[ALUmnus]

I don't care if somekne gives $100k or not: the furthest that person can go is to sugget how the money they have should be used. But even then, it's a gift. Furthermore, no gift grants someone the right to say what should or should be. Being an alum doesn't grant that right either. JJ knows this and believes it. It's why Liberty isn't interested in private development. People who give always want a seat at the table or something else in return.

Liberty's response: keep your money. Even moreso now because they we need it.

And, I'm okay with that.

That's not entirely true. Money brings influence, even with the board, and that effects some decisions that are made. When someone is donating in the millions, they get to call some of the shots.

[alabama24]

Next time someone in the UVa AD's office funnels you tix for the season on the club level, let me in on it!

Yacht Rock has no connections (that I know of) in either the LU AD's office nor UVA's. He isn't claiming "it's ok for ME to get special favors," rather, he is saying "it is ok for OTHERS to get special favors."

[Humble_Opinion]

I guess it's a matter of perspective. I don't see what you guys are trying to get at. What exactly do you want to see with the alumni that's not already being done? What is it you feel you're owed? I've always thought discounts on athletics/events/tuition would be great, but not something I should expect.

BUT I GIVE MONEY!
Okay. But how much? And why should your charity grant you rewards? I'm not arguing or saying you guys are wrong, but you're not being very convincing. Maybe this should be a thread on its own, but what would should the school be doing to strengthen the relationship with its alumni?

I'll even start it: I think they should give their alumni more of a voice. Actually listen to their concerns and thoughts about some of the school's decisions and actions, even direction. And not just if I promise to give $100k.

I'm not clamoring for some sort of handout that LU foots the bill for simply because I, or someone else gave $_____. What I am saying is that traditionally, most institutions like to keep in touch with their alumni and have a place for their alumni to congregate that is visible and easy to get to when they return to campus. That way they engage with their alumni on a level that truly makes the alum feel valued and a part of the campus. What other schools have figured out is that their alumni still hold a lot of worth to the institution and that worth extends beyond just the amount of money that person donates over the course of their life. Alumni are some of the best recruiters that LU has, because they connect with people on a different level and have the ability to truly influence an individuals decision on where to attend college. A family member of mine was considering JMU. She had looked into LU before and received robo calls on a regular basis, but was not really interested... until I had the chance to invite her up here and take her around campus. She changed her mind on the spot and now has LU listed as her #1 choice AHEAD of JMU. That never would have happened had I not intervened.

And I'm sorry... you can say, "oh but they are building soo much right now and they just can't get it all done at once..." What I am telling you is that is naive and simply shows you don't know how decisions and priorities get set at LU.

Again, I don't expect and don't want a hand out. But I think LU would be making a wise investment by carving out a part of the HWC, New Tower, or the Student Center for an Alumni Connection Center for the reasons I listed above and more.

[ALUmnus]

What I am saying is that traditionally, most institutions like to keep in touch with their alumni and have a place for their alumni to congregate that is visible and easy to get to when they return to campus. That way they engage with their alumni on a level that truly makes the alum feel valued and a part of the campus. What other schools have figured out is that their alumni still hold a lot of worth to the institution and that worth extends beyond just the amount of money that person donates over the course of their life. Alumni are some of the best recruiters that LU has, because they connect with people on a different level and have the ability to truly influence an individuals decision on where to attend college.

I get it, but you're saying a lot without really saying anything. Keep in touch and a place to congregate. Is that what you feel is the answer to better alumni relations? Genuine question.

[Humble_Opinion]

Is that the end-all answer... no, of course not. Compare the # of alumni we have at LU and then look at the staggering additions that number on an annual basis. Then look at the staffing we have for our alumni office and compare that to the levels at other institutions. You'll see a pretty large discrepency. Do we need to have the largest? No... but if LU truly saw the value in their alumni, then I believe they'd do more to try and maintain the emotional connection that exists between the university and all of us who have been a part of it, aside from the little mailers they send out twice a year.

I also think recruiting and the career center need to be better integrated with the alunni office. More and more scrutiny is being placed on the university's ability to produce graduates that are employable. We are a young institution comparatively speaking, but we are old enough now that many alumni are reaching positions of power and influence in their respective fields and have the ability to open opportunities for job placement and exceptional internship possibilities. You don't get that without doing the work upfront to maintain the connection with your alum.

I could spend a lot of time talking up ideas and solutions, but in the end it's a waste of time until the decision makers open their eyes to what they are missing.

[01LUGrad]

I don't want to completely derail this, but since we are clearly rolling in money and have more than we know what to do with, has there been any discussion about lowering tuition costs? Think about it, if Liberty found a responsible way to slash tuition costs, we could be seen as leaders and innovators in one of the major issues facing families today. I mean, we are leading the way in paying for scholarship athletes' pay, so why not go all out and help the "regular" students (this coming from a former LU athlete).
Again, I'm not trying to knock the school, I'm just wondering if we could help push for major change here.

