UCLA Students in front of Pauley
 
UCLA in the Community
Town and Gown
The Town and Gown Affiliates of UCLA and UCLA Diversity Programs Barbeque
In fall 2018, 56 Bruins enjoyed an afternoon barbecue and presentation by Professor Bill Purdy, M.A. ʼ03, Ph.D. ʼ16. Dr. Purdy spoke of UCLA’s early history and the value that longstanding networks such as theirs bring to the university’s connection with the local community.
About Town & Gown Affiliates of UCLA:
  • Founded in 1937, The Affiliates serve as a cultural bridge that links the community to UCLA.
  • The Affiliates is the university’s oldest Town & Gown organization. “Town” symbolizes the Los Angeles community that surrounds campus and “Gown” the robes of academia’s highest honors and degrees.
  • Network events take place over lunch and dinner, offer a window into education and feature distinguished faculty lecturers and noted speakers.
  • The Affiliates are longstanding supporters of academic scholarships for students and proudly sponsor the Best Production award at Spring Sing, a showcase of UCLA’s most talented singers, dancers and sketch comedy performers.
  • Anyone is welcome to join The Town & Gown Affiliates!
Click Here to Learn More!
Volunteer Day
10th Annual UCLA Volunteer Day
UCLA Volunteer Day unites students, alumni, staff, faculty, elected officials and community members through a global day of service.
2,600+
Volunteers
50
Projects throughout Los Angeles
18
Domestic and global projects
Service projects were expanded to include alumni leaders and their networks. This change has sparked tremendous success throughout the year through One Bus, One Cause and network-led service projects.
Five Diversity and five Regional Networks donated 900 toys to grateful children.
Silicon Beach Bruins and Volunteer Center partnered to package 23,000 pounds of fruit for needy families in Los Angeles at the LA Food Bank.
Regional Networks
Regional Networks Circle the Globe
Throughout the year, Regional Networks and volunteers from around the world host events that ignite Bruin Spirit and establish the global reach of the alumni community. #UCBruinsEverywhere – it’s so much more than a hashtag.
 
Bruin Spirit! 39 networks hosted 191 football game watch parties.
 
348
Events hosted by regional network leaders worldwide, an increase of 38% over last year.
19
Regional networks hosted UCLA Common Book discussions
  • Regional Networks proudly connect local alumni at Bruin-owned businesses around the world. Join the Bruin Business Owners community on UCLA ONE.
22
Alumni networks hosted this record number of holiday parties, many supporting local toy drives.
  • Regional Networks and Diversity Programs partnered to expand the popular Professors in the Pub series beyond Los Angeles. Topics ranged from housing justice and Native American hip hop to Arthur Ashe.
UCLA ONE
Film Festival
Ethnic Studies Film Festival
Diversity Programs, in partnership with the UCLA Institute of American Cultures and its four ethnic studies centers, celebrated five decades of changing social and cultural realities in America with an ethnic studies film festival featuring movies directed, produced or written by UCLA alumni. An impassioned audience of students, faculty, staff and alumni rotated through the James West Alumni Center throughout the showcase.
14
Alumni directors, writers and producers
9
Featured films
1,000+
Attendees
 
UCLA Network Connections
Dinner for 12 Strangers
“We had a wonderful time. For three hours we took turns talking and then we all talked at once. The youngest graduated in 2017 and the oldest was from the class of 1968. Age did not matter at the dinner.”

