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FAQs 

Alumni
Queries regarding the Alumni Office and how to contact the office

Membership
Queries regarding Alumni Association membership

Benefits & Services
Information on benefits and services on offer

University Magazine
Information on the University Magazine 'Learning for Life'

Reunions
Information on organising reunions

Transcripts
Information on obtaining transcripts,certificates & references

General
General Alumni queries

For all other types of queries please email the Alumni Office.

Alumni 

Q What is meant by the term "Alumni"?
Alumni is a generic term used to describe all those who have spent some time studying at a particular institution. Therefore anyone who has studied at the University of Gloucestershire or any of its constituent colleges is an alumnus or alumna - see below:

Alumnus: A male graduate of an institution
Alumna: A female graduate of an institution
Alumni: A group of male graduates or a group of male and female graduates
Alumnae: A group of female graduates

Q What does the Alumni Office do?
The Alumni Office oversees the University's Alumni Relations' Programme which aims to maintain contact with former students and helps in organising alumni events. Additional information: Mission, Membership and Objectives

Q How do I contact the Alumni Office?
The Alumni Office can be contacted by phone, email and by post. For contact details, please go to the Alumni Office.

Q Where is the Alumni Office located?
Currently, the Alumni Office is part of the Marketing, Development & Communications Directorate of the University and is housed in Fullwood House on the Park Campus. For directions please go to Travelling to the University.

Membership

Q What is the Alumni Association?
The Alumni Association is the part of the University which provides a service for all of its graduates. Students of the University become members automatically upon graduation. The Alumni Office is advised by the Alumni Board of Directors on the activities of the Association.

Q Does it cost to become a member?
The Alumni Association is free to all graduates of the University and its constituent colleges. Membership entitles you to participate in activities and events organised by the Alumni Office and much more.  A review of the Discounts and Offers scheme for alumni is currently underway- further details including the launch date will be posted on the website in due course.    In order to participate and take advantage of these new  benefits, you just need to be registered.  

Q Do I get a membership card?
No.

Q How do I know if I am a member or not?
Please contact the Alumni Office if you would like us to confirm that you are registered with current contact details.

Please make sure you keep us up-to-date with your current details.  The Alumni Association is developing and we want to make sure we are in the best possible position to contact all of our alumni.

Q I graduated recently, can I join?
Yes, recent graduates automatically become members of the Alumni Association and we have contact details for you which were collected at your graduation ceremony (or from your time at University). It is likely, however, that these contact details will change during the period following your graduation.   Please do keep us updated of any such changes by emailing the Alumni Office

Q I graduated 30 years ago, can I still join the Alumni Association?
Yes, you are entitled to become a member whichever year you may have graduated.  If you would like to become a member, please contact the Alumni Office

Q What is the Old Students Association (OSA)?
The OSA is an additional association for all university/constituent college graduates who graduated prior to 1990. It is administered by former St Paul's and St Mary's students. Additional details: Old Students Association.

Q How do I become a member of the OSA?
You can become a member by requesting a form from the Alumni Office, which should be forwarded to Mrs U. Southern.  Annual membership currently costs £5 for single membership and £5.50 for joint membership.  The OSA has a Benevolent Fund to provide support to former students in times of need and send birthday and Christmas greetings to long-standing members. Additional details can be found at Old Students Association.

Benefits & Services

Q What benefits and services are available to me as a member of the Alumni Association?
Benefits currently include: discounted library membership and discounts when pursuing postgraduate/professional courses at the university.  Alumni who have graduated in the past 3 years also have the opportunity to receive free careers guidance from the University Careers Service - this includes assistance with CV writing. For more information, please go to Benefits and Services. Additional benefits and services are currently being developed and are due to be launched very soon. Full details will appear on the website over the coming months.

Q I have a benefit/service which I would like to offer my fellow Alumni - how can I make it available to them?
Please email the Alumni Office with full details.

Q Can I still use the University library?
As a member of the Alumni Association, you are entitled to free reference use of the library as well as discounted membership for borrowing books. For additional information, please go to Benefits and Services.

University Magazine - 'Learning for Life'

Q Can I write something for the Alumni section of 'Learning for Life', the university magazine?
Yes, Alumni are actively encouraged to contribute articles. So, if you would like to let your former college friends know about exciting places you have visited, your life and career since college etc, please let the Alumni Office know.   We are always looking for interesting articles for the website, too  - so please contact the Alumni Office if you think you have an interesting story or feature and we may be able to publish it for you.

Reunions

Q How can I get in contact with some of my former college/university friends?
If you have lost contact with your former college/university friends over the years,  the Alumni Office holds a database of over 36,000 alumni and would be very happy to try to put you in contact with your friends. For further information see Lost & Found.

Q How can the Alumni Office help in organising my reunion?
The Alumni Office helps to make your reunion special by doing all the organising and event management on your behalf. We offer university facilities such as catering services, use of university sites, accommodation and we promote the event in our web site and contact your friends as well. On the actual day of your reunion, we administer the event so that your valuable time is spent re-acquainting yourself with former friends and having a good time. Although there will be charges for catering, accommodation and venue hire, all of our help is free of charge. Please email the Alumni Office with details of your planned reunion.

Q How can I find out about University events and activities?
All the events and activities organised by the Alumni office are published in the Alumni section of the University web site. Other relevant university activities that may be of interest to Alumni are also published there. For a current list of activities see What's On. For general university news and events look at the university homepage. 

Q What is the Contact Directory?
The Contact Directory is a new initiative launched by the Alumni Office that makes keeping in touch with your college/university friends and lecturers easier than ever. At the moment we are in the process of issuing login IDs and passwords. For further details see Contact Directory.

Transcripts 

Q How can I obtain a copy of my course transcripts?
Academic Registry maintains records of graduates who attended the university and its constituent colleges. For details on how to apply for transcripts/references please see Transcripts/Certificates. 

Q How can I obtain a copy of my awards certificate?
Academic Registry maintains records of graduates who attended the university and its constituent colleges. For details on how to apply for award copies please see Transcripts/Certificates.  

Q I graduated from Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education (CGCHE).  Can I exchange my certificate for a University of Gloucestershire Certificate?
Certificates with the University of Gloucestershire stamp are issued to all students who graduated after February 2001. Students graduating prior to February 2001 are issued certificates with the CGCHE stamp and therefore cannot be exchanged for a certificate bearing the University of Gloucestershire stamp. The University was granted university status in 2001.

General 

Q How can I buy merchandise from the University?
University and Alumni merchandise is available for purchase through the University's Online Store. Go to Merchandise.

Q I am interested in studying a postgraduate/professional course at the University. How can I obtain a prospectus?
To order a prospectus please fill in the online Prospectus Order Form. If you have graduated within the past 12 months, you may be entitled to a reduction in fees - Benefits and Services.

Q How can I update my contact details?
If you have changed any of your contact details please email, telephone or write to us immediately.

This is the perfect time to make sure we have your current details.  The Alumni Association is developing and we would like to hear from you if you have any ideas, questions or suggestions for future Benefits and Services.  New schemes are to be launched soon - don't miss out!

Please contact the Alumni Office with any amendments or if you would like to check our records to ensure you are registered with current contact details.

Q How can I make a donation to the University?
Donations to the University are warmly welcomed and go towards funding various university programmes and initiatives. Please contact the Alumni Office for additional details. 

University of Gloucestershire, The Park, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 2RH. Telephone +44 (0)844 8010001.