Alumni

The University of Delaware now has more than 115,000 living alumni, with graduates in all 50 states and 101 foreign countries.

About 70 percent of UD alumni have graduated since 1980, and nearly one-third of the total--37,235 students--have graduated during the 1990s.

With a growth in alumni numbers has come a growth in services offered by the Office of Alumni and University Relations and the University of Delaware Alumni Association.

"The University has made a large commitment to alumni activities," says former Alumni Association President Charlotte Waterbury Brown, CHEP '81, who has been active with the organization for nine years. "We've expanded and grown exponentially, in terms of the types of services and activities offered to University of Delaware alumni."

In turn, that has fueled increased interest among alumni. "Our programs are up, our services are up, and, as a result, a greater number of alumni are involved in UD programs," Brown says.

A major innovation, Brown says, is an agreement with MBNA America through which the corporation provides an alumni affinity card and, in turn, funnels a portion of the proceeds from that card back into alumni programs.

Brown cites the MBNA revenues, which amount to more than $200,000 per year, for an overall expansion of services provided by the Alumni Association. Those services include lifelong e-mail and a life insurance package.

And, importantly, MBNA support also has made possible the establishment of Alumni Association scholarships. The organization awarded several one-half tuition grant scholarships in 1999, and hopes to expand the program in future years. Income from the MBNA affinity card also has enabled the Alumni Association to partially endow three alumni Distinguished Professorships.

Amenities offered through the Office of Alumni and University Relations include the University of Delaware license plates that feature the letters UD. The special tags--available through motor vehicle departments in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania--are popular among friends and alumni, many of whom sport their graduation year.

The office also offers a variety of programs and services, including theatrical performances, alumni club events in cities across the country and Homecoming activities.

The office also sponsors the Alumni Career Employment Services program, with both free and fee-based programs, in cooperation with UD's MBNA Career Services Center.

"UD alumni tend to be energetic and enthusiastic and are very supportive of the University," Sharon Dorr, director of alumni and university relations, says. "We believe that is because the UD experience is truly unique."

Dorr adds that there is a tremendous spirit among alumni, who recognize that gains made by the University over the last decade have added value to their degrees.