The document summarizes student programs and services offered by the Office of Alumni Relations at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. It discusses various events held throughout the year to connect students with alumni such as summer send-off picnics, welcome barbecues, and speaker series. It also describes the Red & White Student Organization that serves as student ambassadors and assists with alumni-related events. The goal of these programs is to help students network with alumni for career opportunities and build involvement with the alumni association.

1. Student Programs
The Office of Alumni Relations offers several programs and services to Rensselaer students as a way to create awareness of the
Rensselaer Alumni Association; allow students the opportunity to network with alumni to find jobs, internships and/or Co-ops.
It also allows us to build a core group of students that eventually become some of our greatest volunteers when they become
alumni. The program has been very successful over the past twelve years. We have involved over 7,000 students in 2012.
Over 75-100 alumni who were involved in many of our student programs have become chapter leaders and fully involved in all
of our programs. We continue to build a strong relationship with the Student Life Division to collaborate on ways our office
can sponsor events, interact with student leaders and have participate in their programming.
Student Programming Events
Summer Send-Off Picnics – Regional events located around the country as a welcome to the incoming first-year class. 10 – 15
different locations around the country.
Welcome Barbecue – Sponsored by the RAA and the Office of Alumni Relations. An opportunity for the incoming class to
meet and mingle with alumni on their very first day on campus. Over the past several years, the interest from the alumni to be
part of welcoming the students to the campus has almost doubled, with typically 40 – 50 alumni that participate in the program.
A gift, with the RAA logo is distributed by alumni to all of the first year students. With over 1300 students being welcomed, it
is a great opportunity for the students to meet with alumni and hear about their experiences on the very first day they are here.
The program also involves members of the Red & White Student Organization.
RAA Back-to-Campus Speaker Series – Alumni with significant life achievements come back to campus to give interactive
workshop on topics related to their professional experiences. The students have the opportunity to speak to the current students.
The speaker series won a Bronze CASE District II Accolades Award for Leadership Awards in Alumni Relations – Special
Events in 2005 for the Mars Rover Presentation.
Junior Class Ring Ceremony – Sponsored by the RAA, the event is a collaboration with Student Life, specifically the Junior
Class. Started in 2004, and a new tradition, each class has holds a special dinner to distribute the traditional class ring to those
that purchased. There is a keynote speech with the President and an alumnus/a explaining the tradition of the ring to helps build
the pride of the ring.
Zero Year Reunion – In conjunction with the Senior Class and their senior week activities, the event is an opportunity to
welcome the students to the alumni ranks. The Zero Year Reunion has been a traditional part of Senior Week and the senior
class since 1998.
Externship Program - The Externship Program is a joint effort of the Career Development Center (CDC), the Rensselaer
Alumni Association (RAA), and the Alumni Relations Office. The Externship Program is a career exploration activity that can
involve shadowing alumni or other professionals on site. The Externship Program is a new initiative for 2007-2008, but has not
been utilized since the inception.
Other Events/Affinities – We encourage all student groups to contact us with ideas and ways we can collaborate on events and
programs. We typically see 2 – 4 new events a year from student groups that we collaborate on. I.e. Residence Life Staff
Reunion, The Polytechnic Reunion, RPI TV Reunion, RPI Players, etc.
Class Councils
We continue to build relationships with all of the classes and class councils. We encourage them to find ways to include
alumni, and let us sponsor events and activities for the class. Building a relationship with the class councils has really allowed
us to stay connected with the students and to build awareness of how the Office of Alumni Relations can be a great resource.
Office of Alumni Relations
Student-Alumni Program Overview

2. Red & White Student Organization
Rensselaer's Red & White Student Organization is a group of students who represent Rensselaer at
high-visibility functions. Red & White members serve as ambassadors for Rensselaer and represent
the university to its constituency—alumni, the campus and the community. Red & White builds
relationships with alumni and the community, generates pride in the university, and promotes
student awareness of the Rensselaer Alumni Association. Members also help to promote the
traditions of Rensselaer, guide seniors through the transition from students to alumni, and instill a
sense of pride in the institute.
