Frequently asked questions
- Joining the Alumni community
- How do I join the alumni community?
- Is there any cost to join?
- How do I organise a reunion or event for University of Melbourne alumni?
- Where does my Faculty fit into the alumni community?
- Alumni Web Community (AWC)
- I’ve forgotten my password. How can I get a reminder?
- Who can register for the Alumni Web Community (AWC)?
- What information will other AWC users be able to see about me?
- Why is the alumni email address already showing before I have set it up?
- Can I still get an alumni forwarding address after my student email is no longer available?
- Can I send an email from my '@alumni.unimelb' address?
- When I look in the directory, I can't see any contact information for other alumni?
- Benefits and Activities for Alumni
- What are the benefits of being a University of Melbourne alumnus?
- How can I contact other University of Melbourne alumni?
- How many alumni does the University have?
- How do I keep the University informed about what I've been doing?
- What is GradNet?
- What is the Alumni Resource Guide?
- What is the Melbourne University Magazine?
- What kind of career assistance is available to alumni?
- Making a Gift to the University
- Why does the University of Melbourne need money?
- As an alumnus of the University, how can I make a gift to benefit current students?
- Who can I call if I want to talk about making a gift to the areas I think are most important?
- What is the University Fund?
- What is the Chancellor's Circle?
- How can I contact a Faculty to find out how I can give to a specific program?
- Where can I find out more about what kinds of scholarships there are?
- If I make a donation online, does the University keep my credit card details?
Joining the Alumni community
Q: How do I join the alumni community?
A: It's automatic! Any student who has successfully completed a full year of study, or a study abroad/exchange program of one semester of study at the University of Melbourne, is considered an alumnus
when they leave, whether they graduate or not. Membership of the alumni community is free, lifelong
and worldwide. The only thing you need to do to stay connected to the alumni community is to update
your details when you change address.
Q: Is there a cost to join?
A: There is no cost to join the University's alumni
community. Some alumni events such as dinners or forums incur a cost
however the University aims to ensure that prices for these events are
kept to a minimum.
Q: I want to organise a reunion or event for University
of Melbourne alumni. Where do I start?
A: The reunions page of this website hassome information about organising reunions. The University itself organises many events for alumni throughout the year.
Q: Where does my faculty fit into the alumni community?
A: Each University faculty has an alumni program, although
some are more extensive than others depending on the size of the faculty. Check the Faculty alumni page for more information. The University also has a central alumni office (the
Advancement Office) which manages the University's alumni database,
communications with alumni (including this website) and local and international
alumni programs.
Alumni Web Community
Q: How do I register for the Alumni Web Community?
A: Register here by completing and submitting the online form. If your details are matched automatically you will receive your logon information via email within a few minutes of completing the process. If not, and you request a manual registration, your logon information will be sent within a day or two.
Q: I’ve already registered but I've forgotten my password. How can I get a reminder?
A: You can request a new password.
Q:Who can register for the Alumni Web Community (AWC)?
A: Only Alumni of the University of Melbourne can register. In future, donors and parents of current students will be able to register their details to receive information from the University.
Q: What information will other AWC users be able to see about me?
A: As a default setting, other users will be able to see your name and your qualifications from the University of Melbourne only. You decide if you would like to share other information, such as your email address or a contact number at work, by ticking the boxes on the 'My Options' page of Alumni Web Community.
Q: Why is the alumni email address already showing before I have set it up?
A: Alumni email addresses are provided in a set format. All you need to do is enter the email address you would like any mail sent to your '@alumni.unimelb' address to be forwarded to. If you have a concern about your alumni email address, please contact us.
Q: Can I still get an alumni forwarding address after my student email is no longer available?
A: Yes. Your alumni email address is independant of your student email address. Within a month of officially completing your degree, or your study abroad program, your details will be automatically sent to the Advancement Office. You can then register for Alumni Web Community.
Once you have been given your logon details, you will be able to visit the Email Forwarding page where you will find your alumni email address already allocated. You then enter the email address you would like your alumni email forwarded to, such as a personal or work email address.
Q: Can I send an email from my '@alumni.unimelb' address?
A: The service is for forwarding email only and is not a full email account. You can insert the address into a resume or other document as a way of employers contacting you but you cannot send your resume or another document or message from this address. Your alumni email address will be independant of your student email address.
Q:When I look in the directory, I can't see any contact information for other alumni?
A: In order for any contact information to be shown on the Directory record for an individual alumnus, that person will need to have ticked one or more of the boxes on the 'My Options' page. We encourage all AWC users to share at least one detail that would allow others to contact them, for example, by sharing their 'preferred email'.
If you wish to use your '@alumni.unimelb' address as the contact detail that shows in your directory record, simply cut and paste this into the 'Preferred Email' field on your 'My Profile' page.
Alumni Benefits and Activities
Q: What are the benefits of being a University of
Melbourne alumnus?
A: University alumni receive invitations to special events and networking opportunities, are sent magazines and newsletters for alumni, get discounts at
the University bookstore, have access to career advice and can join the Alumni Web Community. Check out the full
list of benefits.
