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A New Approach to Alumni Engagement
Traci Via University of Central Missouri
Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations [email protected]
Jenne Vanderbout University of Central Missouri
Assistant Vice President for Alumni and Development [email protected]
Alumni Track Sponsored By:
University of Central Missouri
• Founded in 1871 as a Teacher’s College
• Mid-sized state institution
• Approximately 14,000 students from 42 states and 61 countries. 88% are Missouri residents
• Centralized Alumni and Development Operation
• Alumni and Development report to the same Vice President
• Integrated with the University
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Good to Great
• Good is the Enemy of Great
• Confront the Brutal Facts
• The Flywheel
• Hedgehog concept for strategic engagement
• BHAGS (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals)
• Getting right people on the bus
Brutal Facts
• Nearly 90,000 alumni around the world but, less than 5% of them are engaged
• Lack of Alumni Engagement opportunities • Two separate governing boards • Low graduation rate • High student debut • Limited coordination between and support of
campus partners and our office
• Lack of strategy for engaging alumni
What is the transformational change needed to engage more
alumni to foster student success?
The Question
Answer three pivotal questions:
1. What are we deeply passionate about? 2. What can we be the best in the world at? 3. What best drives our economic or resource engine?
The Fly Wheel
• Internship
• Scholarship
• Mentorship
Hedgehog Concept
• Have 35% of alumni engaged in advancing the University • Have alumni giving rate at 12% • Generate 20% of perspective student applications through
alumni recommendation • Provide scholarship support to 35% of the student
population • Have 10% of student population be legacy students
BHAGS by 2030
Filled vacant positions
Create new positions
The Right People on the Bus
1. Governance, Operations and Accountability 2. Constituent – Based Engagement 3. Data Enrichment 4. University Events 5. Integrated Communications 6. Revenue Generating Opportunities 7. Volunteer Experience 8. Major Gift Fundraising 9. Personnel Structure
The Plan
What: • Consolidate the Alumni Association Board and the Foundation Board into one
governing body with one charge; to drive constituent engagement supporting student success
Why: • Duplicate Efforts • Staff resources • Increased collaboration • Same goals and mission different approaches
Challenges: • Turf • Fear of change • Concern of losing alumni focus
Opportunities: • Increased focus on alumni engagement and student success • More efficient use of resources • Committees
Consolidate Boards
Approach: • Staff discussion • Research • Face to face meetings with all board members • Vote from each board • All terms were honored • New strategic plan
Hiccups: • Name • Concerns one group would dominate the other
Where we are at: • No challenges related to the merge • Members are more engaged
Consolidate Boards
What: • Establish a team of engagement principals to
work specifically with colleges and programs Approach:
• Alumni Engagement Team
• Alumni Engagement Dean Teams
Constituent Based Engagement
What: • Assist in fully developing and maximizing college departments and
program advisory boards
Why: • Single greatest opportunity to engage alumni at the top of their game in
advancing their alma mater. • Most advisory boards are checking a box for accreditation • Alumni on the current advisory boards are under utilized, and under
qualified. • Those that are qualified feel it’s a waste of time
Opportunities: • Proven model • Recruit key alumni to impact student success • Support for academic programs
Challenges: • Loss of control • Misperceptions between academics and industry • Change
Constituent Based Engagement
What do you think are some advantages to what we are doing?
What are some challenges that we have not considered?
What are opportunities we might consider?
As advancement professionals, why do you think this will or will not work?
Questions for us?
Questions
THANK YOU!!!!
University of Central Missouri
Mrs. Traci Via Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations
Dr. Jenne Vanderbout Assistant Vice President, Alumni Relations and Development
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