The university looks to our alumni volunteers to help shape the Case Western Reserve University of tomorrow! Alumni volunteers play an invaluable role in everything from recruiting new students to planning alumni events around the world. Whether your interests lean toward advising students, admissions and recruitment, assisting with regional programming, or helping the community, there are many opportunities for you to get involved.
The Alumni Association Board of Directors
The Case Western Reserve University Alumni Association’s Board of Directors is dedicated to fostering strong and active partnerships between the university and its graduates. Board involvement provides opportunities for alumni to engage in strategic university planning efforts and play an important role in the university's mission.
Whether you have been a past board member for one of the schools and would like to continue your leadership, or if you are just beginning to increase your alumni involvement, we’re looking for dedicated volunteers to advocate for CWRU. We welcome interested alumni to volunteer their time and talent.
Serve on a Committee
Board and non-board members participate in committees that include: Alumni Engagement, Communications & Development, Governance and Recognition. Two ad hoc committees are RISE (Race, Injustice and Social Equality) and Oral History.
Learn more about each committee's membership and goals >
To request more information about getting involved, please contact alumnirelations@case.edu.
Local Chapter Involvement
The university continues to grow its alumni chapters across the country and around the world. Alumni volunteers, whether serving as chapter leaders or assisting with specific tasks or events, are essential to our regional programming. We seek volunteers to participate at the chapter level in event planning, recruitment of local alumni, participation in programming and assuming leadership roles.
Alumni chapters work with The Alumni Association to plan annual programming. Chapter events and programming may include:
- baseball games and other sporting events, including CWRU student sports
- wine tastings or brewery tours
- cultural and museum tours
- special reception/speaker from the university
To request more information about strengthening your alumni chapter, please contact alumnirelations@case.edu or 216.368.6280.
Study Abroad-Alumni Connections
Case Western Reserve University’s Study Abroad-Alumni Connections program was created by the Center for International Affairs and The Alumni Association to bring current students and alumni together around the globe. To start the discussion, students and alumni are matched via email either before the student’s departure or during their international stay. Depending on availability, students and alumni may consider meeting one-on-one for coffee, visiting a tourist hotspot or attending a cultural event. Alumni are welcome to invite students to alumni chapter meetings or events and, depending on class size, a group dinner for students and local alumni may be arranged.
Matches are made for the duration of the study abroad program, typically one academic year or semester. Alumni who are interested in connecting with study abroad students can contact alumnirelations@case.edu.
Alumni Admission Ambassadors
Alumni Admission Ambassadors assist in the recruitment and retention efforts of the university by developing relationships with accepted students and sharing their CWRU experience.
Alumni Career Network
The Alumni Association and the Office of Post Graduate Planning and Experiential Education offer the Alumni Career Network for alumni volunteers who want to assist current undergraduate and graduate students with career advice and networking. CWRU Connect also contains our online alumni directory for peer-to-peer networking. During onboarding or when you edit your profile select "willing to help with" options such as "Advising on courses and paths within a major" or "Conducting mock interviews." Students may then request 15—30 minute conversations or a short chat message to learn about your journey. You can help out as often as you’d like, on your own schedule.
Upload your LinkedIn profile or sign-up via email to complete your profile. Then, join communities of alumni and students who share your interests or live in a chapter near you. Contribute to the conversation today!
If you have questions about signing up, please contact The Alumni Association by emailing alumnirelations@case.edu.
Career Connections
Career Connections is an opportunity provided through the Office of Post Graduate Planning and Experiential Education for first and second-year students to shadow alumni in students' academic and geographical locations of interest. Each year, this popular program has over 100 students express interest for 50 available spots and has been recognized by Student Affairs with a Positive Impact Award in 2014-15.
With support from The Alumni Association of CWRU, the last six years has seen over 300 students shadow zoologists, attorneys, judges, physicians, researchers, genetic counselors, consultants, investment bankers, accountants, entrepreneurs and nurses. From Florida to California to New York City, this opportunity serves to promote retention at CWRU and help students envision their future and commit to academic success to achieve their goals.
Career Connections takes place during CWRU's spring break. If you are interested in a student shadow, please contact alumnirelations@case.edu or Laura Papcum at the Office of Post Graduate Planning and Experiential Education.
Listen to a podcast about this program below or visit CWRU Spotlight >>
Other Opportunities in Support of Students
The university offers a variety of opportunities for alumni to engage with students. In addition to recruitment and career assistance, you can interact with students through a variety of campus offices including the Greek Life Office, the Center for Civic Engagement and Learning, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. In addition, there are many active programs run by individual schools and associations. Many of these are volunteer-driven and may include networking, mentoring and event planning.
Cleveland-area Opportunities
Summer on the Cuyahoga
Summer on the Cuyahoga (SOTC) is a unique program that combines a summer internship with an immersive, Cleveland-centric experience for select students from Case Western Reserve, Colgate, Cornell, Denison, Ohio Wesleyan, Smith, University of Chicago and Yale.
SOTC's mission is to recruit talented college students for summer internships and a unique immersion into the community with the ultimate goal of having graduates build networks and permanently locate in Greater Cleveland. SOTC is driven by alumni volunteers and mentors. If you are passionate about Cleveland and want to help showcase the region's exciting opportunities to students, this opportunity is for you.
Learn more about SOTC
Maltz Performing Arts Center
Alumni are welcome to volunteer as ushers and tour guides for this newly renovated arts center, and in turn, get the opportunity to witness renowned performances and special lectures.
think[box]
Think[box] volunteers are active, intergenerational volunteers including alumni, retirees, as well as active students is vital to the daily operations of this center for innovation. Volunteers assist in various roles, primarily greeting visitors and offering tours. Persons volunteering at think[box] come from a wide variety of backgrounds including arts, science, business finance, and management, legal and many other disciplines.
No technical background of any sort is necessary to join the volunteer team. All volunteers receive orientation and training pertinent to their assignment and are eligible for volunteers-only benefits including free project storage space, discounted materials, and extended access to the facility.
The time commitment would be at least one 4-hour time block each week - morning, evening, and weekend time blocks are available. Parking will be provided.
Learn More about Thinkbox
School-Based Volunteering
Interested in giving back to your school or college?
Learn more about school-based volunteer opportunities
We hope you will join us as an alumni volunteer! To learn more about these volunteer opportunities and to express interest in learning more, please contact The Alumni Association at 800.866.6280 or email alumnirelations@case.edu. Case Western Reserve University is extremely proud to have you as a member of its community. Please join us in our efforts to elevate our university to new heights.