Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of an alumni chapter?
The overall purpose of alumni chapters is to gather for support of Mississippi State University through activities and events with local alumni and friends. Essentially, the chapter becomes a branch of MSU in that area and it becomes a point of reference for all Bulldog supporters who have questions or interest in the most current news and events taking place at MSU.
How do you start up an alumni chapter?
Chapter development is based on a set of criteria developed from the Alumni Association national board of directors, including the number of alumni and supporters in the area and the active membership of that selected area. For more information on starting an alumni chapter or small MSU club in a local area, please contact Michael Richardson, Asst. Director of Chapter and Volunteer Programs, at mrichardson@alumni.msstate.edu or 662.325.3659.
How do I know who is in my chapter?
Alumni information can be researched through the online directory or chapter officers may obtain a listing of chapter members from the Alumni Association office. This information is kept confidential according to the constitution and bylaws that the MSU National Alumni Association abides by. Only certain individuals will be eligible to review this information.
What kinds of events/activities should chapters host?
The Alumni Association suggests that each chapter consider a variety of different events each year to gauge what its constituents would be interested in (indoor vs. outdoor, formal vs. informal, sports-related vs. academic-related, etc.).
How does the chapter fund its activities?
Alumni chapters are asked to operate as an independent entity for all activities, and will be responsible for all funding necessary to host a function.
How do we get a guest speaker for our meeting?
Chapter leaders should make contact with the Alumni Association office to schedule university guest speakers for a meeting or activity. For more information about having a guest speaker for an MSU gathering, please contact Michael Richardson, Asst. Director of Chapter and Volunteer Programs, at mrichardson@alumni.msstate.edu or 662.325.3659.
Can we invite head coaches, the athletic director or the MSU president to our event?
All guest speakers from the university should be coordinated through the MSU Alumni Association. Current coaches, the athletic director and the university president will continue to work directly through us for planning and scheduling travel to chapter events. It is crucial to coordinate all plans with our office.
How do we start up a chapter scholarship?
Chapter scholarships can be developed and implemented with the help of staff members from the Alumni Association and the MSU Foundation. For more information about the criteria to start a scholarship, please contact Leanna Smith, Stewardship Coordinator, at 662.325.4214 or lrp39@msstate.edu.
What is membership quota and how is it determined?
The active membership quota is a value that is calculated each year to determine the percentage of active members (those who have made a gift/donation to the university through the Annual Fund or the Bulldog Club) within the Alumni Association. The calculations for this value are based off of three different criteria (potential active members, actual active members in the past year, and active membership in the past five years). For information on quota values, you can contact the Alumni Association staff, or view them directly on our website.
How can we reach honor chapter?
Chapters must be active with events and activities in order to compete for honor chapter status. An outline of the point-system and ideas of activities can be found at Chapter Recognition Program.
