The Association Of Former Students Provides $3.4 Million To Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University officials have announced the distribution of $3.1 million in gifts from the University’s alumni association, The Association of Former Students, to support priority programs for students, faculty and staff which would likely otherwise be left unfunded.

This distribution, coupled with an additional $300,000 in funding for projects directly managed by The Association, brings the organization’s total cash support to Texas A&M for 2012-13 to $3.4 million and represents the collective gifts of 47,000 former students and friends of Texas A&M to The Association’s Annual Fund. With an average gift of $158, these donors prove that gifts of any size can make a powerful difference.

In thanking The Association for its support, Texas A&M University President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin ’71 reflected on his personal experience with The Association.

“Upon graduating from Texas A&M, I recognized that The Association provided a young former student an opportunity to make a difference through a modest annual gift,” Loftin said. “Now as President, I see firsthand the impact my support and that of many other Aggies can make on our institution and on the individual lives of students, faculty and staff.”

In addition to the University initiatives funded, the Annual Fund supports The Association’s operations, including management of the Aggie Ring program, outreach to former students through class, club and constituent network channels, publication of Texas Aggie magazine, management of the alumni database and management of the Clayton Williams, Jr. ’54 Alumni Center, which hosts more than 150 Aggie Network-related events throughout the year.

Porter S. Garner III ’79, President and CEO of The Association, credited the organization’s success to the power of the worldwide Aggie Network and the former students, faculty, staff and friends of Texas A&M who faithfully contribute to The Association’s Annual Fund.

“Few alumni associations rival The Association of Former Students in support returned to their universities,” Garner said. “The next time you see a Century Club decal on a vehicle, thank that Aggie, because he or she is the one who makes this support possible and helps us continue our 133-year tradition of meaningful service and support to Texas A&M.”

Almost half of the $7.4 million contributed by former students in 2011 was returned to the University in cash support to fund programs ranging from scholarships and academic support, student activities and faculty and staff development and recognition. In total, 85 individual projects received funding in impact areas identified by the Texas A&M University President and Provost. Each academic college and administrative division received some funding both directly through identified projects and/or indirectly through student, faculty and staff participation in university-wide awards and programs.

As they are each year, these funding requests were presented to The Association’s Board of Directors for approval. Constants among the funding approved included support for more than $1 million in scholarships, over half a million in support of faculty and staff development and awards, and another half million in support to the Division of Student Affairs – including $148,400 to the Corps of Cadets. Additionally, funding was provided to programs that bolster student success, including supplemental instruction, learning communities, veterans services, and career and professional school advising. A full listing of initiatives supported can be found here.