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Joining the Texas Exes, the alumni association of the University of Texas at Austin, costs $60 annually. Penn State? $50. UCLA? $100.

After you graduate from CU Boulder, it costs nothing. Zero. Zilch. You’re part of the CU Boulder Alumni Association automatically.

It hasn’t always been this way.

As recently as 2007, an annual membership was $45. But in 2008, following a student vote authorizing a one-time fee for incoming students, alumni association leaders introduced the Forever Buffs model — dues-free membership for CU Boulder alumni of all class years.

“All of our programs serve a singular purpose,” said Ryan Chreist (Kines’96; MPubAd’09), assistant vice chancellor and executive director of the alumni association. “We want to strengthen your connection to CU Boulder without the burden of membership fees.”

Today, all Buffs enjoy the benefits of the alumni association, including Coloradan magazine, one-on-one career counseling sessions, tailgates, young alumni events, Homecoming Weekend and discounts ranging from insurance to hotels to movie tickets. Plus, alumni receive invitations to chapter events in cities around the country (and 10 foreign cities, too).

To commemorate the initiative’s 10th anniversary, the CU Boulder Alumni Association will offer even more events, stories and benefits this year to reconnect you with your alma mater — whether you spent one year here or nine — and show you what it means to be a Forever Buff.

Jimmy Calano (Mktg’78), a former alumni board chair who helped lead the initiative, sees it as being part of a special club. He felt the Buff spirit recently when he saw CNBC “Squawk Alley” anchor Carl Quintanilla (PolSci’93) on TV.

“I thought of Carl not as a commentator,” he said, “but as a Buff like me.” 

Photo courtesy CU Boulder Alumni Association