Annual Elections

The principal responsibility of this committee is to select the members of the Alumni Association's Board of Directors: president, president-select, and term directors. 

• At least five years experience as volunteers for the Alumni Association and/or MIT
• Demonstrated strong leadership skills and familiarity with the programs and activities of the Association
• A commitment to the Association's objectives of service to alumni and to MIT

• Ask your nominee if he/she is willing to be a candidate on the ballot.
• Submit your nomination online.

In the spirit of fairness and in keeping with other election practices in place, the Alumni Association asks that there be no electioneering, campaigning, or soliciting of votes on behalf of any one candidate running on this ballot. We do encourage individuals and alumni groups to share information about the election in general, while avoiding highlighting any of the candidates individually.

Those eligible to participate in this year's nomination and election process are the undergraduate and graduate members of the current graduating year (2023) and the alumni of the two most recently graduated years (2023, 2022). Nominees/Candidates for the 2024 ballot election must not be continuing on as a student or employee of MIT (including MIT Lincoln Lab) after June 30, 2024. For the 2023-2024 period, nominations are due November 15, by 11:59PM (ET). 

 All eligible nominees will be contacted and, if they choose to continue in the process, asked to submit a formal application. The Corporation Screening Committee will review all nominations, select a short list of nominees to interview, and then select between 6-10 candidates for the ballot. The ballot will be available electronically in April 2024 to all those eligible to vote (graduates from the current year and the two years prior). The winning candidate will be elected by preferential voting. Upon approval by the Corporation Governance and Nominating Committee, and the members of the Corporation, the winning candidate's term of office will begin on July 1, 2024. Self-nominations are welcome.

October/November

• Emails (soliciting nominations) sent to recent grads (from the previous 2 years) and prospective grads (from the current year) 
• Deadline to submit nominations (above)
• Alumni Association to send necessary forms to nominees and collect information from nominees

December

• Early/mid: Nomination materials are due from nominees (completed application, resume, signed electioneering policy form)
• Mid Dec: Workbook of compiled nomination materials sent to Corporation Screening Committee (CSC) members 
• CSC members review nominations

January

• Early/Mid Jan: CSC conference call #1 to determine those to be selected for interviews 
• CSC Chair assigns each CSC member with nominees for first and second interviews 
• Emails sent to nominees, on behalf of CSC members to schedule their interviews 
• Email sent to those not selected to be interviewed 
• Interviews occur between mid January and mid February

February

• Early/mid Feb: CSC conference call #2 to determine final candidates to stand for ballot election 
• Email ballot instructions to candidates 
• Email sent to those not selected to run on the ballot

March

• Candidate text and photos are due 
• A conference call will be held between ballot candidates and the CSC to review the election process

April

• Early: Electronic ballot of selected nominees published 
• Emails (encouraging eligible voters to vote) sent to recent grads and prospective grads for this year 
• Late: Polls close

May

• First week: Votes tallied, CSC chair notifies winner and other candidates

June

• The name of the individual who wins the election will be presented to the MIT Corporation Membership Committee for approval at its June meeting

July 

• 1: Five year term on the MIT Corporation begins for newly elected member

Those eligible to participate in this year's nomination and election process are the undergraduate and graduate members of the current graduating year (2024) and the alumni of the two most recently graduated years (2023, 2022). 

Nominees/Candidates for the 2023 ballot election must not be continuing on as a student or employee of MIT (including MIT Lincoln Lab) after June 30, 2024.

ELECTIONEERING POLICY: Applies to both nominees seeking candidacy and those selected for the Corporation ballot. In keeping with other election processes for alumni to be elected for service to the MIT community, the Corporation Screening Committee has adopted the following policy:

Candidates are encouraged to discuss their candidacy and promote the election so long as they do not explicitly endorse one or more candidates. Candidates may raise awareness that an election is happening and encourage eligible alumni to participate in voting. The Corporation Screening Committee will make preapproved marketing materials available.

The use of individual emails and direct messages on social media is allowed when directed at individuals who are eligible to vote and with whom the candidate knows personally. Contacting mass mailing lists, postering, and in-person campaigning are prohibited. WhatsApp groups / mass text lists are prohibited and will be treated similar to an email list. Asking questions / running a survey / gathering opinions will all be considered as forms of campaigning. Public personal posts on social media are not allowed, though candidates may share official marketing communications shared by the MIT Alumni Association.

The purpose of this policy is to encourage communication about the election and the Corporation while shielding voters and others from excessive, unwanted, or otherwise inappropriate contacts.

When in doubt about whether a specific practice is permitted, candidates should seek guidance by contacting mitcorpballot@mit.edu. Failure to seek guidance may be construed against candidates in assessments of whether a violation has taken place.

Candidates are required to report all violations to the Electioneering Policy, whether in their favor or against, to ballotviolations@mit.edu. Violations of the electioneering policy or its intent may result in a candidate’s disqualification.

The Corporation - the board of trustees of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - holds a public trust: to see that the Institute adheres to the purposes for which it was chartered and that its integrity and financial resources are preserved for future generations as well as for current purposes. The Corporation and its committees have responsibility for reviewing and providing guidance on strategic directions, approving annual budgets, exercising long-term fiduciary responsibility, approving the establishment of new degree programs or courses of study, approving degrees, electing the President (as well as the other Corporation officers), and being available (individually as well as collectively) to advise the President on issues that he/she may wish to raise with them.  Visit the MIT Corporation site for more details.

Submit a nomination online.

All eligible nominees will be contacted and, if they choose to continue in the process, asked to submit a formal application. The Corporation Screening Committee will review all applications, select a short list of nominees to interview, and then select between 6-10 candidates for the ballot. The ballot will be distributed in April of that year to all those eligible to vote (the current graduating year and the two years prior). The winning candidate will be elected by preferential voting. Upon approval by the Corporation Governance and Nominating Committee, and the members of the Corporation, the winning candidate's term of office will begin on July 1 of that year.