History & Mission

The Alumni Association of the School of General Studies recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary. From its beginning the Association has been dedicated to fostering and promoting the interest of the School of General Studies and Columbia University. Over the years the Association has offered a wide range of programs. Some of the best known have been the annual dinner, annual cocktail party, class day receptions, the Columbia literary society, the city seminars, and the Homecoming Tailgate party. The Association also founded The Owl, the GS Alumni Association newsletter. The Association awards an annual scholarship and the alumni Key Award to outstanding students.

For most of its history the Alumni Association has been a fully independent organization. Recently, its board of directors decided the organization would join forces with the School's newly created Office of Alumni Affairs. Working with the director of alumni affairs the Association can now be more effective than ever in providing interesting and appealing programs and services for the more than 15,000 GS alumni.

In the spring of 1998 the Association established the GS Alumni Association endowed scholarship fund from past dues and fund raising efforts. More than $70,000 was gifted to the school symbolizing the partnership the Association and the School have come to benefit from. It is the mission of the Alumni Association to continue this collaborative and beneficial relationship and foster better alumni relations.