25% alumni giving

[gostangs]

big news on this coming soon.....

[SMU Pony Mom]

Really hoping the 25% is met. Daughter is now an alum as of 2 weeks ago. She honestly has nothing but extremely positive things to say about her SMU experience. As parents, my husband and I couldn't have been happier as well. For those who haven't given, please reconsider - there is a lot to be thankful for and the 25% really does help everyone.

Great to hear - and congratulations!

Thank you!

[PonyKai]

"Thanks to every SMU alum who generously contributed to the University during the 2014-2015 academic year, we achieved a major goal of The Second Century Campaign: more than 25 percent of alumni giving within a single year! We are so grateful for your participation in this record-setting effort. The collective generosity of SMU’s alumni is having an extraordinary impact on the University and helping shape SMU’s future across campus.

As we move toward achieving each of the goals of The Second Century Campaign, we look forward to continuing to celebrate with you."

[friarwolf]

This is huge for rankings.....SAT and ACT scores will be up again this year even with the increasing enrollment numbers, successful conclusion of 1BB campaign, selectivity numbers improving all point to a rising national image....

[blackoutpony]

Just because "everyone does it" as you say with nickel and diming the crap out of students, doesn't mean I have to like it or that it's right. For the record, I loved my time at SMU, it was a fantastic experience, and I got this awesome piece of paper worth $250K at the end that helped me a get job. Hell, I wish I could do it all over again. I'll give money one day, but I started getting harassed before I even graduated or had a job, just like most of my friends did. That just screams how out of touch SMU is sometimes. That's a pretty poor look if you ask me.

[skyscraper]

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.

[tristatecoog]

The multi-year pledge for a "class gift" is a smart way to use peer pressure to get young alums in a habit of giving back. Congrats on a fantastic achievement of 25% i believe A&M is roughly 16% and UT is below that.

[StallionsModelT]

This is HUGE. In fact in might be the most significant achievement of the $1B campaign. Not many schools can say they get 25% alumni giving. This will certainly play a factor in our USNWR ranking next year. I'm hoping for #50. That would be a landmark achievement. Then, in the next decade, devote everything to endowment, research, and innovation. Do that and we may very well pass UT-Austin on these lists and move into the low 40's.

[Pony81]

I'm surprised that A&M is only 16%. I would have thought they would be well above 25.

But awesome that we eclipsed 25%. Quite an achievement- that I'm happy to be part of.

[NewAgeMustange]

despite being like BOP most the time when it comes to this. I don't know if it counted but I gave $5 dollars to my fraternity house fund and the calls stopped. On another note, just got both of our YA tickets for football.

[gostangs]

Here is a fun fact. Once you give they take you off the list. So give 10 bucks on June 3rd and you are done for the year.

By the way, SMU would be out of touch if they DIDNT ask every alumni to help out immediately. Most of our alums are happy to throw in a few bucks to help out. I want them bugging everyone until they give, since it helps our school. For the price of a 12 pack you can help your university reach an important goal - it's really not that big a deal.

[coloradoStang]

For the price of a 12 pack you can help your university reach an important goal - it's really not that big a deal.

That is how I see it as well

[couch 'em]

Here is a fun fact. Once you give they take you off the list. So give 10 bucks on June 3rd and you are done for the year.

Absolutely untrue. Quite the opposite.

Why is alumni giving rate important? If everyone is gaming the system with $10 donations doesn't that make it meaningless?

[StallionsModelT]

Seriously? It is a major metric for alumni involvement. Alums who are happy and view their time at their university as a positive experience tend to show their appreciation by giving back to the university. The actual monetary value isn't as significant as what it symbolizes (i.e. alumni who are happy and proud of their alma mater). I really don't see how you can't see this is a tremendous accomplishment for SMU and truly does separate us from the A&M's, TCU's and Baylor's of the world.

[couch 'em]

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?