Alumni Association Expansion

Thank you for supporting the NC State Alumni Association through your membership dues. We are excited to announce that as a result of your involvement, we can now offer the larger university community more opportunities to engage with NC State.

Beginning July 1, 2023, the Alumni Association will no longer collect dues for annual and lifetime memberships and will no longer enroll new members. This change will remove barriers to engagement and encourage more people to participate in NC State experiences, regardless of whether they’re members of the association. And you will still receive invitations to unique experiences and tap into the benefits and services that were part of your membership.

After eliminating membership, the Alumni Association will transition from offering members-only events and services to providing expanded experiences for all. This change will create more impactful opportunities to connect with NC State alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends. You will also continue to be able to support student leadership initiatives and alumni programming through the Alumni Association Impact Fund.

Thank you for your continued commitment to NC State and the Alumni Association.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is changing, and why?
Of the more than 270,000 living NC State alumni, fewer than 15,000 are dues-paying members of the Alumni Association. Much of the association’s staff and resources were dedicated to servicing dues-paying members rather than the larger university community. After thoughtful consideration of these facts, the Alumni Association Board of Directors and university staff decided to change the association so that it is no longer based on dues or membership. The move allows the Alumni Association to open all programs and events to NC State alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends without the “member” and “nonmember” distinction. The association’s staff and resources will focus on creating mutually beneficial, lifelong connections to the university.

Is the mission of the NC State Alumni Association changing?
No. The Alumni Association’s mission — to provide opportunities for alumni and friends to engage with our ever-expanding Wolfpack, and to inspire them to #HowlBack — continues unchanged. This transition will allow us to commit more resources to developing meaningful engagement opportunities and supporting a culture of lifelong belonging to NC State.

How does this change affect lifetime members?
Lifetime membership dues are held in an endowment that strengthens NC State in perpetuity by supporting programming for students and alumni. As of July 1, 2023, those who are lifetime members will still receive the benefits of lifetime membership and will be included in a special constituency group, newly created just for them. Read more about lifetime benefits.

How does this change affect annual members?
Active annual members of the Alumni Association will continue to receive members-only benefits until their membership expires. Read more about annual benefits.

When do these changes go into effect?
Beginning July 1, 2023, the Alumni Association will no longer collect dues for membership or enroll new members. Alumni and friends interested in becoming members of the Alumni Association can continue to do so until June 26, 2023.

What about the Student Alumni Association?
The elimination of dues and new membership does not affect the Student Alumni Association.

If I’m a lifetime member who is paying my dues on a payment plan, what happens to my membership if I don’t complete my payment plan before these changes take effect?
Lifetime members who are paying their dues on a payment plan have from June 2023 to December 2023 to pay off their balance. Please email alumni-membership-online@ncsu.edu for details.

What have my past membership dues supported?
Annual dues have supported student leadership initiatives, student and alumni programming, and career development opportunities, faculty and student recognition awards, as well as a set of benefits available only to members. Lifetime dues are held in an endowment that strengthens NC State in perpetuity.

How can I check my membership status?
You can check your membership status by emailing alumni-assoc-membership@ncsu.edu or calling us at 800-627-2586.

What happens to my membership benefits?
Members still have access to benefits. Read more about lifetime member benefits and annual membership benefits.

Will the Alumni Association continue to offer career counseling and access to ePACK?
Yes, while your membership is active you still have access to one-on-one career counseling and ePACK. The Alumni Association is planning to expand its professional development programming.

Will I still receive NC State magazine?
Yes, while your membership is active you will still receive NC State magazine. Those who are lifetime members on June 30, 2023, will continue to receive NC State magazine indefinitely. The Alumni Association plans to expand distribution of NC State magazine to a wider audience.

Will the Alumni Association continue to support alumni networks and constituency groups?
Yes, we will continue to support engagement opportunities through various groups.

If I just joined the Alumni Association, will I still receive a membership card?
Yes, members will receive a membership card for the term of their membership.

Will the Alumni Association continue to exist without membership dues?
Yes, the Alumni Association is a 501(c)(3) organization, classified as an associated entity of NC State.

How will the Alumni Association fund programming without membership fees?
The Alumni Association is staffed and supported by University Advancement’s Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving Team. University Advancement will continue to provide support to the Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving team and the Alumni Association.

What is the NC State Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving?
The Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving was created in 2022 to combine the staff and resources of Annual Giving and the Alumni Association. The new office will better align the Alumni Association for future growth and better integrate the work of alumni engagement with other university priorities.

What is the difference between Alumni Association membership dues and contributing to NC State?
Membership dues support events, activities, and programming for alumni, students, and friends, and offer a set of benefits that previously were not available to all alumni. Since there are benefits tied to membership, dues are not tax-deductible. On the other hand, contributions to NC State are tax-deductible that support scholarships, faculty research, our colleges and units, NC State priorities, and the university’s academic mission.

Can I get a refund for my membership?
The Alumni Association will not be offering refunds because benefits and services are still available for the term of your membership.

Who should I contact with questions about these changes?
You can email us at alumni-assoc-online@ncsu.edu or call 800-627-2586.