How one couple's commitment to Tsu created a tradition

Alumni Survey Shows Support
Texas Southern University alumni are an amazingly
proud group.
They have fond memories of their time as students
and few regrets about their decision to attend TSU.
They visit campus, attend sports and alumni events,
and volunteer for their alma mater more often than
many of their counterparts across the country.
These are just a few findings from the 2011 Alumni
Attitude Study, a project
conducted last July by
the Houston-based research
firm Performance
Enhancement Group and
spearheaded by TSU’s
Office of Alumni
Relations.
More than 1,100 TSU
alumni participated, following
in the footsteps
of more than 500,000
alumni from 160 colleges and universities who have
taken the survey since 2000. It was primarily distributed
via email to 27,000 TSU alumni.
And while our graduates were overwhelmingly
proud of their alma mater, the majority had never made
a financial contribution to TSU. The good news is that
more than 80% of those who had never given stated
that they planned to do so in the future.
National Alumni Association members were more
satisfied with their alumni experience than non-members.
Some areas alumni identified for improvement were
communication related: the University website, magazine,
communications regarding services and benefits, and
invitations to alumni and University activities.
“We are currently redesigning our website, and over
the past year we have increased our efforts to distribute
e-newsletters and other information to keep alumni informed,”
says Alumni Director Connie Cochran. “Our
goal is to continue to provide
timely information on a
consistent basis.”
More than 80 percent of
alumni have a positive overall
opinion of Texas Southern.
And according to the survey,
those opinions are most
impacted by the University’s
ability to provide scholarships,
the accomplishments
of students and the perceived
value of their degree.
They also expressed a desire for support in identifying
job opportunities, mentoring, recruiting students, and
networking with other alumni. Cochran says great strides
have been made recently to address those issues.
“More than ever before, our alumni chapter members
are taking an active role in helping to recruit quality
students. Alumni are participating in freshmen
orientation, pre-alumni group events, and networking
events with other alumni from universities in the area.”
A New Chapter for New Orleans
On Saturday, May 5, the TSUNAA chartered a new chapter in
New Orleans. TSUNAA President Julia Askew, ’81, ’85, conducted
the swearing in of new officers. Executive Director of
Alumni Relations Connie Cochran, ’90, welcomed the charter
members with gift bags and gave updates on what’s currently
happening at TSU.
The goal of the current TSUNAA administration is to work
diligently to increase alumni membership and participation;
improve chapter effectiveness, and promote community
service involvement.
“The New Orleans Chapter is vital to the success of
TSUNAA and Texas Southern University,” Askew stated, “We
look forward to working alongside them to build our alumni base in
the greater New Orleans area.”
For more information about the TSUNAA New Orleans Chapter,
please contact Elwin Carter, president, at ecarter20@cox.net.
New Orleans Chapter charter members (left - right): Jack
Holmes, Don Thanars, TSU Director of Alumni Relations
Connie Cochran, Elwin Carter, Paul Sylvester Jr., Ali Abdin
Jr., Josie White, Michael Mosley, TSUNAA National
President Julia Askew, and Oliver Celestin.
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