Institutional Advancement Plunkett Center 541-552-6127

SOU CATALOG HOME : INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

The Department of Institutional Advancement consists of the offices of Alumni Relations, Annual Giving, Planned Giving, Center for the Visual Arts Campaign, and the SOU Foundation. Institutional Advancement is responsible for establishing and maintaining good community relations and supporting the fund raising efforts of the foundation which are key to the overall advancement of SOU.

Alumni Relations
Plunkett Center
541-552-6361 or 800-501-7672

The Alumni Office serves as link between Southern Oregon University and its alumni. Its activities are aimed at strengthening ties with alumni, publicizing their achievements, and sponsoring events and programs that are of interest and benefit to them. The Alumni Office maintains computer records of former students, publishes the Southern Oregonian alumni newsletter, conducts on-campus reunions, offers travel opportunities, and assists in organizing regional alumni activities.

Annual Giving and Corporate Relations
Plunkett Center
541-552-6361
Elizabeth Press, Director

The Annual Giving and Corporate Relations Office works closely with the Office of Institutional Advancement to direct the University's Annual Giving Drive. The drive involves SOU faculty, emeritus faculty, present and retired staff, the SOU Foundation, and approximately 20,000 alumni and friends of the University in direct mail and telemarketing campaigns.

Planned Giving
Plunkett Center
541-552-6872
Bruce Bynum, Director

The Gift Planning Office works with alumni, businesses, and friends of the University to facilitate gifts to the University. The planning process utilizes the entire spectrum of financial and estate planning tools including charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, and bequests to accomplish donors' desires to help the University.

Community Groups

Regional Advisory Board
Churchill Hall 125
541-552-6111
Mary Ellen Fleeger, Executive Director

The Regional Advisory Board consists of up to forty-five members of the southern Oregon region who meet regularly for the purpose of providing communication between Southern Oregon University and its constituencies. The group plays an active role in advising the University administration of area interests and needs with special emphasis on the educational, economic, social, and cultural betterment of the region.

The board also informs the public about institutional goals, educational policies, and specific projects of the University as they are presented by the administration. Members communicate with groups and individuals who are charged with responsibility for college-level learning. These groups include, but are not limited to, the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and advisory bodies serving other colleges and universities.

SOU Foundation
Plunkett Center
541-552-6127
Executive Director

The Southern Oregon University Foundation was established in 1959 to provide a resource designed to maximize the quality of education offered at the University. Economic and social changes present a constant challenge to a university's ability to meet a standard of excellence. In some areas, this standard cannot be met with the amount of state funding provided. The SOU Foundation consists of thirty-five members from the southern Oregon region, along with national and international members who help provide additional resources to the University through the solicitation and management of cash gifts, bequests, real property, and other assets.

Those who wish to participate or contribute should contact the SOU Foundation.

Affiliated Organizations

Alumni Association

The mission of the Alumni Association is to perpetuate the bond between Southern Oregon University and its former students. The association is governed by an elected volunteer board whose responsibility is to direct the association's activities and programs to best serve the needs of alumni. These activities include sponsoring an alumni travel program, reunions, regional activities, and honoring distinguished alumni.

Friends of the Library
Teresa Montgomery, Interim Executive Director

The Friends of the Library foster a close relationship between the SOU library and the residents of the larger community it serves. They work to assist in the growth and development of library resources and services and provide an active forum for the interchange of information about books and writing by sponsoring lectures and other activities.

Friends of the Schneider Museum of Art
TBA, Director

The Friends of the Schneider Museum of Art is a community based organization supporting the museum and the visual arts at Southern Oregon University. The Friends actively participate in museum programs and provide a link between the museum and the community.

Jefferson Public Radio Listeners Guild
Ronald Kramer, Executive Director

The Listeners Guild raises money to supplement federal and state funds supporting the campus based Jefferson Public Radio network of public radio stations serving southern Oregon and northern California. The Guild also publishes the magazine Jefferson Monthly as a service to its members. Jefferson Monthly covers news, arts, and feature items of interest to Guild members and provides program listings for Jefferson Public Radio stations.

Raider Club
Monty Cartwright, Executive Director

The Raider Club works to build support and encourage interest and participation in intercollegiate varsity sports at Southern Oregon. The major goal of this group is to raise funds for student athlete scholarships. Occasionally, separate fund raising drives are conducted to provide enhancements for the athletic program such as purchasing equipment and improving facilities.