25% alumni giving

[StallionsModelT]

Im not saying it is bad, just easily manipulated. We had nowhere near 25% giving percentage until they started a campaign to get people to donate insignificant amounts specifically to alter our percentage. Do all universities have the same campaign?

All universities are bowing at the altar of the UNSWR metrics. Alumni giving percentage is a major factor in their assessment. Yes all universities are actively targeting that 25% alumni giving percentage.

[tristatecoog]

Im not saying it is bad, just easily manipulated. We had nowhere near 25% giving percentage until they started a campaign to get people to donate insignificant amounts specifically to alter our percentage. Do all universities have the same campaign?

Sure, the more you give the better. The more the school gets, the more it can spend to boost other important areas of the rankings, like faculty compensation and financial resources per student. Those two areas make up 17% of the rankings vs. 5% for alumni donor rates.

[tristatecoog]

22.4% rate for A&M, which is good enough for 4th in the SEC. Alabama is best (36%) and UT-K is worst (9.5%). Auburn is just 11%, which is just ahead of Georgia and LSU.

http://www.nola.com/news/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2014/10/which_sec_school_grads_give_ba.html

In 2012, "[UT] alumni giving rates stood at 15 percent, an all-time high for the University, but falling short of many competitors."
http://alcalde.texasexes.org/2012/06/alumni-giving-rates-is-there-still-room-for-improvement/

[Pony Boss]

SMU will always ask you for money. Just like any other school across the U.S. Don't be offended by it. Just politely decline and give when you're ready.
The further you get from graduation the more you realize what an SMU education was able to do for you, IMO.

This is so true...graduated a few years ago and my degree has opened career doors that I never thought I would have a chance of going through. I thank my SMU degree which has carried me through since graduating.

[gostangs]

No idea where I would be without SMU, but it wouldn't be very good. Wife, family and career are 100% due to this school. I cant give enough back but ill do my best.