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M Alumni Online Frequently Asked Questions
Please review these Frequently Asked Questions about M Alumni Online and its services. If you have a question that is not answered in this FAQ, please feel free to contact us at MAlumniOnline@umn.edu or 800-862-5867.

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  1. What is M Alumni Online?
  2. Does it cost anything to use M Alumni Online?
  3. The registration form asks for my Alumni Association Membership ID. I’m not a member, so how do I get that number?
  4. What if I’m a member, but I don’t know my Alumni Association Membership ID?
  5. Why do I have to register for M Alumni Online if I am an Alumni Association member?
  6. What is a “security word”?
  7. Once I set my user ID and password during registration, am I able to change it?
  8. How do I find my user ID and password?
  9. I just purchased an Alumni Association membership online. When will I be able to start using the members-only services in M Alumni Online?
  10. What information is included in the Alumni Directory?
  11. Is my e-mail address displayed in the Alumni Directory?
  12. Will I receive unsolicited mail or SPAM e-mail because my listing in the Alumni Directory?
  13. Is the Alumni Directory secure? Who has access?
  14. How do I update my listing in the Alumni Directory?
  15. What if I don’t want my information listed?
  16. Can I change my name as it appears in the Alumni Directory?
  17. I was married before I graduated, so my maiden name isn't reflected in my directory listing. Can I change that?
  18. The University of Minnesota academic information listed for me is incorrect or incomplete. How do I get this fixed?
  19. How quickly do my changes appear in the Alumni Directory listing?
  20. What is the Alumni Career Network?
  21. What is the Career Networking Contact/Advisor Directory?
  22. Who are the Career Networking Contact/Advisors?
  23. What is expected of me as a Career Networking Contact/Advisor?
  24. What can I expect from a Career Networking Contact/Advisor ?
  25. How do I become a Career Networking Contact/Advisor?
  26. Where do the Job Postings in the Alumni Career Network come from?
  27. Can I post a job on behalf of my employer?
  28. May I submit more than one job posting for the same position?
  29. Why did my job posting(s) expire?
  30. May I submit more than one resume?
  31. Why did my resume(s) expire?
  32. How do I know that the information in the job and resume postings is accurate?

Q. What is M Alumni Online?
A. M Alumni Online is a Web service provided by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association for University of Minnesota alumni and friends. M Alumni Online’s two major features are the Alumni Directory, and the Alumni Career Network, which includes the Career Advisor Directory, Career Services for Alumni, Job Postings and Resume Postings.

Q. Does it cost anything to use M Alumni Online?
A. It does not cost anything to register for M Alumni Online and to view and update your own Alumni Directory listing. If you want to search the Alumni Directory or participate in the Alumni Career Network, you need to be an Alumni Association member. To learn more or to purchase an Alumni Associaton membership, visit www.alumni.umn.edu/membership or call 800-862-5867.

Q. The registration form asks for my Alumni Association Membership ID. I’m not a member, so how do I get that number?
A. The number used for your Alumni Association Membership ID is an ID number that has already been assigned to you as an alumnus of the University of Minnesota. You may contact the Alumni Association at MAlumniOnline@umn.edu or 800-862-5867 to ask for that ID number.

Q. What if I’m a member, but I don’t know my Alumni Association Membership ID?
A. Your Alumni Association Membership ID is printed on your Membership ID card, and it was printed on the mailing label of the March-April 2005 issue of Minnesota magazine, which is mailed to all UMAA members. If you can’t find your Membership ID, call the Alumni Association at 800-862-5867.

Q. Why do I have to register for M Alumni Online if I am an Alumni Association member?
A. The registration process ensures that you are affiliated with the correct record in our database. With over 400,000 alumni and friends in our database, this is an important step! Also, through the registration process you will identify a user name and password that will be required every time you access M Alumni Online services.

Q. What is a “security word”?
A. This is a word that you will be prompted to provide if you desire to change your password, username, or contact our staff to access your record. In addition to your name, it helps us to verify your identity before accessing your record. Common security words are mother’s maiden name, pet name, make of first car, etc.

Q. Once I set my user ID and password during registration, am I able to change it?
A. You will be able to easily change your password by clicking on the “member services” link on the left side of the page. Your user ID can be changed, but only by contacting membership services at MAlumniOnline@umn.edu or 800-862-5867.

Q. How do I find my user ID and password?
A. If you have registered already and have forgotten your user ID and password, you can have a reminder sent to you via email. Click on the member services link on the left side of the page, then click on the “User ID and Password Lookup” link.

Q. I just purchased an Alumni Association membership online. When will I be able to start using the members-only services in M Alumni Online?
A. After purchasing an Alumni Association membership, it may take three or more business days for your M Alumni Online privileges to be activated. If you want access to this service immediately, you may call 800-862-5867.

Q. What information is included in the Alumni Directory?
A. The Alumni Directory includes information about more than 350,000 U of M-Twin Cities campus alumni. By default, the directory listings include name, city, employer, U of M college, major, graduation year, degrees from other institutions, and an e-mail link.

Q. Is my e-mail address displayed in the Alumni Directory?
A. If the Alumni Association has your e-mail address on record, your directory listing will include a link that says “Contact this person via e-mail.” Your specific address will not display. If someone e-mails you using this link, the e-mail will be forwarded to you for you to choose whether you want to respond. If you do not want to receive e-mails through M Alumni Online, or if you want the e-mails to go to a different e-mail account, you can opt to remove the e-mail link, or update your e-mail address.