Red & White is one of the premiere organizations on campus. Red & White was the winner of the 2009 and 2012 as the CASE
ASAP National Award for the Student Alumni Organization of the Year and 2005 Silver CASE Circle of Excellence Awards
Program in the category of Students Involvement Programs and Projects.
The 70 student members assist during all important campus, alumni, development, and Presidential events. They also sponsor
several services, events and programs throughout the year to help promote the pride and tradition of Rensselaer.
Study Days @ the Heffner Alumni House – Created in fall of 2007, we
open the Heffner Alumni House to students to study in during their reading
days. We provide free coffee and snacks. The event has brought more than
800 students to the Heffner Alumni House. More information on Study
Days @ the Heffner Alumni House can be found at
http://www.alumni.rpi.edu/services/redandwhite/studydays.html.
Traditions – A new program in 2010, the Traditions Program is
planning several events, programs and services to help celebrate
the pride and tradition of Rensselaer. The Office of Alumni
Relations and the Red & White Student Organization will sponsor
the Traditions Tour - Part of the First Year Experience –
Navigating Rensselaer and Beyond – This unique tour of campus allows first year students to mingle with alumni, learn
about the traditions of Rensselaer, the pride and some history of Rensselaer as they first step on to campus. New in
2010, the members of the Red & White Student Organization are challenging the first year students to participate in
some of the traditions of RPI through a program called the Freshman Fifteen. Other programs include a book, helping
to co-sponsor events and activities that are traditions on campus.
Alum101 –A new program in 2010, Programs sponsored by the Red & White
Student Organizations and the Office of Alumni Relations to help seniors transition
from student to alumni. Several activities and programs are sponsored each year
with different themes that encourage students to be involved in their regions, on
campus and through their affinities.
 Senior Welcome BBQ
 Speaker Series (LinkedIn)
 Salary Negotiation
 Credit Workshop
 Speaker Series – Google Hangout
 Regional Pub Night
 Culinary Engineering
 Home Hunting 101
 Investing for the Long Run
Campus Relations –Provides services to the student populations to build a positive relationship between the Red &
White Student Organization and the Rensselaer Community.
 Welcome Barbecue – August
 Reunion & Homecoming Program/Communication for Student Population - October
 Study Days @ the Heffner Alumni House – December/May
 Face Painting Requests – Big Red Freakout/White Out/Other
 Winter Carnival Program
 GM Week Program – DJ Off/Family Feud

3.  FYE Mixer – In Collaboration with another organization
 Alumni Tours – Red & White members provide tours for any alumnus/a that returns to campus at any
time of the year.
Grad Fair
An event in February that’s put on by the Campus Bookstore to get seniors ready for Commencement. This is the first
event where we tell seniors about email for life and have them place their information down on the Senior Data Boards.
Status Check
Every senior is required to attend this event the day after the last day of spring classes in order to find out if they’re
eligible to graduate and get their Commencement tickets. We use this event to give out the alumni resource guides as
well as collect their information with MyFav5 and the Senior Data Boards.
Senior Data Boards
We have eight boards representing the region’s most students move to. They are displayed starting at the Grad Fair and
throughout the semester at senior events. When the students know to where they’re moving, they put their name and
email address on a Post-It and put it on the board for the area to where they’re moving. After Status Check, we
compile all of this information and send it back out to the students so they can see who is moving to their area. It’s also
a great way for us to get information from them.
CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS PARTNERSHIPS
COURSES WITH ALUMNI: The Courses with Alumni dinners serve to match-up Red &
White members and RPI alumni who share professional interests so they may discuss those
interests in an informal environment. It is the hope that, through this discussion, the students
will be able to gain a better understanding of the career paths they are currently interested in,
and the alumni will have an opportunity, if they wish, to recruit some of the school’s most
motivated, involved, and successful student leaders.
CAMPUS TOURS: Red & White members are available for one-on-one small group tours of campus. This is a unique
opportunity to see the campus while having casual conversation along the way. We also work to match the interest of
the requestor of the tour to a Red & White member to provide an even more unique experience.
