The UT Black Alumni Associates was created September 1, 1984, as a suborganizational group of the UT National Alumni Association. The Black Associates group encourages African American alumni involvement in university affairs. All African American graduates and former students are automatically members of the associates. A 25-member board of directors represents the associates and meets semiannually. In November 1985 the group established the Black Alumni Associates Endowment and Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships for African American UT students.