Q: How do I contact other University of Melbourne
alumni?
A: The University cannot directly provide you with the details of alumni
you wish to contact. There are two ways in which you can try to contact another alumni.
You can join Alumni Web Community and search for the person you are seeking in the Directory. If they have also joined the online community, and opted to share some contact details, you may be able to contact them.
Or you can send us their details and we can notify them that you wish to contact
them. It is then up to them to contact you. This is to ensure that the University complies with its privacy
policy. Likewise we will not provide your details to any 3rd parties
without your consent.
Q: How many alumni does the University have?
A: The University has over 210,000 alumni located all around the world.
Around 85% live in Australia with the remaining 15% living in more than
100 different countries.
Q: How do I keep the University informed about what
I've been doing?
A: The University is always keen to hear from alumni. In addition to keeping your contact
details up to date, we'd love to hear about what you've been doing with
your University qualification. How has it helped you? What have been your achievements
and experiences since you left the University? Visit our tell
us your story page for more information.
Q: What is GradNet?
A: GradNet is a monthly email newsletter that is sent to all Alumni on our database with an email address. It gives you all the latest information, special offers, news and event details, and features a profile of an alumnus each month.
Q: What is the the Alumni Resource Guide?
A: The Alumni Resource Guide is a publication for alumni that is given to all new graduates of the University but which is relevant to all alumni.
It contains information about alumni networks, sports and cultural programs, services and resources available along with key contacts in the faculties and throughout the University to assist alumni engagement.
Q: What is the Melbourne University Magazine?
A: The Melbourne University
Magazine is the primary publication for alumni and friends of the
University. It is posted out twice a year to more than 160,000 people
and, as long as your address details are up to date, you will receive
a copy in the mail. The magazine is packed with news from around the
University, including stories by notable academics and all kinds of
information about our alumni community.
Q: What kind of career assistance is available to alumni?
A: The University's alumni program works closely with the Careers
and Employment Office to assist alumni with furthering their
careers. Up to one year after graduation, alumni can continue to use
the full range of services offered by the Careers Office. After a year,
alumni continue to have access a range of useful services, including
up-to-date career information and employment opportunities via Careers
Online, Careers & Employment's comprehensive website, a weekly email
bulletin and access to the Careers Resource Centre.
The alumni website also contains numerous articles about career-building and personal development.
Making a Gift to the University
Q: Why does the University of Melbourne need money?
A: It surprises many people to learn that less than half of the University's income is provided by the government. In recent years, the University has seen a steady decline in Commonwealth funding as a proportion of its budget.
Private support doesn’t just help fill gaps. Philanthropy dates back to the earliest days of the University and has been the key to ensuring Melbourne’s high standards, allowing the University to flourish as one of the world’s top-ranked institutions. In an increasingly competitive market, the growth of the University Fund is important in providing support for key priorities which will maintain both excellence and access.
Q: As an alumnus of the University, how can I make
a gift to benefit current students?
A: Support in the form of a donation or bequest is of invaluable assistance
to the University. Whether you choose to give to a faculty, scholarships,
or research, your support will help to strengthen our institution and
open doors for our students. You can make a donation via our secure online giving site or by fax or mail, or find out more
about making provision for the University in your Will by visiting the Giving pages of this website.
Q: Who can I call if I want to talk about making a gift?
A: The Giving pages of this website about some of the different ways you can give to the University. If you'd like to speak with an Advancement Office staff member please don't hesitate to contact us.
Q: What areas or activities can I support?
A: You can direct your donation to a wide range of areas and activities in the University including scholarships, research, financial aid, a particular faculty or department, the library and cultural collection and many others. You can also direct your donation to the University's highest priorities allowing the Vice-Chancellor to determine the best application of your donation to achieving the University's current goals.
Q: What is the University Fund?
A: The University Fund is an annual campaign that reaches out to our alumni and friends. Through asking for private support, the University can open precious doors of opportunity to students through scholarships and financial aid and keep Melbourne on the forefront of teaching, learning and research.
Donors may specify the designation of their gift, or choose to support the University's highest priorities. Whether you choose to give to a faculty, scholarships or research, your support will help the University Fund campaign to strengthen our institution.
Q: What is the Chancellor's Circle?
A: The Chancellor’s Circle is our community of generous benefactors who demonstrate leadership and commitment to the University of Melbourne through annual gifts of $1,000 per year or more.
In recognition of the University’s gratitude for their support, Chancellor’s Circle donors are invited to special events to interact with the University leadership, academic staff, students, and fellow Chancellor’s Circle donors.
Q: How can I contact a Faculty to find out how I can give to a specific program?
A: Please call the Advancement Office on phone (+61 3) 8344 1751 with any queries about giving to specific programs or direct your gift to a particular Faculty via our giving form (PDF 106kb) or by making a gift online. Visit the Faculties page to find out more about their programs.
Q: Where can I find out more about what kinds of scholarships there are?
A:
Information about scholarships is available from the Melbourne Scholarships Office.
Q: If I make a donation online, does the Uni keep my credit card details?
A: No, credit card details used when donating via our secure online giving page are not stored by the University.
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