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SIPA Alumni Council

Call for Membership Applications

About the SIPA Alumni Council

The mission of the Alumni Council is to strengthen SIPA’s alumni community, facilitate networking among alumni and foster their connection to the School. The Council provides a means for graduates to communicate with each other and with SIPA and for the School to strengthen its relationship with the alumni community.

To accomplish its mission, the Council works with SIPA to:

  1. Inform alumni about the School and its work;
  2. Understand the attitudes and interests of alumni and communicate these to the School;
  3. Encourage alumni involvement that furthers the mission of the School;
  4. Increase participation in alumni events, particularly “high profile” events such as Alumni Day;
  5. Include SIPA alumni who are Columbia Club leaders in the Council’s work and membership;
  6. Facilitate additional activities that benefit alumni and can be sustained by the Council.

Members of the SIPA Alumni Council attend three Council meetings annually, generally in the fall, winter, and spring. The meetings are held in New York City, with the option for members to join via conference call. Council members also are expected to attend SIPA’s Alumni Day and the annual Global Leadership Awards Dinner in New York each spring, as well as other alumni events in their communities.

In addition, each Council member actively participates in one or more of the Council’s committees, which plan and execute programs in areas such as Alumni Events, Career Services/Mentoring, Networking, Communications, Continuing Education, Young Alumni, Development, Nominations, and Regional Alumni Relations. Council members are expected both to demonstrate personal involvement and to contribute to the SIPA Annual Fund at a level appropriate for their individual circumstances.

Application Process

The Council is currently seeking candidates to fill several openings on the Council for three-year terms, beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2014.

Please answer the following questions in a typed memo or paragraph. Also, please provide your latest resume/CV. Applications should be submitted to the SIPA Alumni Council Nominating Committee (please reference in subject line) via email: sipaalum@columbia.edu by January 27, 2011.

  1. Why would you like to join the SIPA Alumni Council?
  2. How do you see yourself contributing to the mission of the SIPA Alumni Council?
  3. Since graduating from SIPA, how have you been involved with the School?
  4. Which other boards and nonprofit institutions do you serve on currently or have you served on in the past? In what capacity?

    The SIPA Office of Alumni Affairs