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On August 30, 2024, the KU Medical Center Alumni Association and KU Alumni Association membership programs combined into a single program. You’ll find helpful information about the consolidation below.
As part of a comprehensive, University-wide initiative to optimize resources and better serve the KU community, the KU Medical Center Alumni Association will integrate into the KU Alumni Association, creating a unified organization dedicated to serving all KU alumni. This will take effect on January 1, 2025. The KU Medical Center Alumni Association includes the KU Health Professions, KU Medical and KU Nurses Alumni Associations.
“We couldn’t be more excited about uniting with the KU Alumni Association,” said Jordann Snow, director of alumni relations at the University of Kansas Medical Center, whose office manages the KU Medical Center Alumni Association. “Serving the growing alumni community is our top priority, and being one organization enables us to best meet their needs now and in the future.”
The decision to integrate follows a comprehensive review process that began in the fall of 2023 to evaluate both associations’ operating models and identify opportunities for collaboration to align with Chancellor Doug Girod’s “One KU” initiative, which aims to unify leadership and operations across the entire University. While both associations have a rich history of operating independently, this separation has led to duplicate efforts and confusion regarding separate membership programs, events and initiatives.
Chancellor Girod, who led the KU Medical Center as executive vice chancellor from 2013 to 2017 and began his medical center career in 1994, strongly endorses the strategic integration of the alumni associations. “This greater alignment and unity will better serve alumni, students, faculty, staff and all KU stakeholders,” Girod explained. “I applaud the associations’ leaders and alumni volunteers for their initiative, vision and courage to think about how the organizations can collaborate more closely. This structural change is a powerful step toward amplifying our collective impact and significantly enhancing the alumni experience for KU Medical Center graduates and all Jayhawks.”
Starting January 1, the two associations will fully integrate and operate as the KU Alumni Association, the primary resource for the entire KU alumni community. As part of this transition, their membership programs were consolidated under the KU Alumni Association in August 2024.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the KU Medical Center Alumni Association team,” said Heath Peterson, president of the KU Alumni Association. “This powerful partnership marks a new era of connection and support for our community. Together, we will build a more vibrant and impactful alumni association for all Jayhawks.”
Network success depends on well-trained, informed volunteers. The KU Alumni Association needs your skills to bring Jayhawks together.
Learn what types of events you could host as a volunteer in your network.
Are you ready to make a difference? Share your information and we’ll be in touch.
Share your affinity for a group through a network of like-minded ‘Hawks.
KU alumni can help recruit future Jayhawks by volunteering with KU Admissions’ HAWK program (Helpful Alumni Working for KU).
Hosting a reunion of University of Kansas alumni? We want to hear about it! Fill out the form below to get more information on resources to help your event succeed.
The KU Alumni Association relies on well-trained, informed volunteers to power Jayhawk Networks that serve to ignite student and alumni success and career growth.
Volunteers represent the Alumni Association in a variety of networks through planning, promoting, executing and recapping activities. KUAA offers networks engaging Jayhawks through similar geographic regions, career industries and communities.
Sign up to be a volunteer in the network(s) of your choosing. After a brief training, you will be ready to coordinate activities for your network.
Volunteers are invited to participate at any level that is comfortable to your schedule. Developing as few as 1-2 events per year is a great way to get started and to find the right level of volunteering for you.
KUAA requests that Network Volunteers maintain an active membership with the KU Alumni Association.
The integration is a key component of a broader, University-wide strategy to streamline resources and improve service to the KU community.
The decision to integrate follows a comprehensive review process that began in the fall of 2023 to evaluate both associations’ operating models and identify opportunities for collaboration to align with Chancellor Doug Girod’s “One KU” initiative, which aims to unify leadership and operations across the entire University. While both associations have a rich history of operating independently, this separation has led to duplicate efforts and confusion regarding separate membership programs, events and initiatives. This strategic integration will amplify the associations’ collective impact and significantly enhance the alumni experience for KU Medical Center graduates.
