June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Andrew, Will it include some of the foundational concepts that are currently in your school's mission statement? Often institutions create a statement that is specific to their alumni and yet connects and stays in focus with the direction their school is heading. June Gudeman

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Advisory Board Membership

Andrew, It sounds like you have some great ideas to get started! You may want to consider some key administrators representing different areas (ie: Career Services, Student Services, Instructors) to help give their guidance and input beyond just your alumni. June Gudeman

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Barriers to setting up an Alumni Association

Christina , Good job coming up with solutions! Remember that our graduates are walking, breathing advertisements for our schools. If you can gather some alumni success stories and find opportunities to share those, it will provide some of the best marketing around. This may even enable you to get some funding based on the fact that you are, in essence, doing some marketing for your institution. June Gudeman

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Benefits to Offer Your Grads

Christina , I like your ideas so far. I think the important thing here is to think like a graduate. What are they looking for? What would draw them back to your institution? How can you appreciate them? June Gudeman

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Challenges to Setting Up an Alumni Association Website

Christina , Certainly, finding a couple of employed graduates who are happy with their education would do a lot to jump start your program. All it takes is a couple of alumni who are excited and ready to "give back" to your institution. June Gudeman

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Challenges to Setting Up an Alumni Association Website

Christina , I like your idea of just linking a page or two. Another thing smaller institutions are doing is to create a separate Facebook page for graduates. This can have provide many of the features of a full alumni website -- opportunities to connect with old friends, place to share alumni success stories, job opportunities,etc. June Gudeman

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Advisory Board Membership

Christina , Many smaller institutions like yours double up their Career Services Coordinator/Alumni Director. These two areas fit very well together and research has shown that the number one reason graduates reconnect with their institution is for Career Services help. June Gudeman

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Challenges to Setting Up an Alumni Association Website

Christian, Creating and maintaining a website definitely takes a level of commitment, both financially and in the area of personnel needed to manage it. That being said, it is a fantastic method for communication. Often schools spend an incredible amount of money trying to find and maintain contact with their graduates. A website that includes Alumni Profiles where grads can update their personal and employment info accomplishes that same thing. In fact, graduates will find YOU via a website rather than you attempting to find them. Some schools are using Facebook to accomplish many of the same things an individual… >>>

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Benefits to Offer Your Grads

Daysis, Sounds like you are well on your way to a great alumni association. Keep thinking like a graduate - What are they looking for? What would be a benefit to them? What services could we provide? How can we help them feel appreciated? June Gudeman

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Benefits to Offer Your Grads

Daysis, Career Services is the number one motivator in drawing alumni back to their institutions so your emphasis on that is right on. June Gudeman