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What's Inside:

• From the Directors
• Mobilizing Moments
• Alumni Clubs: Leaders Jump Into Action
• A Moving Experience
• State Allocation to UMass Increases for FY 2001
• College Fairs Fill the Fall
• Who's Who in Admissions
• A Big UMass Welcome to the Class of 2004
• UMass Votes!
• The LA Club is Back!
• Ambassadors Defend Du Bois Library
• Fall 2000 Incoming Student Profile
• On the Horizon

From the Directors

Greetings from Amherst!

There’s a renewed energy on campus as we welcome back returning students and greet the new students, faculty and staff who are now part of the UMass community. The days are full of excitement, anticipation and, perhaps, some anxiety about what the coming year holds. Fall is a time for the rollout of new ventures and for strengthening groundwork that has been laid in the past year.

This issue of The Volunteer, a newsletter for and about the UMass volunteer, represents one new venture which is built on a strong foundation. Since 1997, staff from the Ambassadors Network, Undergraduate Admissions and Alumni Clubs have been working together to maximize volunteer efforts to support UMass. Ambassadors Network members, most of whom are Massachusetts residents, advocate for the University to state legislators. The Alumni Admissions Council engages volunteers to recruit prospective students throughout the country. Alumni Club volunteers also work regionally, with the primary goal of keeping fellow alumni connected and interested in UMass through gatherings and events.

Staff and volunteer leaders from the three programs work to coordinate efforts and pool resources to increase the effectiveness of all our efforts. Towards this end, The Volunteer will include information about UMass volunteer happenings and opportunities nationwide. We hope that this publication will make it easier for you, the volunteer, to wear different hats and advocate for UMass in various capacities.

Another cooperative venture launched this fall was Leadership 2000: A Working Conference for Volunteer Leaders at UMass Amherst. Held September 16 and 17, the conference united volunteer leaders for skills building and strategic planning. We look forward to sharing the results of this meeting with you.

We’re looking forward to working with you in this partnership. Your continued support of UMass is what is needed to take UMass to the next level.

Regards,

Valerie Falk, Associate Director of Alumni Relations

David L. Hautanen, Jr., Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions

Lynne Marie Wanamaker, Coordinator of Advocacy Programs

Mobilizing Moments: Things You Can Do Now To Build A Stronger UMass!

• Send a thank you to your Massachusetts state senator and representative for the FY '01 budget funding UMass.
• You don't know your Massachusetts state legislators? Never fear! Click here to find out who they are. Remember to Close the loop and tell us who you thanked!
• Make a note to Vote! November 7th 2000 -- in the state and national elections. Check out MA state election information.
• Staff a college fair at a local high school.
• Invite a prospective college student to visit campus and Experience the Excellence of UMass.
• Join the Alumni Association. Membership Matters!
• Meet other UMass alumni and friends! Check out your local alumni club.
• Make a gift to Campaign UMass. Check with your Human Resources or Personnel Department to see if your company has a matching gift program. Call 413-545-3509 for more information.

Close the Loop! Tell us what you are doing to build a stronger UMass. Thank you for your support.

Alumni Club Leaders Jump into Action

Beyond the distant echoes of whoops and yelps of Haigis Hoopla, forty-seven Alumni Club volunteers were diligently working to strengthen and improve the Alumni Clubs Program.

The fifth annual Alumni Clubs Leadership Conference was held April 28-30th on the UMass Amherst campus. Club Leaders examined how to best serve alumni across the U.S. They also worked to incorporate the current priorities of both the University and the Alumni Association into their events and activities. The casual setting provided forums for volunteers to exchange ideas and to become better acquainted. Clubs staff were impressed with the level of enthusiasm and are looking forward to a great year of programming.

The Alumni Clubs Program plays an integral role in keeping alumni connected and abreast of UMass happenings. Club volunteers are a vital link between the Alumni Office, the Alumni Association, and our alumni body. As we collaborate with the Ambassadors Network and the Alumni Admissions Council, the number of people we will be able to reach will increase tenfold. Keep up the hard work!

