by Anne Reynolds
Members of the business committee of graduates' council - the body to which all graduates and honorary graduates of the University belong - came together for one of its twice-yearly meetings at University House.
To keep us abreast of the developments within the University, members heard two reports on current University business - one from the Principal and the other from Iain Wright, one of our two assessors on court.
Attending our October meeting for the first time was Joan Concannon, the director of external affairs and Dianne Pemberton-Pigott the alumni relations officer. Joan gave a presentation of her priorities and, of special interest to members, her plans to strengthen the relationship with alumni and with council.
Dianne delivered a progress report on her work since taking up her post in June, her main task being the installation of a new graduate database in the alumni office and the transfer of data.
Given the importance of the recipients of honorary degrees to the University we are appreciative of our representation on the honorary degrees committee and Alistair Main reported on his submission of our nominations.
The graduates' council fund was set up to assist worthwhile projects and targets mainly Dundee graduates. In 1995 this modest fund was boosted by a donation from a graduate and her generosity enabled us to make more substantial outlays.
The committee was notified of recent ratified disbursements which were given to the University debating union, to geography students for an Icelandic expedition, to architecture students building houses in Kenya and to the Andy McKinlay memorial fund.
The programme for our 'big day', the annual meeting of graduates and 'Discovery' lecture was discussed, the views of members noted and arrangements proposed for co-ordination with the alumni office and the University administration.