The KU Medical Center Alumni Association includes the KU Health Professions, KU Medical and KU Nurses Alumni Associations. In June 2024, the alumni boards for each association voted to approve the integration and dissolve each board’s entity, effective December 31, 2024.
Starting January 1, 2025, the associations will fully integrate and operate as the KU Alumni Association, providing a single, comprehensive resource for all KU and KU Medical Center alumni needs.
The Office of Alumni Relations at KU Medical Center has historically managed the KU Medical Center Alumni Association, serving as a dedicated resource for KU Medical Center alumni and students, including its physical presence on the Kansas City campus.
As of January 1, 2025, the Office of Alumni Relations will officially close, and operations and staff will integrate into the KU Alumni Association. This integration will streamline alumni engagement efforts, providing a single resource for all alumni relations needs across the university, including KU Medical Center.
The KU Alumni Association will maintain a presence on the Kansas City campus, continuing to offer opportunities and resources for KU Medical Center alumni and students.
As part of a comprehensive, University-wide effort to make the best use of resources in serving our KU community, the KU Medical Center Alumni Association and the KU Alumni Association are taking a first step toward increased collaboration.
On August 30, 2024, the KU Medical Center Alumni Association and KU Alumni Association membership programs combined into a single program. This unification will streamline operations and enhance our ability to offer expanded services. Most important, for our KU Medical Center community, the unified program will eliminate duplication – making it easier to support the university, connect with others and fully utilize available resources, discounts and engagement opportunities.
*Note: The KU Medical Center Alumni Association includes the KU Health Professions, KU Medical, and KU Nurses Alumni Associations.
On August 30, 2024, all KU Medical Center Alumni Association members became KU Alumni Association members, if they were not already. Honoring members’ commitment to the Association(s) is our top priority in any changes to your membership status. A letter detailing membership status in the KU Alumni Association as of August 30 was sent to all KU Medical Center Alumni Association members. For specific questions about your membership status, please contact Mary Bujnak (Membership & Data Coordinator, Alumni Relations at KU Medical Center) at mbujnak@kumc.edu.
Yes! Membership in the KU Alumni Association supports resources, opportunities, and initiatives for all KU students and alumni, including those of KU Medical Center. KU Medical Center Alumni Association and KU Alumni Association are collaborating on opportunities for KU Medical Center students in Kansas City, Salina, Wichita and beyond, including expanded access to resources maintained by the KU Alumni Association:
There are lots of ways to stay connected, both in person and online:
Crimson & Blue Views events unite alumni and friends to watch televised KU games with fellow Jayhawks.
Attending a watch party is often the first step for Jayhawks who want to get more involved with a network.
These events provide a positive and enjoyable watch experience and allow Jayhawks to share stories and make new friends.
Volunteer to host a watch party for your network. As the host, you will be responsible for displaying KU-branded materials, supplied by the Alumni Association, and greeting attendees.
Encourage participants to connect with the Alumni Association by providing their contact information, by joining the network’s Facebook group, and by downloading the KU Alumni Association app.
Develop a strong partnership with your watch site’s management and staff. Venues will often change, and it’s good practice to establish contacts at each site.
Listen to your network’s feedback on the venue, and make decisions based on what’s best for the network as a whole.
Be a good host: Promote community seating, introduce new attendees, and play KU’s fight song (if the venue allows).
Promote the watch party on social media. Create a fun contest with a nominal prize, such as a gift card to the venue.
KU Cares events rally Jayhawk volunteers who lend their time and talents to benefit their communities. Alumni across the country are already involved in community causes and have shown a strong desire to leverage KU networks to further those efforts.
Volunteers are responsible for creating, organizing and promoting KU Cares events, with approval from the Alumni Association.
Find events that gather Jayhawks for a good cause, but avoid events that focus only on fundraising.
