Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t find your answer here, you can contact the Alumni Association office at 800-456-UMASS (8627) or email alumni@admin.umass.edu.
Why did the Alumni Association restructure its membership program?
To be more inclusive and engage more alumni.
How will the Alumni Association’s programs and events be funded now?
Under the restructure, you may continue to invest towards higher membership levels in any amount you wish, as often as you like, to support your Alumni Association.
How are membership investments used by the Alumni Association?
The Alumni Association provides alumni with career tools and resources through our Career Connections programs, and administers over 40 Alumni Clubs nationally and abroad. In addition, the Association provides athletics-related receptions, hosts the Distinguished Alumni Awards at the Massachusetts State House each spring, sponsors the Tailgate Tent at home football games, hosts the annual Class Reunions on campus, and negotiates value-added benefits for alumni. For students, the Association provides approximately $100,000 in scholarships each year, sponsors the Student Alumni Association, and provides Campus to Career and Bateman Scholar programs. Your membership investments make these programs possible for students and current and future generations of alumni.
What is the difference between a General Member and a Sustaining Member?
All alumni are General Members. A Sustaining Member has made financial investments in the Alumni Association through membership that supports our programs, services and events. Sustaining members who invest $50 or more in a 12-month period are also eligible to vote in the Board of Directors elections, and to serve on the Board of Directors.
What are the differences in benefits between the different levels of membership?
For your convenience, a chart showing the benefits associated with the various levels of membership is available here. Those alumni that provide support as a Life Member or a Legacy Member receive more benefits and deeper discounts for some services.
How do I obtain an Alumni ID card that shows my status as a member of the Alumni Association?
You may print out an Alumni ID card here.
Under the new structure, any membership dues I paid in the past are applied toward my Life Membership. How do I find out how much I’ve paid over the years?
When you visit UMassAlumni.com/membership, there is a tab called My History which shows the amount you have invested to-date. You will need to logon to MaroonCentral to access this information. To log-on to MaroonCentral you will need your unique alumni ID number. If you do not have this number, you may call 800-456-UMASS (8627) or email alumni@admin.umass.edu. An Alumni Association representative will assist you.
How will I be able to keep track of when I’ve made payments and how much I gave?
When you go to UMassAlumni.com/membership there is a tab called My History which shows the amount you have invested to-date and the last time you invested. To log-on to MaroonCentral you will need your unique alumni ID number. If you do not have this number, you may call 800-456-UMASS (8627) or email alumni@admin.umass.edu. An Alumni Association representative will assist you.
How and where do I make investments in the Alumni Association?
You may make investments online at UMassAlumni.com/membership or send them via USPS to:
Alumni Association Membership, 134 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003. You may also call our office at 800-456-UMASS (8627) to complete the transaction over the phone; an Alumni Association representative will assist you.
Aren’t the Alumni Association and the Annual fund the same thing? How do monies paid to the Alumni Association differ from monies paid through the Annual Fund?
All alumni programs and services are funded through current membership investments or dues paid in the past to the Alumni Association. Membership investments are not contributions to UMass programs, and Alumni Association programs and services are not funded through contributions to UMass. The membership program has been restructured toward becoming more inclusive of all alumni while maintaining some dues or investment structure to continue to fund these programs and services.
Your contributions or donations to UMass Amherst through the Annual Fund support the UMass Amherst campus; more specifically, financial aid, innovative teaching programs, modernization of facilities, endowed chairs and professorships, and many other initiatives that make a major difference to students and faculty, immediately and for the long-term, helping to ensure every student is offered the finest education and research activities are of the highest caliber. Philanthropy is a personally meaningful opportunity to help shape the future of UMass Amherst.
Why should I make membership investments if I already get all the benefits and discounts?
Even though the benefits and discounts to all alumni are provided for free, the Alumni Association does incur expenses to provide some of them. We hope that alumni find value in what we provide, and will support us with however much they are able to invest, as often as they can. Additionally, as your investments continue to accrue, they are applied toward higher membership levels of Life or Legacy with more benefits available to you.
We find that most alumni that provide membership support are not merely interested in the benefits they receive, but the fact that their investments make it possible for us to enrich the student experience through Campus to Career programs, Bateman Scholar events, up to $100,000 in scholarships, and the Student Alumni Association. Alumni also appreciate the programs we provide to help them maintain their connection to campus such as regional Alumni Clubs, Homecoming, class reunions and the Tailgate Tent, as well as services such as professional development workshops and resources, and the online directory. Membership investments make these programs and services possible.
Can I join the alumni Association if I’m not an alumnus/a of the university?
Non-alumni may invest in the Alumni Association, however, you will not have access to the benefits and discounts available to alumni that are General or Sustaining Members. Non-alumni who invest $1,000 or more are entitled to the benefits and discounts available to alumni that are Life Members, however, you would not have access to MaroonCentral. Likewise, non-alumni who invest $2,500 or more are entitled to the benefits and discounts available to alumni that are Legacy Members, without access to MaroonCentral.