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J-School Alumni

The Alumni Committee
of the Graduate School of Journalism
at the University of California at Berkeley

History

The Alumni Committee of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism began to form in the spring of 2001, when the then-development director called together a dozen alumni from across the country to brainstorm about how the school could get alumni more involved in the school. Over the course of three such meetings, various gathered alumni expressed a strong desire to organize themselves and work on forging a better relationship between the school and alumni. The alumni agreed to form a broader committee as well as a formal board to help organize alumni, interface with the school, and launch a diverse set of programs and activities intended specifically for alumni.

In October 2002, the Alumni Board met for the first time, wrote its bylaws, elected officers and set some goals and priorities. The board comprises up to 15 members, for three-year terms, and meets quarterly. The larger Alumni Committee has grown to include 80 alumni from classes ranging from 1949 to 2003. Unfortunately, as of 2006-2007, the committee was not active. In the past, committee members received the minutes of each board meeting and were invited to join any one of several subcommittees. Each October, new members are rotated onto the board. Each April, board members from across the country are flown to Berkeley for Alumni Weekend and the April board meeting. (Their tickets are paid out of our budget.)

Mission Statement

The mission of the Alumni Committee is to help build a robust connection between the J-school and its alumni, of all ages and professions. Through its regular programs and activities (see below), the committee supports the school; ensures that alumni are informed about continuing goals and activities of the school; brings alumni together socially and professionally; helps alumni be better journalists; and builds connections between alumni and current students.

Programs and Activities

• Alumni Weekend (each April). Alumni return to the school to participate in career panels, an alumni cocktail party and professional seminars; in the past, it's been a time for an alumni dinner and special memorials.
• The Alumni Mentorship Program, started in 2006-2007, matched more than 80 alumni with students. Alumni mentors are a sounding board, they share advice and can even offer connections in the professional world.
• Representatives in New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, and the Bay Area sponsor various social events to bring alumni together for reconnecting, drinking and yakking. We've also helped organize gatherings around the country featuring Dean Orville Schell and other popular professors. The board intends to build its presence in Los Angeles and other cities.
• The North Gate Professional Seminar brings journalists and media professionals to the school for a full day of panels and workshops designed to help working journalists develop new skills. The first, in April 2002, was called "So You Want to Be an Editor." The second, in April 2003, was called "Crafting an Irresistible Book Idea." The third, on April 3, 2004, was called "Documentary Today: The State Of The Art." In 2005, the event was "Radio Magic: The Art of Storytelling." And in 2006, we created "Reconstructing the Past: When History and Journalism Meet." Other continuing education events are planned throughout the year.
• Career panels bring alumni back to the school several times a year to share their experiences and connect with students.
• Alumni have interviewed hundreds of prospective J-School students and offered detailed evaluations to assist the school's admissions committee.
• E-News is a monthly e-mail newsletter to keep alumni apprised of events at the school, as well news of the school and of each other alums.
• Fundraising efforts complement those of the school, funding an alumni scholarship for a promising applicant, partially funding an alumni coordinator and ensuring that we can continue to offer programs for alumni.
• An online alumni database was set up to enable alumni to update their personal and professional information and to search for classmates. In the past, committee members helped J-school staff manage the database.

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