Creative Ways to Engage Your AlumniCreative Ways to Engage Your Alumni 2016 National Scholarship Providers Association Conference Introduction - 2 min. on each person and foundation
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Creative Ways to Engage Your Alumni 2016 National Scholarship Providers Association Conference
2016 National Scholarship Providers Association Conference
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Introduction - 2 min. on each person and foundation. Give name, organization, and population of alumni we are dealing with (% instate, out of state, how many, etc.)
Structure Mentoring Regional/National scope Outreach/Recruiting General engagement
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Quick overview of the purpose of this presentation and what we hope to have people walk away with.
Structure – alumni leadership Alumni Board structure • Advisory role v. independent board • Research shows that interdependent model
works well
Boettcher Scholar Alumni Board – • Structure was key to ongoing coordination • Volunteer management key staff role and
joint strategic planning with staff/alumni
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Structure…what works? Should you have alumni programming inhouse, a separate volunteer group, or something else. Bonnie – I am happy to say a little bit about how to structure the relationship and to be careful not to let them have too much free reign. We are now trying to reel in our alumni association that has been operating totally independently and while things are progressing, it is far from ideal. Also, it is important to create some kind of alumni advisory group so that there is genuine input from alumni on the types of events that are going to be most appealing. Tiff - The reverse is an alumni prog. totally run by the group or foundation. Tiff – talk about the success that are coming with the Boettcher Scholar Alumni Board that was developed BY the alumni directly with our staff.
Foundation Trustee Rep
Foundation Senior Staff Members
Foundation Staff Rep
Alumni Chair Team (Incoming, Current, Past)
Communications Liaison
Operations Head
committee chair(s) (Ad Hoc)
committee chair (Programming)
committee chair (Communication)
Alumni Chair Team
committee chair (Outreach)
Oversight Committee
Executive Committee
Implementation Teams Alumni Board Members & other participants – Committee Work
(Outreach, Communication, Programming & Ad Hoc) Builds pipeline of volunteers, form teams around larger programs, allows
for current student involvement, etc.
Mentoring – short term
• Meet and Greet for Scholars and Alumni – Connect scholars and
alumni around career interests
– Two hour event at our summer conference
– Have activities for those who are shy
– Why it works: • Low commitment event for alumni • Scholars are hungry for the connection to
mentors – Challenges:
• Don’t want way more scholars than alumni • Have a way to get everyone engaged (activity) • Clearly indicated fields or professions so that
scholars can find alumni of interest
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Bonnie Explain event – alumni want to connect with current scholars and provide guidance and mentoring Provided list of alumni attending in advance as well as tips for networking with specific ideas of how to introduce yourself and how to follow up. Had an activity they could complete to be entered for a drawing for a $50 gift card to purchase professional attire. Activity required them to talk with alumni and scholars about education, interests, etc. to practice asking questions, listening, and talking about themselves. Also, how to ask for a business card so they could follow up later.
Mentoring – longer term
• Leadership Council – Personal & Professional Development – Assessment – Coaching – Networking – “Grateful Scholars”
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Mike
Regional/National scope • Online programming
– Call and Connect Series • Series of four, one-hour
webinars with a panel of alumni from different sectors
• Scholars and recent graduates listened in to panel and could message me with questions or present questions in advance
– Graduate School Planning • Two, one-hour webinars covering how to apply for and select a
graduate school as well as how to fund graduate school • Similar format to Call and Connect
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Bonnie Our alumni are mostly centered in Oregon and California. Not practical to get everyone in one place. How planned. How promoted. How executed. Up on the screen is an example of what was on the screen during the webinar.
Regional programming NATIONAL BOARD
UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATIONS
REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Alumni Chair* Alumni Vice Chair, Par Club *
Regional Chairperson*
University President
Scholar /Alumni Relations Chair
ES Chapter Representative
Special Events Chair
Diversity & Inclusion Chair
Communications Chair
*executive committee members
Regional President/Leader
Recruitment Chairs
Telephone Committee
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Mike
Ideas for your programming?
Pair and share
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Tiff (5 min) Things you have tried Things you might try What you have learned One action step Share back out with the group
Outreach and recruitment Alumni Ambassador Program • Structure:
– recruit alumni – train (in person and WebEx) – coordinate and resource them – track/get feedback (multiple levels)
Recruitment Outreach Foundation Representation
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Tiff – In 2014 we launched our Alumni Ambassador program with the purpose of not only recruiting across our state but also to serve as a resource to our state doing outreach to all schools/counselors helping to best prepare students for all scholarships/colleges, and then also having an army of alumni fully trained in our branding/messaging so they can be Foundation representatives in the community. Tiff add notes: We recruit from our CO
Alumni engaging alumni
• Challenge inside the Challenge
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Mike
Alumni engaging alumni
• Class Champions = Class representatives – Finding and maintaining contact information for
every scholar in your class – Assisting the foundation and the alumni board in
sharing information about news, events and programming to your class; and
– Generally championing all things Boettcher to your fellow scholars.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Tiff Trained Confidentiality agreement What we are asking: To do this we are asking that you: - Use the information provided to you by the foundation as a starting point for reconnecting with your class, - Use social media, your fellow classmates and other search techniques to help us fill in missing contact information, - Use social media to find and engage with your fellow Boettcher Scholars and encourage them to connect with the foundation via its Facebook, LinkedIn and Boettcher Connections database - Update the foundation any time you learn of changes to a classmate’s contact information, - Provide progress reports to the foundation in the fall and spring of each year, - Get to know your classmates and their interests so you can flag them to specific opportunities that align with those interests, and - Share your identity as a Boettcher Scholar and your experience at events via social media to help us raise awareness of the Boettcher Scholar community’s impact Resource them Contact list and info. Scripts for phone/email Directions on how to connect through Boettcher connection, linked in, Facebook
More ideas?
Pair and share
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Bonnie Go back with that group….any other ideas. Or, more clarity around your first idea/conversation. Try to have two action steps to walk out of the room with. Share with the group.
