UDAILY is produced by
the Office of Public Relations
150 South College Ave.
Newark, DE 19716-2701
(302) 831-2791

Oct. 3, 2002 -- Q: As a UD graduate, why should I give to the University?

A: Financial support from alumni, parents, friends and employees accounts for 43 percent of the University’s operating budget. Nineteen percent of the budget comes from the state and 38 percent comes from tuition and fees. Alumni participation in the University’s Annual Giving program has a direct and positive impact on the educational experience of students.

Q: I received such a great education at the University of Delaware and now I want to make a donation. What are my options?

A: There are several ways to make gifts to the University.

Online gifts via credit card can be made at [www.udel.edu/makeagift].

Contact the Office of Annual Giving at (302) 831-2104, or e-mail [annualgiving@udel.edu] to make a credit card gift.

Send a check (made payable to the University) or your credit card information with the amount as well as designation to the following address:

Office of Annual Giving
Academy Building
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716

You may also support UD with a gift of stock. Please call the office at (302) 831-2104 for transaction procedures.

Sept. 27, 2002--Q: What do I do to receive the Messenger?

A: The Messenger, the University of Delaware magazine, is published four times a year by the Office of Public Relations. In additional to campus news and features about alumni and current students, each issue highlights alumni in the Class Notes section. The Messenger is mailed to recent graduates, the parents of current students and donors of $25 or more annually to the University of Delaware. To learn how to make a gift, visit the Office of Annual Giving web site at [http://www.udel.edu/makeagift].

Q: I just got married. How can I have a wedding announcement included in the Messenger?

A: A wedding? A promotion? A new job? A new addition to your family? Moved to a new region? New degrees? Please keep us posted about what’s happening in your life. E-mail the Office of Alumni and University Relations at [AlumNet@udel.edu], or visit our web site at [http://www.udel.edu/alumni/intouch] to let us know your latest news or to update your address.

Q: I am a UD graduate. How do I become a member of the Alumni Association?

A: All UD graduates automatically become members of the Alumni Association upon graduation. There are no annual or one-time dues to pay to receive the benefits of membership. To find out more about the Association and how you can get involved, visit [http://www.udel.edu/alumni/alum/board].

Sept. 13, 2002 -- Q: I've lost touch with my college roommate. Can you give me his address or phone number?

A: Although we cannot give out personal information about our alumni, we try to help you stay connected with your classmates. Many alumni have posted their email addresses on the Alumni web page. Visit http://www.udel.edu/alumni/alum/email.html to see if your friends are listed. If you are unable to locate a lost friend on the Alumni web page, we can try to contact your friend for you to let them know you are searching for them. Send us an email at AlumNet@udel.edu to start the process.

Q: I graduated from the University of Delaware and now my son is investigating colleges. Does my alumni status affect his application? Are there additional scholarships he can apply for?

A: We love to receive applications from children of alumni. Our policy states, “All factors being equal, the sons and daughters of alumni of the University of Delaware are given preference in the admissions process.” In essence, if we are looking at the files of two non-resident applicants – both on the margin in terms of qualifications for admission – and one student’s mom or dad attended the University, we give “extra” weight to that fact in making our decision. It does not mean that the student will be admitted, but it does benefit a student to have a parent who is a member of the Delaware alumni body.

Freshman applicants may be eligible for merit scholarships awarded solely on the basis of academic merit. Applications for admissions completed by January 15th will automatically be reviewed for academic scholarships.

We also offer athletic, music, art and Phi Theta Kappa scholarships. Athletic scholarships are available in the following varsity sports: Men’s baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer; Women’s basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, volleyball. Students interested in applying for a music scholarship will need to audition and students interested in art scholarships will need to submit a portfolio. Phi Theta Kappa scholarships are available to selected transfer students who hold an Associates degree and are entering Delaware directly from an accredited two-year college.

There is no separate scholarship application that needs to be submitted for scholarship consideration.

Q: Who benefits from Alumni Scholarships?

A: A variety of students benefit from scholarships created or supported by alumni. Most of the scholarships are distributed through the application process when a student applies for admission. The Alumni Association is directly involved in selecting some scholarship recipients, including the Alumni Scholars. The Alumni Scholars Program provides half of tuition for students 4 years at UD and is highly competitive. Preference is given to children of alumni. Other scholarships are available to current students such as Alumni Enrichment Awards providing grants for specific academic opportunities and the Warner and Taylor Awards presented to the most outstanding senior woman and man, respectively, each year. To find out more about scholarships the Alumni Association awards, visit http://www.udel.edu/alumni/students/scholarships.html

Q: If the University of Delaware Alumni Association is not a dues paying organization, how does it get its money?

A: The Alumni Association has a variety of programs and merchandise, which generate royalties to support scholarships and student programming. Of these programs, the MBNA affinity card, is the most successful and has enabled the Association to provide almost $1.3 million to the University for scholarships. If you don’t already have an UD Alumni Association credit card visit http://www.udel.edu/alumni/credit.html to find out how you can start supporting the Association and its programs.

Sept. 6 -- Q: I heard that admissions standards are higher now than when I went to Delaware. Is this true?

A: Not only did UD receive a record number of more than 20,000 applications for this year’s incoming freshman class, but there also was an increase in the overall quality of the applicant pool. Qualitative measures, such as GPA and SAT scores, have been on the rise for the past decade. In addition to having higher GPAs and SAT scores, applicants are taking challenging courses and are very involved in their high schools and communities. UD students come from all 50 states and more than 100 foreign countries. To view a detailed profile of the class of 2006, visit [www.udel.edu/admissions/viewbook/apply/profile.html].

Q: When I was a student, I was able to talk to UD alumni about career opportunities. Now that I’ve graduated, I’d like to help students explore career options in my field.

A: The MBNA Career Services Center is always searching for alumni mentors for the Day on the Job program. You can meet with students via e-mail, on the phone or at your workplace. The MBNA Career Services Center will match you with a current student who is interested in your professional field. To learn more about the Day on the Job program, visit [http://www.udel.edu/CSC/dayonthejob.html] or call (302) 831-1231.

Q: The other day, I saw a UD license plate on a car. How can I get one in my state?

A: University of Delaware official license plates are available for residents of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia through the UD Alumni Association. Show your UD spirit and put it on a plate! Part of the registration fee from Delaware and Maryland plates is used for student scholarships. For information, visit [http://www.udel.edu/alumni/plates.html] or call the Office of Alumni and University Relations at (302) 831-2341. Coming soon … New Jersey! If you live in New Jersey, please let us know if you might be interested in a University of Delaware New Jersey license plate.