The AAAC was founded in the late 1980s with a mission to support the African American alumni community, to strengthen the community’s connection to the University and to promote the recruitment and retention of African American students, faculty, administrators and staff. The AAAC is your voice at the University!

AAAC Mission
To support the African American alumni community, to strengthen its connection to the University of Pittsburgh and to promote the recruitment and retention of African American students, faculty, administrators and staff.

AAAC Core Values
Excellence, Learning, Diversity, Advocacy and Traditions

The African American Alumni Council boasts more than 12,000 alumni across the United States and abroad. We represent a myriad of professions and community leadership roles locally, nationally and internationally.

We have the largest Endowed Scholarship of any club or affinity group of the Pitt Alumni Association (PAA). We have awarded more than $35,000 in scholarships to students in the areas of tuition assistance, book grants and other academic related activities. AAAC will soon launch a major gift campaign, “Building our Future Together”, to substantially increase our financial assistance to students.

The AAAC has received the Pitt Alumni Association Gold Banner Award for our outstanding programs and activities that address the needs of alumni and students and that meet the objectives of the alumni association. We’ve received the Gold status every year since the award’s inception 6 years ago. The Gold Banner status carries with it a $1,000 award that we placed in the AAAC Endowed Scholarship Fund.

In 2006, the AAAC received the PAA Club/Council of the Year award, the highest honor of any alumni club, council or affinity group. This achievement was awarded to the AAAC for our completion of annual requirements plus our achievements in four major strategic areas: Financial Strength, Communication, Student Involvement and Partnerships. In addition to the honor, the AAAC received $1,000 in scholarship funds that were also placed in the AAAC Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Governance
The African American Alumni Council is governed by an elected Board of Directors that represent alumni from various geographical locations, academic disciplines and professional interests. The Board meets quarterly with the annual membership meeting held in the fall during homecoming weekend.

To assist the organization in fulfilling its mission the Board of Advisors provides the Board of Directors with wise counsel in formulating its strategic direction. It advises on matters of policy development and program objectives relative to the African American community at the University. It also assists with identifying operations resources to implement the Council’s various programs, policies, initiatives and events.

Strategic Goals and Objectives 2008-2009
The African American Alumni Council, through the development and implementation of a viable strategic plan, has adopted a six-point focus.
 

• Organizational Development
• Alumni Support
• Student Affairs
• University Partnerships
• Scholarship Endowments
• Community Service

Organizational Development

• Enrich the organizational structure of the AAAC by actively engaging and involving the participation and talents of more alumni through the establishment of new AAAC Affiliate chapters in, New York Metro, Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cleveland, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan
• Assign a Board Liaison to the AAAC Board of Advisors
• Establish financial structure to support programs with an activity-based operational budget
• Establish a website Committee
• Promote the achievements of the AAAC to the university community and the larger society

African American Alumni Support

• Increase African American Alumni membership and participation through implementation of Phase II of the “Recruit, Reclaim, and Retain” membership campaign
• Improve communications through a quarterly on line newsletter and a viable and interactive Web site
• Development of the AAAC Chamber of Commerce to support opportunities for alumni with businesses and/or business interests
• Recognize the 40th Anniversary observance of 1969 computer center take-over through event that celebrate the “40 Years: Pride, Progress and Partnership: A Celebration of Diversity at the University of Pittsburgh.”
• Develop intergenerational career mentoring and coaching program
• Outreach to African American alumni groups at other Pitt schools and colleges and at other Pitt campus sites Hold the 2009 AAAC National Strategic Planning Summit at Pitt

Student Affairs and Involvement

• Continue the development of the R.I.S.E. Mentoring Program for undergraduate students through the establishment of RISE Connection, a student internship and career shadow Day program, and e-Mentoring and Career coaching initiative
• Meet with African American students and student groups to determine and to respond to their needs
• Host Parent “Welcome to Pitt Reception and Dialogue” during Arrival Survival
• Develop Directory of Services for students
• Recruit more African American students to the Student Alumni Association
• Host additional Welcome Freshmen to Pitt Cook-Out and Sendoff” events: New York, Cleveland, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan

Build Stronger University Relations and Partnerships

• Strengthen the working relationship between the University, the Pitt Alumni Association (PAA), and the AAAC through the continued and enhanced partnership of program such as the PAA career services, admissions and recruitment, student affairs, and governmental relations programs.
• Continue the development of partnerships with Office of Student Affairs, Institutional Advancement, and schools and colleges at the university
• Seek to establish business partnerships with the University
• Place more African American Alumni on the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees and Board of Visitors

Scholarship Endowments

• Increase the AAAC Endowed Scholarship Fund
• Launch the AAAC Major Gift Scholarship campaign through “Building our Future Together Campaign

Community Services

• Participate in at least one national community service project a year
• Enhance participation in the Appleseed Project and expand into other locations

Race in America: Restructuring Inequality

June 3–6, 2010

Pittsburgh, PA

Keynote Speakers: Julian Bond and Julianne Malveaux

The University of Pittsburgh's School of Social Work and the Center on Race and Social Problems will host "Race in America"—designed to be the most solution-focused national conference on race ever.

Seven key areas will be explored during "Race in America": economics, education, criminal justice, race relations, health, mental health, and families, youth, and the elderly. There will be two keynote speeches and a panel discussion, all open to the public, as well as 20 sessions for conference participants. 40 of the nation's most prominent experts on race will give presentations in the conference sessions.

Conference participants—a multiracial group of researchers, policy makers, students, and community leaders—will be asked to identify the most pervasive instances of racial inequities, explore the factors that contribute to them, and work on actionable steps that can be taken at the federal, state, and local levels to help build greater equity in our society.

"Times of challenge provide the opportunity to create change," says Larry E. Davis, dean of the School of Social Work, Donald M. Henderson Professor, and director of the Center on Race and Social Problems at Pitt. "As the nation continues its efforts to recover from an economic downturn, there has never been a better time to reexamine and correct racial inequalities in American society. It is our intent to make this the best conference ever on race in America. More importantly, it is our goal to make it the most useful one."

Click here to view the full conference brochure.

The early bird discount has been extended until April 23!