Gloria Weinblatt ’68
Plano, Tex.
Dinner for 12 Strangers
This 51-year-old UCLA tradition unites the Bruin network for fun and friendship over a shared meal.
CASE Circle of Excellence Gold award winner
408
Hosts, 77 co-hosts worldwide
22
Countries, 33 states
130
Dinners in California
1,250 Students engaged and supported by alumni at local dinners.
Diversity Network volunteers hosted six identity-specific Dinners for 12 Strangers.
Alumni Mentor Program
UCLA Alumni Mentor Program
UCLA Alumni Mentor Program unites hundreds of students and alumni mentor pairs for powerful career and personal connections. Established by the UCLA Alumni Scholars Club and now in its 15th year, the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program continues to foster meaningful relationships between UCLA alumni and current UCLA students. The connections made in this program help prepare our students for a successful future and leave a lasting impact on our campus community.
1,353
Student mentees
813
Alumni mentors
2,069
Alumni volunteered
Non-matched mentors were invited to participate in other career programs: Interview With a Bruin, Job Ready Bucket List, Economics in Action.
VetNet
UCLA VetNet Career Connections
UCLA VetNet partnered with UCLA ROTC and the Veterans Resource Center to host current ROTC students and student and alumni veterans for a career panel with Amazon veteran executives (including Daniel Schilleci ’04).
46 Participants
“Ready, Aim, Hire!” is a three-part series designed to help student veterans utilize their military skills and academic success during the transition from student to career professional.
54 Mentors
VetNet members have volunteered to coach fellow veterans on the transition from a military career to private or public sector positions.
About VetNet: Officially recognized in 2014, VetNet supports UCLA’s veteran students, alumni, faculty, staff and the local veteran community by promoting student-veteran opportunities and connections. The network raises scholarships for student-veterans, maintains productive dialogue between the student-veteran community and university administration and raises awareness of veterans’ issues through service and advocacy within the community.
UCLA Alumni Travel
“UCLA Alumni Travel is the only way to go, in my opinion. The educational experience far exceeds anything a regular outside tourist organization could ever offer.”

Marirose Dirstine ’72, CRSS ’73, M.A. ‘75, Antarctica
UCLA Alumni Travel Program
Great companions make great journeys. Since 1941, UCLA Alumni Travel has given thousands of Bruins access to the camaraderie and excitement of group travel that is affordable, convenient, intellectually stimulating and safe. Join us and we’ll show you the world.
1,254
Engaged travelers in 2018-19
58
Trips, 24 sold out, 18 engaged faculty
Exceeded revenue goal by 22%
 
Meaningful Connections, Built Online
Alumni Day Online
Alumni Day Online
UCLA Alumni Day Online made history on Sept. 13, 2018, as a first-of-its-kind university event that gathered the local and global Bruin community. Alumni from 20 countries signed on, with highest views in the U.S., Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and India. Alumni Day Online received international recognition from CASE in the form of a Platinum Award, the highest honor the organization bestows.
2,000+
Spirit-building quizzes completed
27,000+
Minutes of video watched
211,000+
Unique page views
9 YouTube Live Q + A conversations featuring alumni and faculty experts
Alumni survey responses indicated a rekindled sense of awareness of UCLA.
Job Ready
Job Ready
Students are helped to prepare for life after graduation through informational interviews, resume critiques and industry-specific webinars led by alumni experts and recruiters.
  • This virtual career preparation and advancement program harnesses the expertise and experience of the UCLA Alumni Network.
  • Live video sessions lead by alumni provide critical career insights on job search strategies, networking techniques and résumé building.
  • After completing the online modules, students and alumni are matched for a one-on-one coaching session and résumé critique.
“This program was exciting, and I achieved valuable skills in such a short amount of time. I learned how to talk about my major in an interview and became part of a job-ready community!”

UCLA Student
“Many universities tout their alumni network but UCLA actually taps into it to ensure graduating students make a solid transition into the workforce.”

UCLA Graduate
Social Media
Sharing the Stories of Bruins via Social Media
Every day, the story of Bruins and UCLA is shared through features like Bruin of the Day (#BruinProud), #UCLAMom, #UCLADad, #BruinWeddings and #BruinLove.
  • The UCLA Alumni Social Media team received a CASE District VII Silver Award for “Best Use of Social Media” for the Instagram takeover Winter Olympics Exclusive, with bobsledder Carlo Valdes ’13 live from the 2018 Olympic games.
  • Like, follow, join or subscribe to connect with the 125,116 Bruins already currently following us on social media.
47,000+
Facebook followers
45,000+
LinkedIn members
19,000+
Instagram followers
10,000+
Twitter followers
2,000+
YouTube subscribers