CAPS Membership Guidelines
30-35
Active Members
3 Years
Renewable Terms
2X
Two Meetings Per Year
5
Standing Committees
CAPS membership is comprised of a select group of 30–35 Active members and a flexible number of Emeritus members. The Chair and Associate Chair of Communication Arts and the Department’s UW Foundation representative serve ex officio.
A CAPS Chair and Vice Chair are selected from the membership. Active CAPS members typically serve renewable three-year terms; Emeritus members typically serve in perpetuity.
Board members are selected to represent the diversity, breadth of occupations, and varied accomplishments of the Communication Arts alumni community.
The CAPS Board is led by the Department Chair, the Associate Chair, a UW Foundation representative, and the CAPS Chair and Vice Chair.
Member Guidelines & Expectations
All CAPS members observe the following guidelines as part of their board commitment:
Participation in Business Meetings
Attendance at CAPS business meetings each year — typically one in fall and one in spring. Costs for travel and accommodations are borne by individual members and may be tax-deductible.
Participation in CAPS Initiatives
Members offer time and expertise in support of CAPS initiatives — mentoring, alumni outreach, fundraising, and securing internship opportunities for students.
Financial Support for Communication Arts
Members make an annual donation of $1,500 to the Comm Arts Annual Fund. The Department Chair may waive all or part of the pledge at member request.
Committee Membership
All CAPS members serve on at least one of the board’s five standing committees and assist in fulfilling the committee’s mission:
Emeritus Members
A Lifetime Commitment to Comm Arts
Emeritus CAPS members are encouraged to continue to advocate on behalf of the Department and to give generously to Communication Arts. Emeritus membership is typically held in perpetuity, recognizing a sustained lifetime commitment to the Department’s excellence.
Common Questions About CAPS
CAPS membership is open to distinguished alumni, faculty, and emeritus friends of UW–Madison who share a commitment to the excellence of the Communication Arts Department. Members represent all Comm Arts disciplines — from Film and Rhetoric to Communication Science and Media & Cultural Studies.
Members contribute in several ways: volunteering time and professional expertise, providing financial support through gifts and Day of the Badger contributions, funding student internships, offering career mentorship, and advocating on behalf of the Department to external audiences.
For general inquiries about CAPS membership and how to get involved, reach out to the Board Development Committee: Vance Kepley: CAPS Board Development.
For questions about alumni engagement and events, contact the Department’s Alumni Relations Officer: Jamie Prey.
You can also explore the full CAPS member roster, guidelines, and mission on this site to learn more about what the board does and who is involved.
There are many ways to give back: make a gift through the Giving page, sponsor a student internship, participate in Day of the Badger, or explore CAPS membership. Every contribution — large or small — makes a real difference for current students and the Department’s future.
Interested in CAPS Membership?
Anyone wishing to know more about CAPS membership may contact the following individuals directly.