As of the close of the fiscal year on June 30, the Penn State Alumni Association’s annual snapshot of membership numbers showed a 2.4 percent growth, increasing to 169,209.
“We are grateful for the incredible loyalty of our members, who continue to recognize the importance of staying connected through the Alumni Association and who value what we do for our alumni and alma mater,” said Executive Director Roger L. Williams. “The fact that this growth came during an unprecedented year with challenges of epic proportions for the Penn State community makes us all the more grateful.”
The Alumni Association increased membership from 165,182 to 169,209 members, a net growth of 4,027 members or 2.4 percent. “This represents our biggest membership increase since the 2003–04 academic year, when we saw a gain of more than 6,000 members,” said Williams.
Of the total membership, 102,928 are life members, up from 100,600 last fiscal year, and 11,878 are members of the Blue & White Society, the student contingent of the Alumni Association. Life members now compose 61 percent of total membership, while annual members account for 39 percent.
The number of “active, addressable” alumni (all alumni for whom some contact information is available) for the year ending June 30, 2012, is 560,658. While Penn Staters are scattered all over the globe, more than 40 percent of them live in five metropolitan areas: Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Harrisburg, Pa.; New York City and Washington, D.C.
Established in 1870, the Penn State Alumni Association strives to connect alumni to the University and to each other, provide valuable benefits to members and support the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. More information about the Alumni Association and membership is available at www.alumni.psu.edu.