June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Barriers to setting up an Alumni Association

Ginny, Certainly, in order to provide a FREE service, your leadership needs to see the value of maintaining a relationship with your graduates. I, personally, believe that our grads are living, breathing, walking advertisements for our institution. We pay LOTS of money for marketing. Why not tap into our own student's stories for this? If you are able to gather Alumni Success Stories via your alumni website/association and can put them on your websites, share them with employers, make success story posters to display at your campuses or even their workplaces, put together an Alumni Success Story Book, or even… >>>

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Your First Event

Ginny, I like the 'order' that you have for your priorities. So often schools want to start with a party. I believe getting your advisory board in place to provide direction and support needs to be first. Your website IS your connection with graduates and needs to be available to 'continue' your relationship with the alumni who attend your events. Good thoughts! June

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Challenges to Setting Up an Alumni Association Website

Ginny, Great ideas! The main job of an Alumni Director or Coordinator is going to be managing that website. It WILL be the method of communication and the main connecting point in your 'relationship' with your graduates. June

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Mission Statement Development

Ginny, It appears that you have a pretty clear idea of the direction you want to head and the goals you want to accomplish via your Alumni Association and your ideas on the mission statement clearly reflect that. Good Job! June

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Challenges to Setting Up an Alumni Association Website

Sharon, If your corporate office is not willing to allow you to develop a separate site, I like your idea of adding even a link from your main site with a couple pages dedicated to your graduates. Possibly being able to monitor the number of hits to those pages would provide the value to those who would make the future decision regarding having a more robust stand alone alumni site. June

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Challenges to Setting Up an Alumni Association Website

Sharon, It sounds like you have a pretty accurate picture of the challenges ahead of you. I like your idea of inviting people to be a part of starting a program. It's going to be important to find people who see the value and are passionate about a relationship with your graduates. June

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Challenges to Setting Up an Alumni Association Website

Sharon, 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. You don't even necessarily have to start an actual 'association' if you just begin by providing a simple alumni website. 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… >>>

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Public Relations Opportunities

Hi Sharon, Using your graduates to actually put faces to your institution is really important. We must constantly be thinking about how we can maximize our contact in the community via happy and successful alumni. June

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Benefits to Offer Your Grads

Hello Sharon, Great ideas! It sounds like you have some great options to draw your graduates back. The number one reason graduates reconnect with their school is the career services area. This is definitely an area where you want to provide the services they need. June

June Gudeman

Discussion Comment

Mission Statement Development

Sharon, It's good to tie into your institution's mission statement. How might you 'tweak' it to fit your alumni program? June