Board of Trustees Standing Committees
Alumni Affairs and Development Committee, 2008-2009
The Alumni Affairs and Development Committee is concerned with University policies and issues related to development, alumni affairs, and fund raising.
MEMBERS
- Gary Abramson, Chair
- Neal Sharma, Vice Chair
- Gina Adams
- Patrick Butler
- Jack Cassell
- Pam Deese
- David Drobis
- Marc Duber
- Hani Farsi
- Dan Gasby
- Gisela Huberman
- Robyn Mathias
- Alan Meltzer
RESOURCE PERSONS
- Cabinet Member: Thomas Minar
- Campus Representatives:
- Alumni Association
- Deans
- Faculty Senate
- Student Representative (Student Government; Graduate Leadership Council)
CHARTER
Purpose
Pursuant to Article VII, Section 6 of the American University Bylaws, the Alumni Affairs and Development Committee is concerned with policies and issues related to development, alumni affairs, and fundraising.
Organization
Pursuant to Article VII, Section 2 of the American University Bylaws, the Alumni Affairs and Development Committee consists of at least four (4) trustees appointed
for two-year terms. Nominations for membership are made by the Trusteeship Committee and voted by the Board at the annual meeting. Vacancies resulting from unexpired
terms shall be filled by nomination of the Trusteeship Committee and approved by the Board or Executive Committee.
The chair and vice-chair of any university-wide capital campaign in progress or planning, if not a voting member of the Committee, shall be invited as guests to meetings of the
Alumni Affairs & Development Committee of the Board. Volunteer leaders of other major university fundraising initiatives may be invited to meetings at the discretion of the voting
members.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Alumni Affairs and Development Committee is charged with informing and advocating within the Board issues that relate to advancing the priorities of the University through active involvement with alumni and fundraising.
Within the area of Alumni Affairs, the Committee shall:
- Establish benchmarks for alumni engagement, evaluate current programs and systems in their achievement of those goals, and collaborate with the American University Alumni Board to assess resources allocated to programs that serve and inform alumni; and
- Host and/or represent the Board at alumni and school-based gatherings.
Within the area of Development, the Committee shall:
- Advocate Board definition and/or endorsement of overall university priorities, laying a clear path for fundraising objectives to be established either annually or in multi-year campaign efforts;
- Affirm fundraising goals established by the Office of Development to address those priorities, providing advice and counsel to the Executive Committee of the Board regarding new fundraising initiatives or capital campaigns;
- Provide advice and counsel to the Executive Committee of the Board and the Vice President of Development in his or her representation of the Office of Development's plans and programs, and the financial and personnel and resources available to achieve those goals;
- Make recommendations to the Trusteeship Committee regarding financial expectations for trustee annual giving and capital campaign commitments;
- Set benchmarks for trustee involvement in the cultivation and solicitation of other potential donors to the university;
- Review and evaluate American University Gift Acceptance policies, making recommendations to the Executive Committee or Board for additions or changes to them;
- Review and evaluate American University central giving societies, clubs, and other alumni or fundraising based honors, making recommendations to the full Board for their establishment and selection criteria; and
- Host and/or Represent the Board at cultivation and stewardship events of the University.
