Husky for Life: What it Means to Be a SMU Alumni

Written by Hannah Birru

Thumbnail Photo by Saint Mary's University

As Saint Mary's University students, we enjoy a boatload of discounts, perks, and special programs. Many people assume these student discounts, bonuses, and programs disappear with the left flip of the graduation hat tassel after walking across the graduation stage. However, as a Saint Mary's University Alumni, that does not have to be the case.

“Once you graduate from Saint Mary’s University, you will automatically join our global Alumni network of more than 53,000 proud Santamarians. Our alumni are some of the most engaged in Canada and are such important members of the Saint Mary’s community. Alumni volunteer as representatives on Alumni Council, a group that consults on alumni events, programming, and strategic direction. Others are Alumni Ambassadors, sharing their SMU experience with students who are interested in applying to the university. Many alumni participate in the SMU Café online networking and mentorship platform, which is a great way for current students to connect and get career advice from alumni. Students who participate in campus activities often want to stay connected after they graduate, and that’s why the Alumni office is proud to sponsor societies, clubs, teams and events such as Welcome Weeks and the SMU Alumni Golf Tournament”, state the SMU Alumni committee. Learn more about the role alumni are taking within their communities by reading the Maroon+White Alumni magazine or following @SMUalumniHFX on social media.

Additionally, listed below are some of the noteworthy perks and programs that you have access to as SMU Alumni:

Discounts

Everyone always loves a good discount. As students, we get some killer discounts such as our U-Pass through SMUSA and discounts at countless businesses through the Student Price Card. After graduating, you can apply for a free Alumni Card to continue saving! With an Alumni Card and some SMU Alumni promo codes, you can access an endless array of discounts to restaurants, hotels, and local businesses. There are some noteworthy discounts to enjoy: a 10% discount at Naan-n-Curry and Pita Pit, a 10% discount at SoftMoc in-store and online, and discounts up to 55% on exclusive hotels through Rocket Travel (previously known as HotelStorm). For a complete list of discounts and how to access promo codes, you can visit the Alumni Card webpage.

Alumni Book Club

Photo by PBC

After graduating, if you are looking to connect with your fellow Saint Mary’s Alumni and enjoy some reading, you can join the Alumni Book Club. Powered by the Professional Book Club (PBC) Guru, Saint Mary’s Alumni, faculty, and staff can join an ongoing forum to discuss and connect over literature. Every two months, current alumni, faculty, and staff vote on a book to read and discuss. Not only will this encourage you to keep up with your reading, but you will also be introduced to "fellow alumni across industries, generations, and geographies all while gaining different perspectives while reading the book. The network you will be building may help you with career advice, introduce you to new people, and help you find your next opportunity," as the PBC website states. It's free, and joining the club only takes filling out this 2-minute form.

Career Services

Navigating the current hectic and competitive job market can be a terrifying battle for new graduates. Many graduates in the early stages of their careers can feel stranded and alone when the resources provided by a university are stripped away after graduation. Luckily, for up to three years after graduating, Saint Mary's Alumni are granted access to career services offered by SMU. These career services include access to SMU Café and all the benefits and programs provided by Saint Mary's Career & Experiential Learning. The SMU Café with Ten Thousand Coffees is a platform that allows you to grow your network and connect with inspiring individuals. To learn more about SMU Café, you can read the article Let's Take Networking off the Back Burner: SMU Café. In addition, as alumni with access to the Saint Mary's Career & Experiential Learning centre, you can benefit from career counselling, career & employment coaching, and employer engagement assistance. You have access to all of these career services as students, but as a fresh grad, you are likely to utilize these resources more in the beginning stages of your career. The years following graduation are often filled with countless job applications and interviews, so having such resources exclusively available to you as a Saint Mary's Alumni might give you a much-needed edge in the current job market!

Events

Without realizing it, we sometimes forget how easy it can be to make friends in university through classes, sports, and clubs. As an adult in the workforce, it can be daunting to find peers with shared interests and form friendships. As a Saint Mary's Alumni, you will be able to attend various events offered by the SMU Alumni Association or the SMU Alumni office, where you can connect and engage with fellow alumni. Some of the most prominent alumni events of the year include the SMU Alumni Golf Tournament and Homecoming. The Golf Tournament, typically held in the summer months, is an annual fundraiser for alumni. Proceeds from the tournament go toward student bursaries with the SMU Alumni Association committing to supporting $10,000 in student bursaries for 2021. Homecoming is held in the fall and includes various activities, panels, and discussions hosted by the SMU Alumni office. The Homecoming event schedule for 2021 is still to be determined, but you can visit Homecoming | SMU News and Events for a look at the past couple of Homecomings and what the event entails.

For Wendy Wang BComm'16, Co-Chair External, Young Alumni Committee, “Being a SMU Alumni means having access to global connections. The events and activities offered by SMU Alumni allows me to not only reunite with my fellow graduates, but also get to know those who graduated way earlier. By attending alumni events hosted by SMU, I gained industrial insights without needing to actually work in the organization. I could make connections easily by building common ground and get advice when it comes to picking a career path or even applying for a job, as the SMU Alumni are always up to help each other out."

Photo by Saint Mary's University Alumni. 2019 Homecoming.

This list is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the amazing student discounts, perks, and programs awaiting us after graduation. With over 50,000 Saint Mary's University alumni worldwide, the SMU Alumni Association and the SMU Alumni office are expanding their programs and perks offered year by year. 

“I am very proud to call myself a Saint Mary's alumnus! When I attended Saint Mary's University, it was my first time in Canada and thousands of miles away from my home country, Bangladesh. The SMU community not only helped me adapt to the Canadian way of life but also introduced me to numerous intriguing cultures from all over the world. Saint Mary's provided me with opportunities to grow as a person, gave me lasting friendships, and the strength and knowledge that I can achieve my goals no matter the obstacles faced. To me, Saint Mary's is a place where academic excellence and learning outside the classrooms are in perfect harmony.” - Mohammad Ashiq BComm’20, Alumni 

So even when you flip your tassel, you can be sure you will be a Husky for many more years to come.