Our school mission and the mission of our Alumni Association is the same. The support of our students does not end with graduation. We are here to support them through lifelong learning, networking and social interactions.
Keeping our graduates connected with us not only grows our network but theirs as well. None of us live in a silo. Many times it is not what you know, rather who you know.
Jody,
Typically, attempting to articulate the direction you want to head with your alumni and collaborating it with your institution's mission statement gives you a clear and accurate statement.
June Gudeman
Given our particular mission statement, the best course would be to begin with what we have, building on it as it applies to alumni.
Given our particular mission statement, the best course would be to begin with what we have, building on it as it applies to alumni.
Matt,
Your draft is a good start. Remember, you are stating the purpose of your association. Why do it? Certainly, to "assist your graduates in their continued success" is the most powerful and clear message of your statement. I'd suggest you think through the second sentence regarding community. It's great to be involved with the community. The question I want to ask is - is it your bottom line purpose?
June Gudeman
Draft mission statement:
"The Alumni Association's mission is to assist students and graduates of in continued success. In addition, positive promotion of in the community through outreach, community service and mentorship is critical to advancement, growth and influence.
Bradley,
Great thoughts! I would agree your alumni mission statement should have a connection to your institution's statement. You have an interesting point about the school possibly needing to adjust their mission statement to reflect your new alumni organization. I hadn't thought about that before.
June Gudeman
The AA's mission statement needs to, at minimum, have some relation to the school's mission statement... the AA after all is part of the school, so there has to be relevance between why the AA exists and why the school exists...
however, the AA mission will need to be somewhat different from the school's mission because the AA has a specific focus in that it deals with keeping that connection with graduates...
in fact, once the AA is established and operating, i could foresee a change to the school's Mission to reflect that newfound focus on grads as well as current and prospective students...
however, the formal structure of the Mission statement, ultimately, will be directed by the members of the advisory committee, and they may come forward with some ideas not previously considered...
Coryne,
I really appreciate your current college mission statement components. You're right in wanting to follow that same path and just add your own commitment to communication. I like it!
June Gudeman
Our colleges mission statement already includes our commitment to our students success, by providing industry related course work, successful employment, maintaining partnerships with employers in our community. So I would use these in our Alumni mission statement and also build on that to include our commitment to a forum for on-going communitcation.
Samantha,
I agree with your decision to align your institution's mission statement with your new alumni mission statement.
Good luck!
June Gudeman
Our school will adapt a new mission statement. I do plan to use our current school mission statement for some guidance. I believe the two should allign in structure. Since we are considered a multi-campus, the mission statement will have to be general enough to encompass the goal for each.
Camille,
Great! As you look at the statement, think through exactly what it is you want to accomplish and where you want to go with your alumni. It should be your pointer - your direction and grid that you run all your decisions through.
June Gudeman
Exactly! It may need a bit of tweaking and re-vamping to make it appeal to the new classes that just graduated. The association needs more nurturing and time put into it. I am ready to do that.
Camille,
Mission statements are helpful because they force us to decide who we are and what direction we want to go. It would be an interesting task for your team to look at the current statement and decide if it accurately speaks to the direct they want to go as a group.
June Gudeman
We already have a mission statement for the school and the alumni association. I think in the next alumni meeting we will brainstorm on ideas to update the mission statement.
Virginia,
A mission statement which includes or agrees with the mission statement of your institution and includes the direction you plan to focus on for alumni is certainly the way to go.
Great!
June Gudeman
We will create a mission statement for a alumni which is focused on connection between graduates and employers
Virginia,
It's good to include the focus of your institution's mission statement. What would you include that would be specific to your mission for alumni?
June Gudeman
I would plan a new mission statement for our alumni which tie into my school mission statement
