Students graduating at the 105th convocation on Oct 19 and 20, will be the newest members to join Waterloo’s increasingly global club of alumni. From Albania to Zambia, Waterloo’s 160,000 grads currently live in 144 countries around the world, and with each new convocation ceremony the number continues to grow.
But as Waterloo’s international presence continues to expand, so does the challenge in keeping alumni connected, both to the university and to each other. That’s why the Office of Alumni Affairs has set up chapters in five international cities and plans to increase the number by two more this year. “The purpose of alumni chapters is to keep our grads in contact with each other and the school, and help them organize special events,” said Alison Boyd, Associate Director of Alumni Affairs.
The chapters, run by dedicated grads with the assistance of Waterloo’s International Alumni Officer, Kim McKee, organize everything from networking dinners to pub nights and baseball games. “Our chapter volunteers are the heart and soul of so many events taking place around the world,” she said. “They spend their spare time making sure their fellow alumni stay connected to Waterloo. We are so appreciative of their help.” In addition to organizing events, many chapter volunteers also help the university recruit students and new co-op employers.
In November, top university administration will make a trip to Asia to launch the newest alumni chapter in Shanghai. This chapter will complement existing chapters in Beijing, Singapore and Hong Kong.
And on March 14, 2013, after months of anticipation, the first alumni chapter in the United Kingdom is set to launch in London. “Our alumni volunteers in London have done a great job creating a strong and active volunteer base. I know that this chapter will do an excellent job of keeping members up to date on the university’s accomplishments, needs, priorities and goals,” said McKee.
On top of international alumni chapters, the Office of Alumni Affairs also runs the Global Ambassador Program, a program intended to provide a first point of contact for alumni travelling or relocating to a foreign city. “The Global Ambassador Program is a new volunteer based service we are offering alumni,” said McKee. “Currently we have Global Ambassadors in fourteen countries and our goal is to eventually expand the program around the world.”
And for graduating students planning on remaining in Canada, the Office of Alumni Affairs hosts events across the country throughout the year. Most recently, alumni living in Ottawa were invited to a networking event and lecture at the National Art Gallery.
“Most graduates aren’t aware of just how many events we offer,” said Pat Duguay, Senior Alumni Officer, Outreach. “We are working to make sure they know how to take advantage of all the wonderful services and benefits we have to offer.”
To see a complete listing of upcoming events, visit the Alumni Affairs event page.
Congratulations new alumni and welcome to the club!
