Robert Barker/University Photography

Karen Walters, Web editor of Chronicle Online, and Joe Zappala, director of marketing and communications for alumni affairs and development, work on the December issue of Cornell E-News at the News Service, 312 College Ave.

More than 120,000 alumni, parents and friends of Cornell University received their first issue of Cornell e-News at the end of November. The newly created monthly electronic newsletter is the result of a collaborative effort between the Division of Alumni Affairs and Development and the Division of University Communications.

"It has been a long-time goal of Alumni Affairs and Development to get an e-newsletter like this off the ground that goes to our broad base of alumni, parents and friends, and having the support of the News Service to help develop Cornell e-News and get it launched has made all the difference," said Joe Zappala, director of marketing and communications, alumni affairs and development. "So far, the feedback has been very positive. We've heard back from alumni throughout the country and the world, and they've been telling us how great it is to start getting something like this to keep them in touch with Cornell."

Zappala said alumni affairs personnel have been hearing from a lot of parents, as well. "Cornell parents in Alaska wrote to say that they sometimes feel very removed from their daughter's life and university experiences at Cornell, and the e-newsletter is now a great way for them to stay connected," he said.

The newsletter is in part a response to feedback from regional alumni focus groups around the country indicating great interest in getting regular e-communication and information, such as that now found in Cornell e-News.

The monthly newsletter is produced by Karen Walters, Web editor of Chronicle Online, and includes headlines and links to major campus news and events, stories on students and faculty, research breakthroughs and Cornell outreach activities around the world. Links to relevant Cornell Web sites and resources also are provided.

"We opted for a text-based newsletter to start, because it works best with e-mail clients," Walters said. "The e-mail also includes a link to an online version of the newsletter, for those who prefer reading the update in a browser."

In a note to alumni, parents and friends of Cornell that accompanied the introductory issue, Mary Berens, director of alumni affairs, stated that the newsletter is intended "to best serve your information needs, and we'll actively seek your feedback in the coming months. If you know of other alumni, parents or friends who may not be receiving Cornell e-News, please let them know about it."