Every Year is a Milestone
• Publicly-funded • Founded in 1908 • 250,000+ alumni worldwide
• 39,500 students • 18 faculties • Predominantly a commuter campus
Why? • The BIG occasions only happen every 50-100 years • The after-party counts! (think of the Oscars) - capitalize on investment - use the spotlight - maintain momentum
• Continue to build momentum and a strong cohort - an engaged alumni body gives - an engaged alumni body advocates Alumnus who received Alumni Recognition Award in 2011 (part of reunion activities); has since endowed a scholarship
- an engaged alumni body participates
• Building affinity and engagement between institutional milestones can build your audience for the next BIG occasion
What do we Celebrate? Since 2008 (our milestone year)…….. •Faculty Anniversaries Law; Medicine; Pharmacy; Native Studies; Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences •Department Anniversaries Dental Hygiene 50th Physical Education 50th Rehabilitation Medicine 50th Earth & Atmospheric Sciences 50th •Buildings •And………
..People!! • Every year is a milestone for at least one group of alumni (10, 50, 83 years!) - our program offers support for anyone at a 5-year milestone
• Reunions are milestones - occasions for alumni to: - commemorate their place in your institution’s
history - reflect on what the institution has meant to
them - renew their ties to the University - focus their fundraising efforts to increase giving in support of faculty-specific initiatives
How? • If you don’t have an existing program, start small and focus on one key group: 25-year, 50-year, First class of _____ • Recruit class organizers/captains to help spread the word and partner with you. A letter or email from someone the class knows goes much farther than from “Colleen Elliott.”
• Facilitate reunions organized by your alumni – offer support, assistance, training and resources.
• Seek the advice of faculty partners (alumni relations, development, chairs, deans) in selecting prospective leaders. This could be based on previous leadership, involvement in activities, giving history or “star quality”. • Gradually grow the program by introducing more classes in subsequent years.
• Reunions are a great source of stories for magazines, stewardship & development teams • Use your communications to create a buzz around events that are planned
A Shift in Focus Cohort vs Class shift •Larger classes •Broader range of programs •Clubs and interest groups
May require a re-think of existing programs, or a new way to initiate programs Focus on eras (60’s), demographics (families)
Expand the Audience Traditions (contests, concerts, zaniness) Fraternities/Sororities Football Game Residence
Convocation
If You Build it…… We brought back the Tuck Shop, a popular hangout for 53 years. Demolished in 1972.
2011 – 1300 visitors 2012 – 1800 visitors 2013 – 2500 visitors
Provides: • Opportunity to see friends from other faculties • Nostalgia - memory/tradition • Sharing of history and tradition with current students and the campus community • Awareness of the Alumni Association - profile
Share the Love • Anniversary Cards - feel acknowledged, especially if they cannot attend • Reunion pins – Harriet, Bill • Buttons
• Lanyards
Class Notes & Memories • Provides valuable information to update records • Increases your audience and the reach of your marketing • Identifies prospects and notable alumni • Tells the story of your institution throughout the year in order to raise the profile of the institution • Celebrate and acknowledge your superstars – engage them and they will often return with gifts of money and/or time
Colleen Elliott
Manager, Education & Special Events Office of Alumni Relations
[email protected]
• 39,500 students • 18 faculties • Predominantly a commuter campus
Why? • The BIG occasions only happen every 50-100 years • The after-party counts! (think of the Oscars) - capitalize on investment - use the spotlight - maintain momentum
• Continue to build momentum and a strong cohort - an engaged alumni body gives - an engaged alumni body advocates Alumnus who received Alumni Recognition Award in 2011 (part of reunion activities); has since endowed a scholarship
- an engaged alumni body participates
• Building affinity and engagement between institutional milestones can build your audience for the next BIG occasion
What do we Celebrate? Since 2008 (our milestone year)…….. •Faculty Anniversaries Law; Medicine; Pharmacy; Native Studies; Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences •Department Anniversaries Dental Hygiene 50th Physical Education 50th Rehabilitation Medicine 50th Earth & Atmospheric Sciences 50th •Buildings •And………
..People!! • Every year is a milestone for at least one group of alumni (10, 50, 83 years!) - our program offers support for anyone at a 5-year milestone
• Reunions are milestones - occasions for alumni to: - commemorate their place in your institution’s
history - reflect on what the institution has meant to
them - renew their ties to the University - focus their fundraising efforts to increase giving in support of faculty-specific initiatives
How? • If you don’t have an existing program, start small and focus on one key group: 25-year, 50-year, First class of _____ • Recruit class organizers/captains to help spread the word and partner with you. A letter or email from someone the class knows goes much farther than from “Colleen Elliott.”
• Facilitate reunions organized by your alumni – offer support, assistance, training and resources.
• Seek the advice of faculty partners (alumni relations, development, chairs, deans) in selecting prospective leaders. This could be based on previous leadership, involvement in activities, giving history or “star quality”. • Gradually grow the program by introducing more classes in subsequent years.
• Reunions are a great source of stories for magazines, stewardship & development teams • Use your communications to create a buzz around events that are planned
A Shift in Focus Cohort vs Class shift •Larger classes •Broader range of programs •Clubs and interest groups
May require a re-think of existing programs, or a new way to initiate programs Focus on eras (60’s), demographics (families)
Expand the Audience Traditions (contests, concerts, zaniness) Fraternities/Sororities Football Game Residence
Convocation
If You Build it…… We brought back the Tuck Shop, a popular hangout for 53 years. Demolished in 1972.
2011 – 1300 visitors 2012 – 1800 visitors 2013 – 2500 visitors
Provides: • Opportunity to see friends from other faculties • Nostalgia - memory/tradition • Sharing of history and tradition with current students and the campus community • Awareness of the Alumni Association - profile
Share the Love • Anniversary Cards - feel acknowledged, especially if they cannot attend • Reunion pins – Harriet, Bill • Buttons
• Lanyards
Class Notes & Memories • Provides valuable information to update records • Increases your audience and the reach of your marketing • Identifies prospects and notable alumni • Tells the story of your institution throughout the year in order to raise the profile of the institution • Celebrate and acknowledge your superstars – engage them and they will often return with gifts of money and/or time
Colleen Elliott
Manager, Education & Special Events Office of Alumni Relations
[email protected]
