Unable to locate grads
We have a hard time with students and grads moving or canceling phones and email without notification. I have gone to lengths as far as creating a work Facebook to locate the students. What are some ways to get back in contact with graduates? At least I can still find students in school.
Joyce,
It is certainly a challenge to keep in touch with grads. That's why we recommend forming an Alumni Community for just that purpose. Plan to stay in touch with your students and grads for life. It certainly helps them. It also helps the school to keep track of them for placement stats, enrollment in other programs, referrals, and more. MaxKnowledge has a course on how to set up and run an Alumni Community. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Sometimes believe it or not threw resent grads or active students they sometimes keep in contact theat may help as well.
Kathryn,
Locating grads and alumni is always challenging - unless you stay in touch with them consistently and persistently. This points to the benefits of an Alumni Community. Offer Alumni benefits, the opportunity to network, and work at the school for example. Show them they are appreciated. When they move they will want to stay in touch and let you know their new contact information. MaxK offers a course on how to set up an Alumni Community. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
What exactly is 'The Work Number'? I have read several post about it. To my understanding, schools are able to utilize 'The Work Number' to find out where alumni is working or if they are currently working. Is this correct? If this is the case, this is definitely something that would be beneficial to our school, especially for those students who have changed there contact information. Thanks for your post. It was very informative.
Leticia,
We think the key to locating grads is to stay in touch with them from the minute they graduate! Then if they move or lose their cell phones you have a good chance of keeping up to date with their contact info. This points to why Alumni Communities are so important. It is a way to engage the grads so they never leave you, Grads are ideal for enrollment in higher level programs. Grads can tell you where the jobs are. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
I agree with you method, We use this at our school because we found that if the graduate expects to be call, they are more likely to answer their phones or return calls. We try calling, emailing, facebook and also regular mail.
Jymy,
This is good and is usually required by regulatory agencies. However, we think grads should be contacted every few days until they get a job. In that way you can provide whatever coaching assistance is needed during their job search process. Also you will be sure to stay in touch and be able to confirm their contact information. Alumni can assist in the process. Thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
The way that we keep in touch with the graduates is by explaining them that we will be contacting them 30 60 and 90 days after they graduate to check on their placement status and then they fill out a contact form where they write the phone numbers of 4 people we can contact and also their own e-mail. so far it has work out very well.
Hope,
Finding and staying in touch with grads seems to be a universal problem. There are no easy solutions. What has to be done is to stay in touch early and often as students graduate. At the same time do whatever it takes to connect and then stay in touch with past grads. Starting an Alumni Community is a great way to get attention of grads and keep it. Be sure you offer your Alumni lots of benefits and never ask them for money. It's a way to keep them connected to your school for life. MaxKnowledge has a course on how to set up and benefit from Alumni Communities. thanks, Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
This is an area we have a lot of problems in also. We have tried the Facebook approach, but are still having trouble locating past graduates. We have even tried using information from our Financial Aid department. Has anyone tried having an event for just past graduates to attend to gather information? We thought we could get information from the graduates that attend about classmates they keep in touch with.
Doris,
Very valuable information. You might want to post on the MaxKnowledge Lounge as well. Susan
Dr. Susan Schulz
Hi I totally understand I found a website called The Work Number you have to pay for the service but it is worth the money it will tell you where a student works past and present and other information. Might want to check it out.
Good idea. The secret to staying in touch with grads might also be alumni associations. This means staying in touch with them frequently before and after graduation. You want to motivate grads to have a reason to stay connected by offering them lots of services to meet their post school needs. Thanks, Susan
using the technology of today such as FB and twitter is a great way to locate grads
Good point about getting people to fill out any form. When you find resistance you might ask some other students and/or grads to place calls to these people. Have them offer to fill out the form for the resistant person. You'll get the information, ideally in a phone call, and the involvement of the student and Alumni. Susan
Yes Facebook is great! But I have a hard time getting them to fill out the required feedback forms we need from them, we've made the forms even available to fill out electronically. But some grads just don't want to take a min. out of their day and fill it out. What else can I do to encourage these ones to fill it out? I am persistent already with Facebooking, emailing and calling them.
This is great Lisanne. You have identified so many benefits of Facebook. A good reason to get every student and grad to sign up on your school Facebook page. And to ask students for their Facebook info during any exit interviews. As you point out, a lot of info can be disseminated via Facebook. It is also a great way to build rapport and relationships. Thanks for the tips. Susan
Good point, Kathleen. Students do bond with their instructors mostly, sometimes staff, and other students. Instructors are a great source for locating grads. Another great strategy is to set up an alumni association and offer a lot of benefits to grads so they want to stay connected with your school. Best, Susan
Building a relationship while the student attends classes is imperative. Majority of the graduates will keep in touch with the person they spent the most time with. Instructors are also a great resource in helping you reach students who you have lost contact with.
