Each year, alumni groups around the world submit annual reports to the Penn State Alumni Association. These annual reports are reviewed to put together a profile of the good work affiliate groups are engaged in throughout the year.

Groups that submit annual reports are automatically considered for the Alumni Association’s Group of Distinction status, which entitles them to receive free membership cards, priority standing in the annual football lottery for alumni affiliate groups, and special consideration for the Alumni Association’s speaker and project grants worth $500 or more.

To receive Group of Distinction status, groups must submit an annual report, hold an annual meeting and submit minutes, share copies of group communications with the Alumni Association, and complete seven of 12 affiliate group programming categories. The categories are student support and interaction, networking and fellowship, sports activities, community service, group membership support and recruitment, Alumni Association membership support and recruitment, communications, national service project, participation in Alumni Association Awards program, participation in Alumni Association-sponsored training, marching in the Homecoming parade, and Dance Marathon-related events.