Rumor 1: "My" alumni association is shutting down/being forced to close/being swallowed by the new Rutgers University Alumni Association.

Response: This is absolutely not true. The Cook-CAES Alumni Association will continue to work with and for the alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. The alumni association will ensure that alumni of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Cook, CAES and even the College of Agriculture will always have a place and a voice within the larger alumni structure. The association’s Executive Board is working with the Rutgers University Department of Alumni Relations, the Rutgers University Alumni Federation and the incoming board of the new Rutgers University Alumni Association to smooth out many details during this transition period. Yes, there are challenges, but ultimately these will be resolved for everyone's benefit.

Rumor 2: Rutgers has canceled class reunions or will cancel future class reunions.

Response: This is absolutely not true. Reunions honoring the Cook/CAES classes ending in "3" and "8" will be held this year on the weekend of July25-27.The weekend features a Young Alumni BBQ and the Class of '08 is encouraged to attend. In fact, alumni of any class are invited to participate in the all the events, such as the scholarship golf outing, the fish fry, a remembrance program at Rising, Rutgers Gardens tours, over nights at the Newells and more. Future reunions are not in jeopardy. Various groups at Rutgers are exploring the idea of an all-Rutgers reunion for some future date. Participation in this event does not mean that college-specific reunions are banned. The reunion committee is open to new ideas and reunions will grow and change depending on the needs and wishes of alumni.If Cook/CAES -- and in the future SEBS - reunions are changed from the current format it will only be after consultation with the alumni of the featured reunion classes.

Rumor 3: Rutgers is canceling programs such as alumni association scholarships for students, alumni awards, Ag Field Day receptions and the annual Retired Faculty Luncheon.

Response: This as absolutely not true. The university may require the Cook/CAES to stop collecting membership dues and is not likely to provide university funds for school-specific programs. Dues payments were a major source of funding for longstanding programs such as scholarships, luncheons, newsletters, receptions, workshops, awards and others. However, dues payments are not the association’s only source of funding and we are building new funding sources such as the 3rd Annual Scholarship Golf Outing on July 25. We may have to tighten the budget, but will do everything we can to continue to host programs that are important to our community.