How to Be a Supportive College Alumni Member

You've gone broke spending money on tuition, fees, books and graduation. Now that you're out in the real world, you may wonder what's going on with your university or college now or how to support the students who came after you left. Here are step-by-step instructions on why and how to support your university.

Things You'll Need

• Money for travel by plane, bus, or car
• Alumni member application

Instructions

How to be a Supportive College Alumni Member

1. The tough time that you and your peers had while paying for tuition, books, fees, and living expenses during college travels down to the next generation of students. Contact the alumni association of your alma mater to find out how to donate money for scholarships and grants to help current students.

2. Join the alumni association. Every university or college with a website will have information on how to join and probably an online site to pay for membership or mail in a completed form. While alumni fees vary depending on the university, joining an alumni chapter is an excellent way to keep in touch with your college peers and get regular updates about what's happening at your alma mater, for example, homecoming dates, campus appearance updates, donations and celebrations.

3. 

   Attend the celebratory events, specifically the ones that bring money to the campus. Homecoming is a notorious gift-giving time. By paying for events that you want to attend regardless, a portion of your money may be donated to that university, such as tickets for the parade floats, football games, Greek stepping shows, alumni parties, student parties, music artist appearances and food gatherings.

4. 

   While you are at the university, try to make a visit to the university bookstore. The bookstores usually have paraphernalia that you can take home with you to show off your school spirit. School spirit items include mugs, keychains, t-shirts, sweatshirts, bumper stickers, journals, jackets, pillows and so forth.

5. 

   If you have university or college paraphernalia, wear it to big events. People tend to notice what others are wearing whether it's on their shirts, caps, jackets, and even if they're driving down the street with bumper stickers on their cars. If someone stops to ask you about your university, be sure to direct that person to the university or college website or offer to answer more detailed questions they have. By promoting your alma mater, you could possibly be bringing more students there, which will also benefit your alma mater economically. Wearing advertisements for your alma mater also makes a bold statement that you are proud of attending that university or college.