BY: Kory Hobbs
With the end of the semester rapidly approaching, many graduating seniors are going to face a lot of questions. One question might be: Should I join the AUM Alumni Association? We all know some people that have, maybe parents or friends of the family who say they believe it was a good choice. We also know others who could care less and just go on about their lives after college, having little to no contact with their alma mater.
Let’s run down some reasons why one might choose to join the AUM Alumni Association. For starters, there are plenty of perks for members. Members receive various benefits that range from free admission into athletic events, discounts to the Wellness Center, and access to the Career Development Center. If golf is your thing, you might take advantage of the “Member For a Day” pass you will receive to Arrowhead Country Club. Not only that, but you will also have access to a Robert Trent Jones trail card for $25.
However, the personal perks are not free. There is a fee that comes with joining. A lifetime membership fee is $500. There is an option to pay in $100 installments for up to 5 years, as well as special yearly rates for recently graduated members. The membership fees help provide benefits for others- the AUM Alumni Association has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships. They also run an Alumni Professorship that helps recognize dedicated and outstanding faculty on campus, in addition to awarding $1,000 annually to the winner of the Faculty Service Award.
Ultimately, it is an individual decision, but the AUM Alumni Association has plenty of perks with very few cons on the surface. When you consider the benefits, combined with the support it provides students in terms of scholarship money and the support for faculty, it seems like a good deal for all parties.