Important Information about Student Send-Offs

We know that many of our affiliate groups are anxiously awaiting student data and guidance on hosting student send-off events this summer, and we have some additional information to share with you.

In an email that was sent to chapter and AIG presidents on May 26, we advised all affiliate groups follow the same approach to programming that the Alumni Association is using. That means not holding in-person events through the end of June (for now) and waiting to promote any in-person events after that, including student send-off events, until given the all-clear sign from our team. The Alumni Association expects to release further guidance to affiliate groups in mid to late June. Our goal is to be consistent with our alumni and send a united message no matter where they live. We will continue to work with University leadership to follow their recommendations and how those recommendations apply to our groups and the health and safety of our alumni and communities across the country.

As with all our decisions and advice, the health, safety, and welfare of our alumni, students, employees, and their families is of utmost importance, and we thank everyone for understanding. 

Groups may still submit requests for student send-off data; however, that data will not be sent until after President Barron’s next university update which is scheduled for June 15. [Please note that student data that will be used to award scholarships needs to be requested from the Office of Student Aid. The Scholarship Awarding Process for Alumni Association Affiliate Groups document outlines how to request that data.]

We recognize the important role that our affiliate groups play in helping to welcome new students to Penn State. Even if you cannot host an in-person student-off event this summer, we do have suggestions on how to host a virtual event. Tomorrow, June 9 at 12:10 PM ET, we will be hosting a webinar on this topic. If you have not already signed-up to attend this webinar, and you would like to attend, please contact Charlene Gaus at cxs142@psu.edu for the link.

If you have any other questions, please reach out to your regional director for assistance.