EXTERNSHIP: A rare and unique opportunity for Rensselaer student to shadow an alumnus/a of your corporation for a
daylong experience to gain insight and knowledge. The opportunity allow employers to recruit, to showcase their
industry, and to obtain research knowledge from the individual student.
SPEAKER SERIES: Working together we can use our connections to collaborate on a program that will showcase
your company to the entire Rensselaer campus. We can assist in planning, promoting and participating in any type of
speaker program such as a panel discussion or a keynote speaker.
CORPORATE CAMPUS BRANDING: We can help to build awareness and facilitate interaction even before you
come on campus. We are happy to notify students of what your company is about, what you are looking for and simply
build the excitement of what you have to offer!
RESEARCH SHOWCASE: Our connections to the Rensselaer student are unique and we are able to use our everyday
knowledge and experience to help showcase research projects, innovations and breakthroughs from our own peers. If it
is simply along a tour route, or you interest is meeting and greeting these individuals, we can help!
PROGRAM ASSISTANCE: The organization is experienced in event planning, including the logistics and marketing
of a program. Who better to assist in planning a program for students than the students themselves? We can use our
outlets and resources to provide support.
CAMPUS CONNECT: The membership of our organization is very connected to all aspects of the campus, from the
academic side to the extracurricular side. If you are looking for ways to connect with students, through presentations,
lunches, dinners or simply a casual conversation, we are able to use these connections to fulfill that request.
WE’RE SOCIAL: We have an amazing presence on our social media networks. We can use this technology to
promote any of or our programs or partnership. We very active with promoting via Facebook and Twitter.

4. weR: The Spirit of Rensselaer Society
weR is a student organization that builds spirit on campus through unique, fun, and special programs.
The organization focuses on celebrating the great talent, programs, and activities of the student
population. The group strives to foster school spirit as an inherent and exciting part of Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute by promoting student involvement, support, and unity through unique programming
that embraces the existing culture in an effort to ensure that “tradition never graduates.”
 weR HERE
 weR SWAGGER
 weR OPEN
 weR PROUD
 weR SLIMED
 weR WELCOMING
 weR FANS
 weR FROZEN
 weR SWEET
 weR 188
 weR BRIGHT
 RPI Spirit Day
 Pack the Union
 Winter Carnival
 weR INSPIRED
 weR on ICE
 weR FOOLISH
 Powderpuff (2013)
 weR PROUD
 weR SEMI SWEET
Greek Life
The Office of Alumni Relations has partnered with over 25 Greek organizations over the past seven years to provide database
services, help in the planning of anniversary and milestone celebrations, collaborate on special events, and leverage resources
for major weekends such as Reunion & Homecoming. The RAA sponsors the Greek ChowderFest at Reunion & Homecoming.
In past years, the RAA has also sponsored the RAA Advisor of the Year Award for Greek Life. The Office of Alumni
Relations and the RAA have become a major force in the Greek Community. Many organizations find the value of the OAR,
the RAA and the AIGC. For more information on how we collaborate with Greek organizations and our Commitment to Greek
Life, visit http://www.alumni.rpi.edu/involved/greeks/ .
iModules Integration (Website)
Utilizing our iModules tool, we offer online registration and account setup for the Senior Class through their 100 Days Party, 50
Day Soiree, and the Senior Week. Through these programs, we are able to capture anywhere between 800 – 900 new and
accurate email addresses of the senior class. It also allows them to start to get online through our system in order to be
communicated to and encouraged to attend regional events.
Online Resources
Student Programs Web site - http://www.alumni.rpi.edu/involved/students/index.html
Red & White Student Organization – http://redandwhite.alumni.rpi.edu
weR: The Spirit of Rensselaer Society – http://weR.rpi.edu
Greek Life Collaboration - http://alumni.rpi.edu/s/1225/start.aspx?sid=1225&gid=1&pgid=441
Contact
Geoff Seber
Manager, Alumni Programs
Office of Alumni Relations - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
1301 Peoples Ave.
Troy, NY 12180
Office: 518-276-2324
Fax: 518-276-4081
Website: http://www.alumni.rpi.edu