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Class Elections

Elect Officers to Lead Your Class

Class reunion givingA 1992 class officer reads her class reunion giving results. Photo: Justin Knight.

The general business of each class is conducted by a set of officers who are elected every five years. While class organizations vary, the Alumni Association recommends that each class elect a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and Webmaster. Classes may elect additional officers and members-at-large, depending on the projects they wish to pursue. Good officers make the difference in class activities, and careful attention should be given to their selection.

Class officer terms

Officers are elected for five-year terms at their quinquennial reunions. Terms run from July 1 after the reunion through June 30 in the year of the next reunion.

Nomination and Class Election Timeline 2012

January 23–27 Class Programs staff contact class presidents to discuss potential nomination chairs.
January 30–
February 6
 President recruits nomination chair.
February 8 Class president informs Class Programs staff of the name of the nomination chair. If the class president has made no response, approach other class officers for advice on how to proceed.
February 9 – March 5 - Nomination chairs receive from the class programs staff a packet of information containing class officer job descriptions and timeline.

- Class programs staff contact nomination chairs to review nomination process.

- Nomination chairs recruit class officer candidates.
March 6 Nomination Chair reports class officer candidate names and election method to Class Programs staff.
OPTION  1: ONLINE ELECTIONS
March 23Class Programs staff send class officer candidates an election form containing some basic information about the candidate. This form will have space for an optional candidate’s statement and photo. (Note: this information will be published online)
April 6Deadline for the candidates to verify the election form and to submit their optional statements with photo to the Class Programs staff.
May 14–11
 Online voting occurs from 9am on May 14 to 5pm  on June 11
June 7–10
 Tech Reunions
June 18Classes are notified of election results.
OPTION 2: IN-PERSON CLASS ELECTIONS
End of MarchClass Event at which class elections will be held during Tech Reunions publicized on class Web page and via class email list.
June 7–10Tech Reunions- classmates vote on new officers during a class meeting. Nomination chair submits voting results to Class Programs staff.
June 18Classes are notified of election results.
 

Class officer job descriptions

Each class officer has unique responsibilities within the class. Read the job descriptions to learn more.

Nomination chair job description

The nomination chair is appointed by the class president six months before the reunion. This chair thoughtfully reviews and recruits possible candidates for the officer positions, and may select two or three classmates to assist him or her on a nominating committee. Ideally, the nomination chair should choose classmates from different segments of the class in order to represent as many constituencies as possible. Responsibilities include:

  • With class president, determine nominations strategy (preparing a slate of officers to present to the class or seeking candidates to run in a contested election).
  • With class president, determine election method (for example, elections at a class meeting during reunion vs. online elections).
  • Consult with the Class Programs staff in the Alumni Association, if necessary, for assistance in identifying potential candidates.
  • Seek nominations from classmates for officer positions - president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and Webmaster.
  • Use existing class communication vehicles (email list, Web site) to encourage nominations, and/or personally contact current volunteers or other classmates for suggestions.
  • When preparing a slate, review possible candidates and match skills and interests with position requirements.
  • Contact prospective candidates to confirm their interest and availability to serve if elected (prospective slate or all candidates if conducting a contested election).
  • Submit names of candidates to the Alumni Association and class president once they are confirmed.

Election methods: online or in person

The election process relies on one of two methods: online elections or voting at a class meeting during Tech Reunions. The Alumni Association began supporting online class elections in 2001. Online elections enable a greater number of class members to participate in the process, since alumni who are unable to attend the reunion may still vote. Online elections also provide an opportunity to more broadly promote the importance of class officer roles and responsibilities. The online process supplies automatic compilation and the online posting of results for the entire class to follow. For some classes, however, conducting elections during reunion weekend is preferable. In that case, a class business meeting should be scheduled during a high attendance reunion event to hear reports, consider motions, and elect officers.