These are difficult financial times for many people and organizations, including WSU.
For the 2003-04 academic year, the university will be operating with decreased state funding and an increase in tuition, while the prolonged downturn in the market has forced the WSU Foundation to reduce the amount of student scholarships, equipment purchases and faculty stipends provided from some of its endowed funds to the university.
Likewise, the WSU Alumni Association will be affected. In the coming weeks, our directors must deal with a fiscal situation that will result in the need to cut or scale back some of our services and programs that support WSU and our alumni. The association is blessed, however, with a core of dedicated volunteers and a hardworking (and budget-conscious) professional staff.
Although the overall budget has remained level or decreased in the last several years, we have continued to meet our core mission through our publications, programming and awarding of student scholarships. It is, of course, our goal to maintain a similar level of service for FY 2004.
But to meet this goal, we need your help. If you are an annual dues-paying member of the association, please continue your membership — and consider a three-year or a life membership. If your resources allow, please consider a separate gift to the association. Our Shocker Partners program allows companies and individuals to make one annual gift to the association that provides benefits throughout the year, and our Heritage Fund program is designed to help cover our operating expenses.
If you have more time than money to contribute, please give us a call. We are always interested in volunteers, whether you help us find items for our Shocker Auction, assist in recruiting students or myriad volunteer opportunities in between.
Please call (316) 978-3290 for information about how you can get involved at the association.
