legacy with a similar interest or identity?

The primary leader (president, chair, or co-chair) of an affinity group is expected to:

  • Act as the main contact between the UI and the alumni community members and maintain regular contact with the staff liaison. In most cases that means at least monthly communication.
  • Respond in a timely manner (usually 48 hours) to inquiries or requests from the UI and alumni.
  • Follow the community’s governing documents and bylaws including holding elections as specified.
  • Maintain the alumni community's good standing with the UI.
  • In most cases, devote 3-6 hours per month to this leadership position (may require more time during busy event seasons).
  • Act as a positive representative and chief ambassador for the UI.
  • Establish an alumni community board of at least four people to help guide the mission and decisions when necessary.
  • Serve as an active participant in regular board meetings providing positive leadership and direction to the group’s board.

  • Keep the interest of the alumni community and/or UI foremost in mind when providing assistance and avoid all conflicts of interest.
  • Adhere to Iowa Volunteer Network Guidebook and Volunteer Code of Conduct and ask for clarification if you do not understand them.
  • Serve as a positive university representative and conduct yourself in an appropriate, professional manner.
  • Strive to achieve the highest quality and effectiveness in both the process and products of volunteer work without promoting any self-interest.
The UI values its volunteers and works to create services and programs to support and enhance their involvement. However, UI volunteers conducting themselves in a manner inconsistent with the university’s mission, or these expectations, may be removed as alumni community leaders.

Contact alumni.engagement@foriowa.org to learn more and start the process of becoming an alumni community.


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Alumni Hall presents unique fundraising and recognition opportunity for the Iowa Pharmacy Family. Rendering by OPN Architects. Construction of the new UI College of Pharmacy building began in fall 2016. The state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to open to students in early 2020. Collaboration and community are central components evident in the modern design of the UI College of Pharmacy's 210,000-square-foot facility that's scheduled to open to students in early 2020. Twenty-three learning spaces provide students and faculty more area to problem solve in a location that nearly doubles the size of the college's current building. A 128-seat, team-based learning center allows students to easily reposition in swivel desks for group work; an active learning center can transform from two 60-seat classrooms to a 300-seat seminar space by raising its hangar doors; and 16 collaborative laboratory science research 'hybrid' spaces can be easily customized with sliding walls to accommodate larger groups. This commitment to collaboration and community is also present in the building's universal design, which aims to serve all people by promoting an inclusive environment. Built-in hearing loops broadcast directly to a person's hearing device, and color-coded floors and thoughtfully placed signage with symbols ease navigation throughout the facility. Rendering by OPN Architects. The building's first-floor concourse will provide a gathering place for students, faculty, alumni, and friends. It will be named Alumni Hall if the minimum goal of $1 million is raised. The college hopes these values can unite in the building's first floor central concourse that will be funded by private support and named Alumni Hall if the minimum goal of $1 million is raised. This distinguished space would be dedicated to past, present, and future students of UI pharmacy, and would offer a gathering place for students, faculty, alumni, and friends. The hall would be used daily by members of the pharmacy family and provide a prominent location for receptions, presentations, and other events. Additionally, Alumni Hall would serve as a visible reminder of the efforts and contributions from many that invested in the College of Pharmacy?ensuring its tradition in excellence and innovation continues in its new, state-of-the-art facility. "We're a college family and that extends to a sense of collective worth," says Donald Letendre, dean of the UI College of Pharmacy. "When our alumni return to campus, I want them to feel like this is their home. This is a home that embraces every generation of pharmacists who have ever graced our halls." Once the College of Pharmacy raises at least $1 million in support to formally name Alumni Hall, it will recognize donors who give $1,000 or more toward the initiative. These contributor names would be permanently listed in the finished space. "It's a wonderful way to pay tribute to our esteemed alumni, to recognize their investment in the college, and for individuals visiting the college to visibly see their name up on a wall," says Letendre. The dean envisions a campaign built on the collective efforts and supportive nature of the UI Pharmacy family?1,000 or more alumni each committing at least $1,000 each?as an effective and fitting means of bringing the hall to fruition. This goal is made even more achievable through a pledge, which can be paid in installments over multiple years. As the UI College of Pharmacy nears the opening of its transformational facility, the Alumni Hall fundraising effort presents a unique opportunity for contributors. Rendering by OPN Architects. A 128-seat, team-based learning center with three 220-inch projection screens promotes collaboration within teams. "This is a chance for our alumni to leave an indelible mark in a space that will grow the college's tradition of excellence as one of the nation's elite pharmacy schools," says Letendre. "Reaching our goal through commitments from the Iowa Pharmacy family will speak to the nature of collaboration and community that are integral to our mission." To support the College of Pharmacy's Alumni Hall campaign, visit givetoiowa.org/pharmacy and select the Building Fund.

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