Class Agents

What is a Class Agent?

Class agents act as class chairs for their respective classes or for a group of contemporaneous classes during non-reunion years. As such, they are communicators and motivators for their classmates to become involved in activities and events at the University. It is expected that these persons be supportive of the University of Dallas, and be respected by their peers. Class agents are liaisons between the staff and their classmates. They inform their classmates on current issues at the university and provide feedback to the university on classmates’ interests, concerns and news. They participate in outreach efforts to classmates in need of emergency assistance or support, especially in cases where no other means of assistance are available. Class agents are also volunteers responsible for class fundraising efforts. As such, class agents should understand philanthropy and have a positive track record of giving to the university or have a desire to begin giving to the university.

Why serve as a Class Agent?

The University of Dallas is consistently ranked as one of the top 50 liberal arts colleges in
America by The National Review College Guide and is repeatedly named by the Templeton Foundation as one of America’s character building colleges. UD also ranks as one of the top tier math and science schools in the nation by Peterson’s Top Colleges for Math and Science. The University was ranked by Money Magazine as one of the top 10 Best Values in the nation and was given the highest recommendation by Choosing the Right College, published by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. However, for many students, the cost of private school tuition is high. UD offers over 90% of our students some form of financial aid, which is made possible by the generosity of alumni, in combination with the generosity of Trustees, parents and friends of the university. Over 40% of our students are ‘legacy’, meaning that they have a connection with one or more of our 20,000 alumni worldwide. Class agents, as alumni leaders and UD ambassadors, positively impact the lives of current and future students, fellow alumni, and the university community as a whole.


Class Agent Responsibilities

• Serve a 2-year term as a Class Agent (possibly longer, especially between reunion years)
• Send updated contact information on classmates to the Alumni Office
• Collect class notes for the semi-annual Tower Magazine
• Quarterly cross-reference class list contact information with the Alumni Office
• Inform staff of any classmates in need (from sending simple sympathy cards for
sickness/death to assisting classmates in need of financial or volunteer help)
• Informing classmates on current issues at UD and providing feedback to staff
• Contact classmates to help publicize upcoming alumni events including reunions,
meetings, networking events, special lectures, as well as class projects, mentoring
program, assistance with student recruitment, etc.
• With assistance from staff, draft a solicitation letter each year for the Annual Fund and
help educate classmates on the impact of giving to UD and the importance of the class’
participation rate
• Make a gift to the University of Dallas Annual Fund each year. Leadership by example is crucial
• Write a thank you letter to be sent to classmates at the end of the Annual Fund, thanking
them for their contribution
• Communicate on a regular basis with other class agents through the UD class agent
online forum
• Assist with reunion planning during anniversary year(s)

Staff Responsibilities
• Send class lists to class agents for cross-referencing purposes
• Provide an online forum for class agents and contact information of all class agents
• Send special announcements, press releases, etc. on an as-needed basis, noting that much of the news and events will continue to be highlighted in the bi-weekly alumni e-
newsletter (“Alumni Newsbrief”)
• Inform class agents about potential deadlines for publications in which alumni news is included (ie. class notes for Tower)
• Assist class agents with information to help draft solicitation letters, as well as handling all expenses associated with producing and mailing the letters
• Provide information at the end of the each fiscal year, which details class participation and overall giving, especially in comparison with other classes
• Invite class agents as guests of the university to special events and volunteer receptions (ie. during Alumni Reunion)

Program Goals

· Obtain more accurate alumni contact information, with emphasis on reconnecting with ‘lost’ alumni
· Improve communication among alumni
· Build synergy between UD and alumni, in support of the missions of the university and the alumni association (as stated in the Bylaws*)

Current Class Agents

You can find your current class agent on the Class Agent List. If you would like to be a Class Agent for one of our classes in which the position is currently open, contact Rachel Winstead, Director of Alumni Relations for Constantin/Braniff/Undergraduate COB at rtwinst@udallas.edu or (972) 721-5133.

The University of Dallas Alumni Association seeks to promote the tradition of liberal and professional education at the University of Dallas; to encourage social involvement among the alumni; to increase the support of the University by the alumni through both financial and personal contributions; to enhance recognition and support for the University by the community at large; to increase involvement in University affairs on the part of the Alumni; and to provide certain benefits to members of the Alumni Association. –UDAA Bylaws, Adopted May 19, 1999