About Us

Mission

The Alumni Association is about the past, the present, and the future of Colorado State University. Our mission is to advance the university by

  • developing and strengthening lifelong relationships between alumni and the university community
  • benefiting current and future alumni and friends
  • serving as a catalyst for communications and involvement

Core Values

Our core values inform everything we do.

  • Pride – We demonstrate our school spirit through celebration of our strengths and successes.
  • Tradition – We will preserve and honor the legacy of our past generations. We will build and sustain emerging events and experiences to become enduring traditions.
  • Diversity – We embrace, respect and actively encourage every dimension of diversity in all we do.
  • Relationships – We are committed to developing and nurturing engaging partnerships that advance learning, education, service and outreach to benefit present and future members of the CSU family.

Our Story

By Meagan Templeton-Lynch (’12)
Originally published in the February 2012 edition of AlumLine

In 1884, the Colorado Agricultural College welcomed its first graduates to the stage: Leonidas Loomis, Elizabeth (Libbie) Coy (later Lawrence), and George Glover. Now, 128 years later, Colorado State University has bestowed more than 220,000 degrees. Needless to say, alumni of the University – from Aggies to Rams – have shared a long history of excellence and integrity.

A Humble Beginning

On June 5, 1884 horse-drawn buggies crowded the streets outside the old Opera House on College Avenue to witness the first graduation from the newly established college. After the ceremony, college president Charles Ingersoll invited Glover, Coy, and Loomis to lunch where they discussed his idea of beginning an alumni organization. Ingersoll had already written a constitution and bylaws for the proposed organization, and the three graduates assumed the task of running the association. Glover became the first president of the Colorado Agricultural College Alumni Association, Loomis the vice president, and Coy the secretary.

Adding to the Ranks

Slowly, with a yearly membership fee of $2 and budget of just over $13, Coy, Glover, and Loomis added new alumni to the Association. The group only met once a year to plan an annual entertainment event (often music or an essay reading at the Opera House), elect new officers, and plan for the Annual Round-Up and Homecoming events. Check out membership options available to today’s alumni.

In the early years of the Alumni Association, alumni groups were formed around the country. By 1931, there were six groups around Colorado, two groups in California, and one in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Seattle. Today, there are 45 Ram Networks around the country keeping CSU alumni connected and involved.

50 Year Club

In 1934, the three original alumni of Colorado Agricultural College became the first “50 Year Club” members. They were invited and recognized in an Alumni Association meeting in 1934 by Dr. Duane Hartshorn.

Today, the 50 Year Club is still thriving, celebrating its reunion each year during Homecoming & Family Weekend. New members are inducted and recognized during the 50 Year Club Luncheon.

The Alumni Association Today

By the numbers:

  • 250,000 living alumni worldwide with Ram Networks across the U.S.
  • More than 141,000 alumni in Colorado
  • 14,500 Alumni Association members
  • Alumni in all 50 states and many countries around the world
  • 20,000 square feet in the northeast corner of the stadium for the Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center, for Rams – past, present, and future – to call home

Today, the CSU Alumni Association is involved in hundreds of events every year, both on the CSU campus and around the nation. One of the biggest events of the year is Homecoming and Family Weekend – with a full weekend of alumni and family-friendly events. The Alumni Association also manages CAM the Ram, and the Ram Handlers – student volunteers who see to it that CAM is healthy, happy, and photo-ready for every appearance.