Alumni Sessions
Secondary emphases are indicated in parentheses.
Please confirm the session times and locations in the program book you will receive when you arrive at the conference.
Sunday 12:30-1:30 p.m.
BP 4 YA: Best Practices for Young Alumni; Different Tactics for a Similar Group It's More Than Just Facebook!
Sheraton I
We are all different. What matters is how we learn from one another, and personally apply that knowledge. Hear representatives from a 50-year old institution with 76,000 alumni and five Alumni Relations staff members, and a 141-year old institution with 417,000 alumni and a 25-person Alumni Relations office share the diverse, yet similar, ways to communicate to and program for young alumni. Our job responsibilities and educational settings are unique, but there are commonalities to working with the YA population. Learn different strategies used to engage young alumni; the stories that accompany working with this dynamic group, and the successes of two different programs. Discussion will be focused on best practices, growing a program, setting goals, and how to reach the millennial group.
— Mindy Kalinowski Earley, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Grand Valley State University
— Brandi Nichols Farrer, Director of Student and Young Alumni Programs, Purdue Alumni Association
(Development)
What are Alumni? Generational Differences in Alumni Role Perceptions and Behaviors
Sheraton III
What does it mean when someone hears the term alumni? What kinds of behaviors are expected from someone who occupies the role? Do those behaviors change as a generation of alumni gets older? These are some fundamental questions that need considering when trying to understand the relationship between college or university graduates and their alma maters. This session will cover a new line of research into the role-identity formation of individuals who make up an institution's alumni base. Using multiple sources of data this session will discuss the generational differences in the perceptions of what it means to occupy the role of alumni. This session will also cover the attitudinal and behavioral differences of individuals who are active participants with their alma maters and those who are not. Learning about how alumni perceive themselves in regards to a college or university will assist us in developing better programs and services to meet their expectations.
— J. Travis McDearmon, Doctoral Student, Studies of Higher Education, University of Kentucky
Sunday 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Measuring Success: A Tool Kit for Alumni Relations
Sheraton I
Operating a highly productive alumni relations program often leaves little time to thoughtfully craft new management tools for gauging success. This interactive session is designed to help stock your management toolkit with best practices utilized by alumni relations professionals to plan, benchmark and report out on your achievements. Learn how a variety of measurement tools can be used to ultimately assess effectiveness, drive change, improve results, allocate resources and secure leadership buy-in. Plan to participate by submitting your institution's best practices for annual reporting, strategic/project planning, project/workflow management and evaluation/benchmarking prior to the conference for possible inclusion in the session.
— Martha Kelly Bates, Executive Director of Alumni and Community Affairs, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
— Ann Leslie Inman, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, Hanover College
(Executives in Advancement)
I Wonder What the Board Thinks About That?
Sheraton III
Need more insight into what board members think about the issues your organization is facing? Or maybe you're curious about the best ways to keep these volunteers engaged? A panel of alumni association executive committee members will take your questions and share their perspectives on various issues facing alumni organizations.
— Rene Hutchinson, Immediate Past President, Eastern Illinois University Alumni Association
— Vicki Hagan, Alumni Board Officer, Lake Forest College
— Gary Tiffany, Past President, Illinois State University Alumni Association
—
— Jeffrey Wendorf, Vice President, Programs and Outreach, Wisconsin Alumni Association
Monday 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Engaging Successful Business Alumni: Creating a Win-Win-Win for Students, Alumni and the University!
Sheraton I
Engaging successful business alumni can often be a challenge, as many of the traditional strategies do not work. Lawrence University (Lawrence Scholars in Business) and DePaul University (Corporate Connectors Program) have developed new programs that have successfully engaged these alumni by providing them with meaningful and targeted opportunities to help students advance in their careers. Besides providing great benefits to students, these programs are creating tailored volunteer opportunities for alumni that are engaging and reinvesting them with their alma maters. Learn about these successful alumni engagement programs and how similar strategies might be implemented in your development and alumni relations offices.
— Mark Breseman, Associate Vice President of Alumni and Constituency Engagement, Lawrence University
— Bob Perille, Lawrence University Alumnus and Trustee/Managing Director, Shamrock Capital Advisors
— Colleen M. Soto, Associate Director, Alumni Relations, DePaul University
(Communications and Web)
Maximizing Social Media for Alumni Relations
Sheraton III
The new world of social media has presented a wealth of tools and trials for alumni associations everywhere. Learn how to harness the power of these innovative networks no matter your institution, budget or staff size. Examine real-world examples that flourished and flopped and how you can maximize their use to generate interest and revenue in new and existing programs.
