During their spring meeting April 24-26, members of Elon’s National Alumni Executive Board and Young Alumni Council gathered on campus to discuss goals for the coming year and brainstormed ideas for Elon’s next strategic plan. Leaders of Elon’s regional chapters also participated in the meeting, including the strategic planning session, and held their annual chapter leaders workshop on Friday, April 24.
On Saturday, alumni heard updates on the Ever Elon Campaign from Jim Piatt, vice president for university advancement, and Chuck Davis, campaign director. As of late April, alumni, parents and friends have contributed more than $62 million in gifts and pledges to the comprehensive campaign.
Susan Klopman, vice president of admissions and financial planning, gave an update on the Class of 2013, which will enroll this fall. Alums also heard from Bill Coffman ’86, alumni board president, Caroline Sage ’02, Young Alumni Council president, and Melissa Taylor Duncan ’06 L’09 from the Elon University Law School Alumni Association.
Both boards and chapter leaders received an update on Elon’s next strategic plan and participated in a strategic planning exercise, envisioning what their alma mater would be like in 2020. President Leo M. Lambert led this session with the Young Alumni Council in Johnston Hall Alumni Center.
Young alums offered the followng news headlines describing their alma mater in 2020: full scholarships are offered to students in families that earn less than $60,000 a year; ACT and SAT are optional for admission; Elon hosts a presidential or U.S. Senate debate; 100 percent of graduates study abroad and complete internships; young alumni gifts pay for Rhodes Stadium expansion; Elon builds first fully sustainable residence hall; Elon enrolls students from all 50 states; and alumni giving reaches 50 percent.