By now you should have received an envelope that looks like this:
What is it? It’s a quick list of your contact information as it’s recorded in the UVM alumni database. This is your chance to easily make any updates or changes.

Why does it matter? Well, if your name is Roger but you go by Tim and don’t let us know, UVM will call you the wrong name for the rest of eternity.

Or, if we have you living with in Massachusetts but you’ve moved to New York City, UVM will keep sending you invitations to Boston events and you’ll miss out on what’s happening near you.

We did our best to make it easy for you, and we’ll walk you through it now.

1. Grab it off your mail pile and open it up! Inside will look like this:

2. Unfold the page and that’s where the fun starts:

3. Check the white boxes to let us know what’s correct and use the lines below to make any changes or add in any missing information.

4. Once you’ve confirmed and corrected your contact information you’ll find one more section.

In this yellow “Anything Else?” box you can write in any group or activity you were involved in at UVM. For example, if you were on the Women’s Field Hockey team or part of an awesome SGA club, write it in. We can tag these activities/teams/clubs to your alumni record.

That way when your A Capella group is celebrating their 35th reunion (like the Top Cats are this weekend), we know to include you in the invitation.

5. Now that you’ve completed the form, drop it in the enclosed envelope and stick it in the mail – the postage is already paid. So you don’t even need to find a stamp!

If you prefer to update your contact information online you do so here.

As always if you have any questions feel free to contact us: derrick.dubois@uvm.edu or ryan.chartier@uvm.edu.

Both Derrick and I have found that there are some things about UVM we didn’t appreciate until after we graduated. A professor who really took the time to help us figure out a career path, a class that sparked an interest we didn’t even know we had, the smiling face of Charlie at the falafel corner.

Now that you’ve been away for a bit, we thought you might have that same feeling. And since it’s our job to help you stay connected to campus we want to help you send your gratitude along to the people here.

That’s why we created UVM Gratitude Grams. You write a note of appreciation to a faculty or staff member on campus, and we’ll deliver it for you.

We had these snazzy cards made up and we’ll print your message on each ‘gram you want to send. Then we’ll use campus mail to deliver them.

All you have to do is fill out this form. You can write as many ‘grams as you’d like. You’ll just have to fill out a new submission for each person.

Have fun spreading the love.
— Ryan

The semester is coming to a close and students are busy prepping for finals (bet that’s something you don’t miss!) So we put together an update on what’s been happening on campus this fall.

Move Mountains: The Campaign for the University of Vermont

• In October UVM kicked off a $500 million fundraising campaign called Move Mountains: The Campaign for The University of Vermont. Over Homecoming weekend there was a big launch on campus that included some pretty cool videos. The first is drone footage of campus and the second is a reading by Major Jackson.

A Bird’s-Eye View of UVM from UVM Foundation on Vimeo.

Major Jackson at UVM’s Move Mountains Campaign Launch Celebration from UVM Foundation on Vimeo.

Notable Speakers

• Anne Fadiman, author of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, spoke to first-year students about writing.
• Al Gore visited campus in October to talk climate change.
• William Cronin, a prominent environmental historian, spoke at 40th annual the Aiken Lecture.

A Day in the Life

• On October 20, 2015 students, faculty and staff captured their day on social media. Check out the play by play here.

Academics and Research

• This month four representatives from UVM traveled to Paris to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21.
• The new CREAM barn at the Miller Research Farm opened last month, giving UVM’s teaching herd a new home.
• Thomas Streeter, professor of sociology, asked the question: why are we obsessed with Steve Jobs?

Student News

• UVM hosted it’s second Vermont Youth Climate Summit.
• Students rally against racism and show support for protests at the University of Missouri.
• Men’s soccer team won the American East Championship and their trophy is now on display.

Want to stay up to date?

• Check out campus news on UVM Today.
• Keep up with your favorite teams on UVM Athletics
• Get the student perspective with the Cynic.

Just a quick post to say Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a day spent with family and friends and filled with delicious food. 
We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled program next week.

Derrick & Ryan