In the fall 2023 magazine, we shared the governance work that the Wellesley College Alumnae Association board has undertaken to modernize our organizational structure and further align the work of the WCAA with our alma mater.

The official announcement of this proposal is below. The agreement document and additional information is at alum.wellesley.edu/mergervote.

In pursuit of Wellesley College’s mission to provide an excellent liberal arts education to women who will make a difference in the world, the Wellesley College Alumnae Association (WCAA) desires to integrate the organization into Wellesley College, effective as of June 30.

The merger of the WCAA and the College is intended to achieve closer alignment of the College, the WCAA, and the alumnae community, and eliminate unnecessary time, expense, and risk associated with the maintenance of a separate legal entity. If approved by a vote of the alumnae, the WCAA will discontinue operations as a separate legal entity.

Upon the effective date of the merger, Wellesley College will create an alumnae relations department that will manage the operations of the WCAA. The alumnae relations department will have an advisory board consisting of the current directors of the WCAA. Subject to the provisions of the merger agreement, the president of the advisory board will continue to serve as an ex officio voting trustee of the Wellesley College Board of Trustees, and the advisory board will continue to have the ability to nominate alumnae trustees to the Wellesley College Board of Trustees (including a young alumnae trustee). Alumnae will no longer approve nominations of officers (president and secretary/treasurer) of the organization; the WCAA Board will determine the processes for board officer nominations and appointments.

It is anticipated that the alumnae relations department will continue to operate the same activities and programs the WCAA currently operates, including publishing Wellesley magazine. The department will retain the Wellesley College Alumnae Association name. Current funds held by the WCAA will continue to be dedicated to providing support for alumnae activities.

The Alumnae Association will solicit alumnae approval for the merger. Online voting will be open from May 1–8. A vote to ratify the results will be held at the Alumnae Association’s annual meeting on May 25. You can review the Merger Agreement at alum.wellesley.edu/mergervote. Questions regarding the merger may be directed to alumnae@wellesley.edu.

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