Q. Will I receive unsolicited mail or SPAM e-mail because my listing in the Alumni Directory?
A. Alumni who register for M Alumni Online agree not to use the directory information for solicitations or mass mailings or e-mailings. In addition, alumni will be limited to 25 searches in 24 hours; this is to discourage viewers from sending unwanted solicitations or “spam.” The Alumni Association may expel users who misuse the directory. The Alumni Association and University of Minnesota do not use information on this site for any commercial or philanthropic purpose not directly connected with or approved by the Alumni Association. If you receive e-mail you feel is inappropriate, please contact the Alumni Association at 800-862-5867.

Q. Is the Alumni Directory secure? Who has access?
A. Only you and a limited number of Alumni Association staff members can see your full directory listing and update your personal information; and only members of the Alumni Association who have registered and obtained a password can view the directory information you have chosen to display. If you submit information about a change of address, the Alumni Association will share this information with the University of Minnesota Foundation.

Q. How do I update my listing in the Alumni Directory?
A. Please complete the Registration process and proceed to the Alumni Directory. Follow the link labeled “View or Update Your Alumni Directory Listing.” This page will allow you to update your address.

Q. What if I don’t want my information listed?
A. Please complete the Registration process and proceed to the Alumni Directory. Follow the link labeled “View or Update Your Alumni Directory Listing.” This page will allow you to hide your directory listing completely, or you can specify which items you no longer want to be displayed in the directory.

Q. Can I change my name as it appears in the Alumni Directory?
A. To change your name as it appears in the alumni directory, contact UMAA membership services at 800-862-5867. To change the name you were known by as a student, see the next question.

Q. I was married before I graduated, so my maiden name isn't reflected in my directory listing. Can I change that?
A. Yes. Complete the Registration process and proceed to the Alumni Directory. Follow the link labeled “View or Update Your Alumni Directory Listing.” In the Personal section, you can modify your student name.

Q. The University of Minnesota academic information listed for me is incorrect or incomplete. How do I get this fixed?
A. Contact Alumni Association membership services at 800-862-5867. Membership services will need to verify the information with the U of M Registrar and update your record.

Q. How quickly do my changes appear in the Alumni Directory listing?
A. Changes will generally take 2-3 business days to display in the directory. If your changes don’t appear within a week, please contact the UMAA at 800-862-5867.

Q. What is the Alumni Career Network?
A. The Alumni Career Network includes a Career Networking Contact/Advisor Directory, Career Services for Alumni, Job Postings and Resume Postings.

Q. What is the Career Networking Contact/Advisor Directory?
A. The Career Networking Contact/Advisor Directory provides a way for registered users of M Alumni Online to search for a Career Networking Contact/Advisor or volunteer to become a Career Networking Contact/Advisor in their career field.

Q. Who are the Career Networking Contact/Advisors?
A. Career Networking Contact/Advisors are alumni who have identified themselves as Career Networking Contact/Advisors in their Alumni Directory listing. Also, when the Alumni Association published its print directory in 2003, alumni were able to identify themselves as Career Networking Contact/Advisors in that directory’s questionnaire.

Q. What is expected of me as a Career Networking Contact/Advisor?
A. Career Networking Contact/Advisors are asked to share career advice with alumni and students who are M Alumni Online members. As a Career Networking Contact/Advisor you may be asked to discuss your career path, the companies you have worked for, and to provide networking contacts when appropriate.

Q. What can I expect from a Career Networking Contact/Advisor ?
A. Career Networking Contact/Advisors have volunteered to be resources for informational interviewing via e-mail or phone. They should not be solicited for employment, internship opportunities, or housing. Career Networking Contact/Advisor information listed is for M Alumni Online members only, and is not to be distributed.

Q. How do I become a Career Networking Contact/Advisor?
A. Complete the Registration process and proceed to the Alumni Directory. Follow the link labeled “View or Update Your Alumni Directory Listing.” Under the Personal heading, you can choose “Yes” where it says “Is a Career Networking Contact/Advisor.”

Q. Where do the Job Postings in the Alumni Career Network come from?
A. Job postings are submitted by other M Alumni Online members. M Alumni Online members also may search for job postings submitted by members of other institutions with online communities through Bernard C. Harris Publishing Co., Inc.

Q. Can I post a job on behalf of my employer?
A. Yes. Please make sure your human resources department or the hiring manager for the position is aware that you have posted the job.

Q. May I submit more than one job posting for the same position?
A. Yes. In fact, this is a good strategy if the job posting applies to more than one Job Type. To create multiple job postings without having to re-write all of your information, write the text you want to include in a separate document and copy and paste that text into the Web form.

Q. Why did my job posting(s) expire?
A. We only allow job postings to display for six months. Even though your job posting is no longer displaying, you still have access to the job posting information you originally submitted. If you want to create the same job posting, copy the text in the expired job posting form and paste it into a new form.

Q. May I submit more than one resume?
A. Yes. In fact, this is a good strategy if your job experience and/or the job you desire is applies to more than one Job Type. To create multiple resumes without having to re-write all of your information, write the text you want to include in a separate document and copy and paste that text into the Web form.

Q. Why did my resume(s) expire?
A. After six months, resumes stop displaying so we can avoid keeping outdated information on the service. Even though your resume is no longer displaying, you still have access to your resume information. If you want to create the same resume, copy the text in the expired resume form and paste it into a new form.

Q. How do I know that the information in the job and resume postings is accurate?
A. Only registered members may submit job and resume postings, and the Alumni Association trusts its members to use this service responsibly. However, it is your responsibility to verify that the information contained in the postings is correct.

Last modified on 2/21/2008 1:49:24 PM
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