Become a Member

The Council of Alumni Association Executives is considered to be one of the top peer-to-peer associations for alumni association executives. CAAE members are generally those persons who are actively serving as the chief executive officers of the central alumni associations from institutions of higher education in North America who support the mission of CAAE and whose alumni associations and/or institutions meet other criteria as established by the Board of Directors. CAAE membership is targeted for 100 members, with a recommended range of 90 to 110 members at any given time.

CAAE does not discriminate in any of its policies, procedures, or practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, medical condition, ancestry or marital status. Annual membership dues are required as is participation at the two meetings held each year.

Candidates for membership should review the membership criteria below, and if interested, contact the Membership Committee Chair to express a desire to join. The Membership Committee Chair can be reached using the following information:

Vince Nelson
President
University of Iowa Alumni Association
E-Mail: vincent-nelson@uiowa.edu
Phone: 319.335.3286

CAAE Membership Criteria
A candidate for membership must: 1) be the chief alumni officer for the campus; 2) supervise a minimum of 10 full-time, paid alumni relations staff members; and 3) advocate the values of alumni self-governance and independent voice. Candidates are considered based on the following specific criteria:

Level One Candidate
The candidate meets both of the following criteria:

1. Is from an institution defined by the Carnegie Classification System as a large research university.
2. Is the chief executive officer of a separately incorporated alumni association (or emulates one).

Level Two Candidate
The candidate does not meet one or both of the criteria in Level One, but does meet the following criteria:

1. Represents an institution which has a minimum of 75,000 alumni or a minimum of 20,000 dues-paying members.
2. Represents an institution which has a minimum annual operating budget of $1,000,000, of which at least 50 percent is association self-generated (non-institutional).

Level Three Candidate
If the candidate does not meet the criteria in either Level One or Level Two, the candidate may be admitted under one or more of the following special circumstances:

1. The candidate represents a unique type of institution whose membership in CAAE would bring a distinctive perspective.
2. The candidate has distinguished him or herself in the alumni relations profession or for other significant reasons and would bring valuable knowledge to CAAE.
3. The candidate had been a member of CAAE at a previous institution but does not otherwise qualify in a new position.

Regardless of the level at which the candidate is considered, he/she shall be asked to complete the most recent CAAE Survey form and submit a resume and letter of interest. If all criteria are verified and space is available, the candidate’s name shall be considered by the Membership Committee.

Please direct all inquiries and other correspondence to the Membership Committee Chair noted above. Thank you for your interest in CAAE.

Revised: December 2008