UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER
STANDING COMMITTEE OF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Report of a meeting held on
Thursday 29 October 2009
Present:
Mr P Mulvihill (Chairman)
Mr M Cullen
Mr J Flynn
Mrs Vivienne Lewis
Ms A Linsell
Miss C Taylor
In attendance: Mrs L Davies (Secretary), Mr S O’Connor (Director of Development)
Apologies for absence were received from Mr P Burke, Mr K Leigh, Dr R Murrin, Mr D
Parry, Mr A Smith, Mr R Watts
The Chairman welcomed Members to the meeting and noted that he looked forward to
serving as Chairman for the next three years.
a.
Matters referred to Council for approval or ratification
None.
b.
Matters referred to Council for information
09/M21 REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN
The Chairman reported that with new members in the committee he wanted to ensure
that we are working to agreed priorities. To this end he will be circulating a
questionnaire to the committee in order to get their feedback on what the focus of the
committee should be. The Chairman noted he would like to raise the profile of the
committee, and improve its communications and events. The results of the
questionnaire will be collated and reported at the next meeting.
The Chairman also reported that he wished to raise the profile of the Committee
within the University and have the Committee more active in events. He noted,
along with the Director of Development, that engaging alumni leads to increased
giving to the University.
09/M22 ALUMNI RELATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER
The Director of Development reported that the team is working to increase the net
return from fundraising activities, revitalising the Case for Support, and raising
Leicester’s fundraising profile in the HEI sector. He stressed the importance of
collaboration with the Standing Committee of the Alumni Association to achieve our
shared goals.
From June to September 2009 there has been a growth in funds eligible for Matched
Funding to over £1m for the year, record growth in Annual Fund Income and direct
debit and on line giving had been introduced. There have been initial meetings and
campus tours with prominent alumni prospects.
/continued
The department has produced new guidelines for overseas alumni groups, launched
an alumni funded scholarship programme and agreed to take part in Dangoor
Foundation Scholarships scheme.
The Development Office has built research capacity through recruitment of a
Development Officer and an intern on an initial 6 month placement. The Team is
currently recruiting for a Deputy Director of Development and a Development
manager (Major Giving)
The team successfully won funding from the Edith Murphy Foundation for the Percy
Gee Appeal and hosted the Wolfson and Garfield Weston Foundations on campus
pre bidding stage, and organised a successful Family Programme with c.1400 parents
in attendance.
Currently the priority for the office is to launch the Annual Fund 2009 to alumni and
test an overseas solicitation mailing. There will also be two Knighton Hall dinners in
October and November for donors and prospects with the associated follow up.
The Office is launching a ‘Lost Alumni’ project to reconnect with alumni from the
‘70’s and part funding has been secured from an alumnus.
The team is also working on an events programme including a proposed London
event with the Standing Committee of the Alumni Association, preparing Graduates’
Review for publication in March 2010, connecting with former Sabbs from the 70’s ,
and developing a programme for engagement with prominent national and
international prospects with support of the Pro Chancellor and alumnus Paul
Bateman.
09/M23 ALUMNI ACTIVITIES
The Committee received an assessment exercise for a future programme of alumni
events.
Lisa Davies reported on the 2010 Homecoming plan, which includes a celebration of
the 50th Anniversary of the Space Science Department, as well as the plan for the
2010 Graduates’ Review.
The Committee agreed to award 4 x £500 Ruddick Scholarships for 2009/10 and to
top up the fund if necessary to achieve this level of support.
Lisa Davies will organize a call for submissions for the Jubilee Fund to be
considered at the December 10 meeting.
Steve O’Connor suggested that the committee might wish to consider a gift to the
Percy Gee campaign, such as plaques of the executive committee. He also reported
that we have had 140 expressions of interest to attend a black tie dinner at the
Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park on February 18 2010 so we will be proceeding with
the event. The Chairman asked the committee to commit to securing 30-40 attendees
for the event. Lisa Davies will email a sample invitation letter to the committee
along with full event details.
The Committee discussed the Alumni Association Annual Lecture and decided that it
should go ahead for 2010 if the right person can be secured to speak. The committee
/continued
is to send suggestions to Steve O’Connor, Lisa Davies and the Chairman, and they
will be collated for the December 10 meeting.
c. Other matters considered at the meeting
09/M18 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
09/M19 TERMS OF REFERENCE
09/M20 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
09/M23 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FUNDS
09/M24 OTHER BUSINESS
/continued