MUW Alumnae Association

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The MUW Alumnae Association is an organization for the alumni of Mississippi University for Women.

[edit] History

The university’s alumnae association[1] was officially created in 1889 with the graduation of the first class from the university. The responsibility of the original organization was to (1) Promote School Loyalty (2) Maintain Class Ties (3) Support the scholarship loan program, and (4) To coordinate alumnae scholarship gifts. The first full time alumnae office was established in 1925 for the Alumnae Secretary. This office was also responsible for coordinating the Alumnae Bulletin, homecoming activities, local chapter organizations, and fund raising and recruiting efforts.[2]

[edit] Conflict

The relationship between Mississippi University for Women and its alumni became complicated when current university president, Claudia Limbert, announced her decision to disaffiliate from the 117 year old MUW Alumnae Association. [3] Though the formal disaffiliation began on February 1, 2007 and went into effect on April 2, 2007, the chain of events that lead to this break-up started several years ago.

Upon her installation as president, Limbert placed the administration of the MUW Alumnae Association under the Vice President of Instutional Advancement[4]. Prior to this change, the Director of Alumni Affairs answered directly to the President[5]. In 2002, Limbert publicly considered changing the name of Mississippi University for Women so that it did not include the word “Women” in the title after a marketing survey suggested that the school's name made it unclear who could and could not attend.[6][7]. One month after that announcement, Limbert announced her decision to cancel the MUW Athletic program after a tornado destroyed the athletics building. [8] The existing MUW Alumnae Association publicly expressed their displeasure related to these decisions.

In 2006, Limbert publicly demoted the Director of Alumni Affairs and fired the Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs for sharing confidential donor information with members of the Alumnae Association. This action came after Limbert seized computers and records in the Alumni Affairs office. [9] Evidence uncovered in the University’s investigation of the alumni office led not only to personnel decisions but also demonstrated the need to define more precisely the relationship between the University and the alumnae association. [10]

Also in 2006, the Board of Directors for the State of Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning announced a new requirement that all organizations such as alumni associations, athletic support organizations, foundations, etc. have a formal affiliation agreement with their university. [11] The existing alumnae board tried to negotiate a compromise to establish new bylaws under their affiliation agreement with the university, however the university, after extending the appointed deadline once, ended negotiations and the president appointed her own Alumni Advisory Committee.[12]

As a result on March 29, 2007 members of the National Executive Board of the MUWAA filed suit in the Lowndes County Chancery Court seeking to stop the disaffiliation. The National Executive Board of the MUWAA is represented pro bono by Julie Hussey, an attorney with the San Diego, Calif., law firm DLA Piper DLA Piper and an MUW alumnus. [13]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mississippi University for Women - Alumnae Association
  2. ^ Pieschel, Bridget Smith; Stephen Robert Pieschel (1984). Loyal Daughters: One Hundred Years at Mississippi University for Women. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 0878052437. 
  3. ^ Sansing, Perry (February 14,), Report On Decision Concerning Mississippi University For Women Alumnae Association, <http://www.muw.edu/report/> 
  4. ^ Board of Trustees
  5. ^ Unofficial Community Site of a Mississippi University for Women Graduate
  6. ^ Mississippi University for Women (November 19, 2002). "Limbert to address MUW name change in the spring". Press release.
  7. ^ "MUW Identity not Clear". Press release.
  8. ^ Mississippi University for Women (December 19, 2002). "Board to approve discontinuation of MUW's intercollegiate athletic program at January meeting". Press release.
  9. ^ Mississippi University for Women (May 5, 2006). "MUW alumnae Garrett, Mims to head alumni relations". Press release.
  10. ^ Mississippi University for Women (February 2,). "Overby to chair MUW Alumni Association Advisory Committee". Press release.
  11. ^ Institute of Higher Learning, Board of Trustees State of Mississippi (November 15, 2006). {{{title}}}. Jackson, MS: State of Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning. 
  12. ^ Mississippi University for Women (February 13, 2007). "Overby announces members of MUW Alumni Advisory Committee". Press release.
  13. ^ Halbert, Garthia. "Alum group files suit to stop MUW disaffiliation", Commercial Dispatch, March 29, 2007. 


Mississippi University for Women

Academics:

College of Business • College of Education and Human Sciences • College of Nursing and Speech Language Pathology • College of Arts and Sciences • Culinary Arts Institute • Southern Women’s Institute

Related Institutions:

Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Mississippi Governor’s School, Eudora Welty Writer’s Symposium, Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi

Administration:

Community Living, Campus, Campus Organizations, 2-year Social Clubs, 4-year Social Clubs, History, Student Life, Alumni, Institutional Advancement