A Moving Experience

Admissions isn't where it used to be. If you go to the place formerly known as the Undergraduate Admissions Office, you will find…the Campus Career Network. The big switch occurred August 7th in response to pressing space needs from the Admissions and New Students Programs. The Admissions Office and the New Students Program can now be found in the Mather Building on 37 Mather Road, just off of East Pleasant Street in the former Fraternity/Sorority Park.

Although their locations have changed, their telephone numbers have not. You can still reach Undergraduate Admissions Office at 413-545-0222. The New Students Program can be reached at 413-545-2621.

State allocation to UMass increases for FY ’01

New funds for UMass endowment matching program

State lawmakers approved a $479.2 million fiscal 2001 operating budget for the University, an increase of 5.5 percent over the previous year. This reflects an increase of of $23.6 million. Including funding for a new endowment matching program, Commonwealth College, and a toxic-use reduction program at UMass-Lowell, the total system budget is $494 million, up 8.8 percent. The University had requested an increase of $46 million.

The $10 million endowment incentive fund will help the University raise private funds for endowed professorships. This new program is devoted solely to the UMass system. The University will receive 75 cents on the dollar for private gifts raised for endowed professorships. The state did not provide any funding for the Public Higher Education Endowment Incentive Program (PHEEIP), which has provided 50 cents on the dollar for certain gifts to endowment at all of the state’s public campuses.

An allocation of $5 million for a UMass Amherst/Baystate Medical Center Life Science Project appeared in a supplemental budget but was subsequently vetoed by the Governor. The allocation would have gone toward an integrated sciences building on campus and a collaborative research center near Baystate in Springfield. The ultimate goal of the UMass Amherst/Baystate collaboration is to attract biomedical industry to the Pioneer Valley. The partnership will continue to seek funds from the federal government and private sources as well as the state.

Other items of interest to UMass include $1.75 million in funding for Commonwealth College and $14 million for library reference acquisitions for all public higher education institutions. These funding levels are the same as the previous fiscal year.

College Fairs Fill the Fall

The forecast calls for a full Fall. While Admissions staff attend many of the fairs in New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, we can not cover all of them. Help us bring UMass to a community near you and either represent UMass on your own or with an Admissions staff member.

Last year more than 80 Alumni Admissions Council members, Ambassadors and parents represented UMass to thousands of prospective students and their parents at these critical recruitment events.

Your personal contact sells UMass! College fairs are the first step in the admissions process. Don't underestimate the power of your experience and enthusiasm for UMass.

College fair information was mailed to many volunteers in late-August. If you have already responded, thank you! You will receive all your materials soon.

• If you are interested in participating, please contact Jacqui Duca at 413-545-0222.

  If there is no college fair listed in your area, you can still participate.

• Call your local high school and find out what college fair their students attend, then ask for a UMass invitation.
• Close the loop. Let us know that you would like to staff a college fair and encourage students to Experience the Excellence! at UMass.

Who's Who in Admissions

These are the people who bring prospective UMass students and their families into the University. If you have questions about transfer applications, need more information about the Joint Admissions Program, Freshman admissions, etc., these are the people to ask.

A Big UMass Welcome to the Class of 2004

A happy new year kicked off, Sunday, September 3^rd with the extravaganza celebration, parade, and pep rally called Convocation. This annual tradition is the University community's welcome to the entering class – Class of 2004. This milestone marked the first step of their university career. Commencement will be the only other occasion the entire class is together in one place.

Throughout the evening, students were reminded that UMake It Happen! at UMass. Festivities opened with a processional march led by Chancellor David K. Scott, the Deans of the Colleges, the Vice Chancellors, and student representatives wearing academic regalia. Official welcomes by the Chancellor, a distinguished member of the faculty, and the student body representative, Kim McLaughlin '02 were shared with the 3,900 students. A video presentation of sound advice from upperclassmen, and student performances illustrated the range and scope of the student community. The UMass Marching Band demonstrated the "Power and Class of New England" in their performance closing the program.

First Night continued the festivities with a dance club, movie, and an improv performance in the Student Union. Day One activities, Monday, September 6^th , included various school and program orientations. The day ended with the STudent Alumni Relations Society (STARS)-sponsored FunFest on the campus pond lawn. Students were invited to enjoy great food, festivities and fun as they prepared for an intense and exciting first week of classes!

UMass Votes!

Everyone knows the nation will elect a new President in November. But did you realize that citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will also elect State Senators and State Representatives this fall?

Raise your voice and vote! With the Governor, state legislators determine the annual Massachusetts budget—and the University’s share of that budget. State legislators also make policy decisions which affect UMass.

In this election year, you can send a powerful message to the candidates: UMass Votes! There are nearly 200,000 UMass alumni living in the Commonwealth. We are a powerful constituency. Get involved! Register to vote and be informed. Make UMass a priority in the election.

Remember this important date:

For more information, contact the Ambassadors Network at 800-772-6155.

Ambassadors Defend Du Bois Library

According to an articulate and fast-acting group of UMass friends, Boston Herald columnist Rachelle Cohen went too far when she suggested that a $1 million earmark in the state budget for the Du Bois Library is nothing more than legislative "pork" intended to provide "a photo-op for the Senate president." ("When pork comes back to haunt," The Boston Herald, June 7, 2000.)

UMass alumni, parents and faculty set her straight.

Within two weeks after the column ran, five passionate responses appeared on the Herald’s letters page. Additional responses appeared in the Herald’s interactive web-based forum.

Professor Emeritus Richard S. Stein kicked off the debate with a response published June 12. "Providing adequate support for library holdings is priority spending, not pork" he stated unequivocably.

"I am at a loss as to why Rachelle Cohen thinks that $1 million earmarked for reference materials for the university library is ‘pork,’" wrote Alumni Association Board member Gwen P. Weisberg in a letter published June 13. "Her unsupported comment is, at best, reckless." "Reference materials for the Du Bois Library will benefit the entire Commonwealth," reasoned Bruce Cherner in the Sunday, June 18 issue.

Early the following week Todd Lever argued, "To maintain its emerging status as a premier university, UMass must build not only its collection of books and journals, but also invest in electronic communications and multimedia resources."

Two weeks after the column originally ran, letters in support of UMass were still appearing in the Herald. On June 22, Alumni Board member Loring Barnes offered a fresh perspective. "Every day, the Boston media run stories debating taxpayer subsidies to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to either secure the Red Sox a dream hitter or a new stadium, whichever gets through the Legislature first," she wrote. "In this context, how can a journalist keep a straight face while questioning the merits of a paltry $1 million to support the tremendous research and learning that takes place at Massachusetts’ flagship university?"

"It’s quite rare for a newspaper to run so many responses to a single column," says Kay Scanlan, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing. "We can only hope that the editorial board of The Boston Herald has learned from this that UMass alumni and friends will not tolerate unsupported attacks on the University."

The LA Club Is Back

The Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, CA proved to be the perfect setting for a recent gathering of alumni living in the Los Angeles area. The event was sponsored by University Advancement and hosted by Bruce Friend ’79, Senior Vice President of International Research and Planning for MTV Networks and Chancellor David K. Scott. Response to the event was overwhelming as approximately 200 people attended a patio reception and tour of the Animation Studio.

Alumni previewed a new cartoon debuting on Nickelodeon this fall and received a behind-the-scenes look at cartoon development and production. In addition to the insider's view of Nickelodeon, alumni learned about exciting UMass programs. For many people attending the reception, this was the first UMass event that they had attended in California and were encouraged by the UMass presence in the area.

In addition to meeting many interesting and accomplished people, the Alumni Office was able to identify five people who are interested in taking an active role in reestablishing the Los Angeles Alumni Club.

Many thanks are extended to Orange County Club Leader and Alumni Admissions Council member, Ed Danoff ’74 and friend Chris Larson for their assistance with the event!

Fall 2000 Incoming Student Profile

Applications

• 19,600 Freshman applications
• 3240 Transfer applications

  Incoming class size

• 3,732 are freshmen
• 1130 are transfer students

The average GPA [grade point average] is 3.33 on a 4.0 scale

Average SAT I score is 1125.

17% of the class are students of color.

On the Horizon

The Volunteer is an occasional publication of Advocacy Programs, Alumni Relations, and the Undergraduate Admissions Office, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

It is distributed to volunteers in support of their advocacy for the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

No permission is required to reprint articles from The Volunteer if appropriate credit is given.

Volume 2, Issue 1

Fall 2000