[SuperJon]

I've wondered that for a while. We can't give out handouts, but can we help kids get through school without the debt that me and many of my friends have? Could we offer big time scholarships to kids who do great academically? It'd incentivize our students to do better while at the same time upping the value of a Liberty degree.

[JK37]

When someone is donating in the millions, they get to call some of the shots.

Maybe at some places they do, and maybe that's okay.

But the giving of any amount doesn't give them the right to insist on calling the shots.

[Cider Jim]

Could we offer big time scholarships to kids who do great academically?

We already do. Some of these we had when Super was here; others have been added since he left.

1. National Merit Finalist scholarship--full tuition, room, and board
2. National Merit Semifinalist scholarship--full tuition
3. National Merit Commended scholarship--full tuition
4. Valedictorian scholarship--full tuition
5. Salutatorian scholarship--full tuition
6. Academic Achievement scholarship--up to full tuition
7. Honors Program scholarship--$4,000 annually

http://www.liberty.edu/financeadmin/fin ... fm?PID=298

Little known fact: LU has 719 Honors Program students (on scholarship) compared to 450 varsity athletes.

[SuperJon]

Those are great scholarships but I was talking about once they got to Liberty. Basically something like if you earn a 4.0 this semester you get $4k off next semester. If you earn a 3.8 you get $3k off next semester. It would essentially incentivize your classes. I know I was happy with bad grades in humanities and bio because they meant nothing to my degree. They were classes that I was required to take, didn't care about, and only needed a D from. My overall GPA through college was much lower because I coasted through those classes. I would've tried harder had they meant something.

[thepostman]

My wife did much better while in school and went to the student advocate office and got some great scholarship help. It was there while we were there you just had to seek it out.

[Sly Fox]

My scholarship was contingent on maintaining a certain GPA. It was written in the fine print that I didn't notice until I was notified my junior year that I was on my own. I had never recovered from my freshman funk. But even back then they had scholarships available if you were proving you were strong enough and that was back in the Dark Ages.

[BJWilliams]

To be completely honest I would have done a lot better in school as well if there was more financial incentive to doing well (and maybe spread my credits out a little better too). A lot of the reason I took 7 years to get my bachelors is that I struggled in a lot of my classes, especially with time management and researching and writing papers. I probably would have been more proactive in seeking out help for my deficiencies if I knew I had a carrot on a string hanging in front of me to keep me in school and out of debt.

[thepostman]

I mean this with all due respect because I struggled as well at times but there were plenty of resources available that if truly applied it should not have taken 7 years. Also there were performance incentive scholarships available like I said earlier in the thread. My wife used them more and more as her GPA went up. Liberty just did a poor job making them known unless you really searched them out.

[Purple Haize]

To be completely honest I would have done a lot better in school as well if there was more financial incentive to doing well (and maybe spread my credits out a little better too). A lot of the reason I took 7 years to get my bachelors is that I struggled in a lot of my classes, especially with time management and researching and writing papers. I probably would have been more proactive in seeking out help for my deficiencies if I knew I had a carrot on a string hanging in front of me to keep me in school and out of debt.

You know what the carrot was? You even mentioned it. The quicker you got done with school the less money you would spend. By not going 7 years you had a HUGE financial incentive

[Yacht Rock]

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[SuperJon]

Liberty just did a poor job making them known unless you really searched them out.

I had no clue they were there. That's on me ultimately though.

[Purple Haize]

Liberty just did a poor job making them known unless you really searched them out.

I had no clue they were there. That's on me ultimately though.

Maybe if you'd stayed around a few more years you would have discovered them!

[rogers3]

Next time someone in the UVa AD's office funnels you tix for the season on the club level, let me in on it!

Yacht Rock has no connections (that I know of) in either the LU AD's office nor UVA's. He isn't claiming "it's ok for ME to get special favors," rather, he is saying "it is ok for OTHERS to get special favors."

That would be sarcasm. It wouldn't happen at UVa, yet it happens all the time at LU. Bottom line, Liberty has always been a " who you know" school. There are plenty of folks who get inside tracks on perks or contracts who never graduated from the school, share the school's values, or contribute to the school. Meanwhile, there are plenty who do all three, yet get the shaft. Yup, I guess we just chalk that up to life.

[alabama24]

It wouldn't happen at UVa

You live in a bubble.

[Yacht Rock]

Yeah, that kind of thing happens at every level. Heck, I know folks who've been to the Super Bowl multiple times because of who they know.

I don't fault those folks for being in that position. Good for them. I know I've had my share of perks over the years due to where I worked or who I knew.

[Sly Fox]

That's how it goes down at every state school I have been around for the past quarter century. Of course, two wrongs don't make a right.

[rogers3]

It wouldn't happen at UVa

You live in a bubble.

I doubt many here contribute large sums of money, and fewer get involved in contract dealings with the school. That is the bubble that some live in. You wouldn't know...

[PAmedic]

New cam up for the long awaited Alumni Tower

http://www.liberty.edu/aboutliberty/ind ... south-view

[adam42381]

The new tower is a bit phallic, no?



http://www.wset.com/story/29925775/libe ... edom-tower