Rock Chalk Cultivate is a series of events that gives KU alumni opportunities to acquire or develop qualities or skills with—and sometimes from—fellow Jayhawks. Just as we acquired knowledge together as students on the Hill, we can continue to learn together as alumni through Rock Chalk Cultivate.
Rock Chalk Cultivate was launched in spring 2016 by the Alumni Association’s Dallas Network. Alumni hosted events which included a fashion and wardrobe presentation by Trunk Club Dallas and a BBQ and beer-pairing dinner at 18th and Vine BBQ.
Volunteers are responsible for creating, organizing and promoting Rock Chalk Cultivate events and finding experts, who may be fellow Jayhawks, to lead the activities.
The scope of Rock Chalk Cultivate events is endless and can vary across networks as a result of regional interests and the availability of experts. Some examples include:
Rock Chalk Connect events offer opportunities to network with other professionals and exchange career tips.
Volunteers are responsible for creating, organizing and promoting Rock Chalk Connect events.
The scope of Rock Chalk Cultivate events is endless and can vary across networks as a result of regional interests and the availability of experts. Some examples include:
For networking events, spotlight two or three alumni as “Featured Jayhawks.” Promote their participation in the events and highlight the industries they work in.
Know your network: Select industries that are popular in your area and choose compelling Jayhawks who have broad appeal to your audience.
Hawk Happenings events gather Jayhawks to enjoy live sports and entertainment events. This could include a KU game, a professional sporting event or a happy hour.
Volunteers are encouraged to seek out compelling entertainment events in their area. These events are usually more successful when there’s a KU tie-in, such as an NBA game that features a former KU player.
There are lots of ways to stay connected, both in person and online:
There are many ways to stay informed about the latest news from the KU Schools of Health Professions, Medicine and Nursing:
Alumni can update their contact information with the KU Alumni Association here.
Have news you want to share? Submit a class note to Kansas Alumni magazine here or email kualumni@kualumni.org with your news.
KU Alumni Association members enjoy a wide breadth of benefits. Visit this page for full details of current membership benefits. Membership in the KU Alumni Association supports essential programs for alumni of all KU campuses and experiences, including the Jayhawk Career Network, powered by Truity Credit Union, the Student Alumni Network, and affinity groups across the globe.
KU Alumni Association members also get Kansas Alumni magazine delivered to your door, four times a year. Kansas Alumni does in-depth reporting on KU Medical Center news, alumni and faculty.
You can access your KU Alumni Association membership card in the KU Alumni App. Click here for instructions on logging in, accessing your card, and using the app to stay connected to everything KU.
Starting August 30, all membership benefits will be those currently offered by the KU Alumni Association. You can see a list of membership benefits at this page.
As of August 30, 2024, all KU Medical Center Alumni Association members became KU Alumni Association members, if they were not already. Honoring members’ commitment to the Assocation(s) was our top priority in any changes to your membership status. A letter and email detailing membership status in the KU Alumni Association as of August 30 was sent to all KU Medical Center Alumni Association members. For specific questions about your membership status, please contact Austin Harris, Associate Vice President for Revenue Generation, KU Alumni Association, at austinharris@kualumni.org.
U Alumni Association members enjoy a wide breadth of benefits. Visit this page for full details of current membership benefits. Membership in the KU Alumni Association supports essential programs for alumni of all KU campuses and experiences, including the Jayhawk Career Network, powered by Truity Credit Union, the Student Alumni Network, and affinity groups across the globe.
KU Alumni Association members also get Kansas Alumni magazine delivered to your door, four times a year. Kansas Alumni does in-depth reporting on KU Medical Center news, alumni and faculty.
We build lifelong relationships that strengthen the University of Kansas and the legacy of excellence embodied by its students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends.
Jayhawk Welcome Center at Adams Alumni Center
1266 Oread Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045
kualumni@kualumni.org | 800.584.2957
Your membership in the KU Alumni Association is the single most powerful way to make all of KU stronger, including the value of your own degree. Through your membership, the Association:
