ARKANSAS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SETS MEMBERSHIP RECORD

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — After a year of phenomenal growth, the Arkansas Alumni Association now ranks among the top 15 alumni programs in the nation in terms of membership.

That’s good news for the University of Arkansas.

With nearly 32 percent of its alumni as members, the association well exceeds the national average of 20.6 percent membership, Mike Macechko, executive director of the Alumni Association, said.

This past year, the Alumni Association saw an 8.5 percent increase in membership, giving it a new high of 26,342 members.

"An 8.5 percent increase is phenomenal," Macechko said. In fact, it’s the largest annual increase the association has had in six years.

Macechko attributes the growth to several factors, including a lot of hard work. Academically, "this University is becoming very visible nationally," he said. And "the winning sports are back. Everybody wants to be on a winning team."

But one of the biggest factors is the growth of the fledgling Black Alumni Society, a constituent organization within the Alumni Association. Membership in the society went from 255 a year ago to 415 — nearly a 63-percent increase.

Macechko gives Lonnie Williams, assistant vice chancellor for general student services, much of the credit for keeping African-American alumni close to the University — even though some had negative experiences while here.

Although the Black Alumni Society is only 1 1/2 years old, it had its beginning in 1990 when Williams, a UA alumnus himself, organized the first Black Alumni Reunion. Three more have been held since then.

"Some people leave here with bitter memories," Williams said. "The reunions give the University a chance to make amends."

They also allow alumni to renew friendships, witness the changes taking place and strengthen their ties to the University.

For instance, as part of the Jennifer Hopkins Career Day, a regular feature of the reunions, many of the African-American alumni are invited to be guest lecturers in various classrooms. Williams said this opens a dialogue between the alumni and current students.

The experience gives the alumni a fresh perspective of the University — a perspective they want to share with their friends and their own children through recruitment efforts and scholarship contributions, Williams said.

The changes brought about by the reunions and the formation of the Black Alumni Society symbolize the mission of the Alumni Association.

"My job is one of creating relationships," Macechko said. "This year’s growth in membership is visible evidence that we’re creating relationships."

He said those relationships will reap long-term benefits for the University — through increased commitment, student recruitment and contributions.

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