The first University of Alberta degrees were awarded in 1912, creating the constituency for an Alumni Association. Within three years of the graduation of the University's first class, a constitution for the University of Alberta Alumni Association had been drafted. There are currently more than 200,000 living University Alumni worldwide.
The University of Alberta Alumni Association is a volunteer, non-profit organization which works interdependently with the Office of Alumni Affairs. Upon graduation, and without fee, all graduates of the U of A automatically become lifetime members of the Association. The aims of the Association and its governing body, Alumni Council, are supported by the Office of Alumni Affairs.
Alumni Council represents the alumni constituency, providing advice and determining policy. It reviews programs, provides input to the university administration, and directs the assets of the Association. Funds for association operations come from its revenue-generating programs. All Council members are elected and serve without financial remuneration. Alumni Council meets four times annually.
Alumni Council is composed of:
- one representative from each of the 17 degree-granting faculties and two members-at-large,
- the President and Past-President of the Association,
- the Honorary President (the University president),
- two alumni representatives on each of the Board of Governors and Senate (chosen by the Alumni Council),
- the Presidents of the Students' Union and the Graduate Students& Association (ex-officio),
- and the Executive Director of the Alumni Association and the University Vice-President (External Affairs) (ex-officio, non-voting).
The Council reports to the University through its liaison, the Executive Director of the Association, to the alumni at large through its various communication vehicles and directly to constituencies through alumni branches and chapters.