Become a class representative for life

Four smiling students with sunglasses amidst a colour throw.
The Faculty of Engineering celebrates Engineering Day each year in July.

The Class Representative for Life will serve as the main contact for their class with their classmates and the Faculty of Engineering’s alumni affairs staff. 

ENGAGEMENT

Class Representative for Life will be able to keep their classmates engaged with the University of Waterloo through various ways such as:

  • Recommend classmates to speak or be involved at an event, reunion, class, or special occasion (such as a milestone anniversary of the Faculty or University).
  • Actively nominate classmates for the Alumni Achievement Medals.
  • Suggest classmates to become mentors or to be profiled in a publication when appropriate.
  • Class reps will have the opportunity to participate in current and future social media outlets and potentially act as social media ambassadors (eg. Recommend an event to classmates through Facebook, etc.)
  • Share new contact information of their classmates with Engineering Alumni Affairs so that they can stay engaged with their alma mater.
  • In addition, Class Reps themselves will stay actively engaged with their alma mater for a rewarding experience.

FEEDBACK

Engineering Alumni Affairs staff may occasionally ask for feedback from each class or a specific class which would be coordinated through the class rep. This may happen when there is a new program introduced or when a program change is being considered. Class Reps would then connect with classmates to get feedback. This would happen very occasionally, once or twice every 5 years.

Class Reps are invited to share any unsolicited feedback from their classmates with the staff at Engineering Alumni Affairs to improve the quality of current alumni programming and potentially suggest new relevant programs for alumni.

VOLUNTEER FOR LIFE

The alumni Class Rep for Life would serve in this volunteer position for life. This is not a termed position. However, if a volunteer is no longer able or interested in serving as the alumni Class Rep for Life for their class then the Faculty of Engineering alumni affairs staff and the Class Rep will work together to find a replacement. 

Review this position in more detail below and consider volunteering for your class!

To apply for this volunteer position, please contact the Alumni Officer or apply using our online form below. Once you commit to being a Class Rep for Life, the Alumni Officer will contact you with a package of the necessary resources.

Thank you for volunteering!

Volunteer Opportunities

Class of 2013 - Vacant roles:
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Geological Engineering
Management Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronics Engineering
Nanotechnology Engineering
Software Engineering
Systems Design Engineering

Class of 2014 – Vacant roles:
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Geological Engineering
Management Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronics Engineering
Nanotechnology Engineering
Software Engineering
Systems Design Engineering

Class of 2015 – Vacant roles:
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Geological Engineering
Management Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronics Engineering
Nanotechnology Engineering
Software Engineering
Systems Design Engineering

Class of 2016 – Vacant roles:
Electrical & Computer Engineering (preferably stream 4)

Class of 2019 - Vacant roles:
Geological Engineering

Class of 2022 - Vacant roles:
Chemical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Nanotechnology Engineering
Software Engineering
Systems Design Engineering

Class of 2023 - Vacant roles:
Civil Engineering
Geological Engineering

TIME COMMITMENT (EACH YEAR)

Approximate time commitment for the following activities:

  • Volunteer training: 1 hour (first year of volunteer position)
  • Contacting classmates by email and/or on social media: 1 - 2 hours
  • Preparing/submitting feedback and updates: 1/2 - 1 hour
  • Organizing class-specific event (optional): 2 hours
  • Complete a survey to give constructive feedback: 1/2 hour

RESOURCES

Engineering Alumni Affairs will provide each Class Representative with the following:

  • Class contact list
  • Privacy guidelines
  • Advice on optional class-specific events
  • Invitations, communications or feedback samples to share with classmates (by email or on social media)
  • Invitations to exclusive Class Representative for Life group on LinkedIn

REPORTING STRUCTURE

Class Representative for Life's work is coordinated and supported by the Senior Alumni Officer, Engineering Alumni Affairs in the Faculty of Engineering, who manages the Waterloo Engineering alumni reunion program.

BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Past Class Reps have listed the following among the benefits of their volunteer position:

  • reconnecting with former classmates, including those who live internationally
  • representing the Faculty of Engineering and its alumni
  • being reminded of stories and memories from their time at Waterloo
  • access to the alumni network

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AT REUNION

Engineering Alumni Affairs welcomes its alumni back to campus to celebrate their 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60-year graduation anniversaries every year.

Engineering Alumni Affairs handles all reunion planning, administrative, and promotional details, and subsidizes the non-food costs of all 'official' reunion events. Class Reps are not expected to register classmates for these events. However, Class Reps are responsible for all planning, registration, and financial details associated with any optional events they choose to plan, organize and execute in addition to the official Reunion program.

While Engineering Alumni Affairs actively promotes reunions, Class Representatives are essential to ensure strong alumni participation and a successful reunion. Each class celebrating their reunion needs at least one alumni to volunteer as the Class Rep for each undergraduate program. Job sharing is encouraged, and up to three co-representatives per class are welcome.

Class Reps are responsible for encouraging the participation of their former classmates at reunion. To do so, they are asked to:

  • Create a personalized one-page flyer, which Engineering Alumni Affairs reproduces and mails to all class members with the reunion invitation.
  • Using the contact list* provided by Engineering Alumni Affairs, contact classmates** to personally encourage them to attend reunion.
  • Encourage classmates** to use the UW Alumni E-Community to contact one another.
  • Act as a central contact for classmates (the Class Rep's preferred contact information should appear on the flyer and will be listed on the Engineering Alumni Affairs web site).
  • After reunion, submit feedback and address corrections to Engineering Alumni Affairs.
  • At their discretion, initiate additional promotional efforts. (For example, interested Class Reps may request space on the Engineering Alumni Affairs web site.)
  • Class Reps are also asked to organize a class-specific event (e.g. pub night, golf day) to complement the existing reunion program, this is optional. Possible times are the Friday night or the Saturday night of Reunion.

  • Class Reps are encouraged to work with their class on a group funded Class Campaign to further the student experience. If Class Reps are interested in this initiative or would like more information, the alumni officer will connect them with a fundraiser to provide more information, help set goals and establish a process.

Notes:
Due to privacy policies, only Class Reps will receive this list, and compliance with privacy policies must be assured by each Class Rep. Class Reps will be asked to sign a privacy policy agreement.
** Resources do not allow us to 'split' classes by A and B stream. We ask that, as a Class Rep, you attempt to contact and include alumni from both streams.

Time commitment at Reunion (every 5 years):

  • Preparing class flyer: 1 - 2 hours.
  • Contacting classmates: 2 - 16 hours (varies with class size and number of Class Reps).
  • Preparing/submitting feedback and updates: 1 - 2 hours.
  • Organizing class-specific event: 2 - 8 hours.
  • Complete a survey after reunion to give constructive feedback

Reunion resources:

Engineering Alumni Affairs will provide each Class Representative with a package including:

  • Class contact list and privacy guidelines (*see notes above)
  • Sample flyers to help prepare the class-specific announcement
  • Past reunion program (pricing and details subject to change until invitations mailed)
  • A list of electronic resources to help former classmates contact one another
  • Access to web space on the Engineering Alumni Affairs site
  • A survey to submit feedback after the reunion is complete

Reporting structure for Reunion:

Class Representatives' work is coordinated and supported by the Alumni Officer, Engineering Alumni Affairs in the Faculty of Engineering, who handles all registrations and logistics for the Waterloo Engineering alumni reunion program.

Benefits and opportunities:

Past Class Reps have listed the following among the benefits of their volunteer position:

  • reconnecting with former classmates, including those who couldn't attend reunion
  • representing the Faculty of Engineering and its alumni
  • being reminded of stories and memories from their time at Waterloo
  • Top Class Rep prizes