— Chase Carter, Director of Communications, Oklahoma State University Alumni Association
Monday 10:30-Noon
Good Things Happen When the Alumni Association Partners With Other Campus Groups
Sheraton I
Engaging alumni through partnerships with other campus units is a benefit to all areas involved. The presenters will share experiences gained in working with staff in the academic units and the athletic department to develop truly collaborative programming. The centrally-based Michigan State alumni association worked with alumni staff and others in their individual colleges to produce successful joint programming and membership campaigns while, at Northwestern, the alumni association and athletic staffs were able to partner to meet strategic goals for alumni engagement and event attendance.
— Matthew Herek, Assistant Director-Young Alumni, Northwestern University
— Elizabeth Cunningham, Associate Director, Sales and Marketing, Northwestern University
— Kathryn Reed, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events, Michigan State University
— Kim Kittleman, Director of Major Market Engagement, Michigan State University
Engaging Students to Ignite Alumni
Sheraton III
Learn how to develop a program at your institution that utilizes your most important resourceyour studentsto build stronger relationships with college alumni, many of whom are not currently supporting the college through charitable gifts or volunteer efforts. Hear from two institutions working with students in a whole new way to assist in alumni outreach. Leave this session with the tools and strategies needed to implement a similar program on your campus.
— Jeremy Wells, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Augsburg College
— Kim Stone, Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations, Augsburg College
—
Monday 1:30- 2:30 p.m.
Volunteers: The Lifeblood of Your Institution
Sheraton I
Is your volunteer corps really just corpses? By playing to the strengths of your staff and your volunteers, you can bring your volunteer corps back from the dead. Discover strategies to help identify volunteer opportunities for your constituents that play to their strengths and interests while achieving your goals and objectives. Explore topics such as:
- Utilizing volunteers for engagement, cultivation, and fundraising
- Volunteer lifecycle from recruitment through retirement
- Training volunteers and communicating expectations with them
- Identifying volunteers' strengths
- Moving volunteers into deeper levels of engagement
— Dan McCue, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Grinnell College
— Shannon Spencer, Assistant Director of Annual Giving, Bowling Green State University
Happy Students, Happy Alumni - Engaging Students to be Great Alumni
Sheraton III
How can your Alumni Office connect with students on their own turf? Find out how the Southwest Minnesota State University Alumni Office collaborated with the Residence Life Office to develop the Mustang Traditions living-learning community. Mustang Traditions was developed to promote pride and traditions while cultivating relationships between students and alumni. Hear about successes and failures and how to implement this type of program to engage students.
— Tyler Bowen, Director of Alumni Relations, Southwest Minnesota State University
Monday 3:00-4:00 p.m.
You Can't Possibly Work Harder, How Can You Work Smarter?
Sheraton I
It can be easy to get discouraged when faced with growing to-do lists and shrinking resources, but it is important to remember the positives of working in a small alumni relations shop. Communicating and building and managing relationships across campus can be easier than at a large school as small departments can be more nimble and accomplish tasks in less time. It is important to remember to play to our strengths; small schools may not be able to do everything a large school can, but there are certain things we can do better. We hope each attendee is able to contribute to the discussion and share their own best practices, while walking away with at least one new idea to help them be more successful.
— Jennifer Roberdeau, Director of Alumni Relations, Viterbo University
— Jessie Ahlschlager Sandoval, Associate Director of Alumnae Relations, College of Saint Benedict
Tuesday 9:15-10:15 a.m.
Enlisting Alumni as Legislative Advocates
Sheraton I
Alumni are uniquely positioned to be credible, influential and passionate ambassadors for their alma maters. The current economic crisis has made it more important than ever that legislators hear from their alumni constituents on behalf of higher education institutions. Hear how the University of Illinois Alumni Association successfully recruited more than 7,000 alumni (and still growing) to serve as legislative advocates. A case study will outline the elements of a grassroots campaign which resulted in the passage of legislation providing millions of dollars to the university.
— Amy Eichhorst, Director, Illinois Connection, University of Illinois Alumni Association
How A Small Shop Can Reach/Engage Its Alumni
Sheraton III
If you work in a small shop with a very limited budget and staff, you know you face unique challenges. But, there are still great ways to reach and engage your alumni. In this interactive session, we'll cover tips we've learned in our own shops. And, as part of the session, we're hoping many of you will come prepared to verbally share 90-second snapshots of specific successes or failures you have experienced in your own shop. We'll want you to share:
- A description and goals of the program or event.
- Success or failure and why?
- What did you learn?
Our goal is for everyone to take away usable, concrete tips and information. So come to learn (for 60 minutes!) and to share (for 90 seconds or less!).
— Tisha Bruemmer, Alumni Advancement Coordinator, Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health
— Mary Jo Kathman, Dean of Students/Alumni Services, Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health
— Juliana Nelligan, Alumni Relations Director, Benedictine University
Tuesday 10:45-12:15 p.m.
(Development)
Wisconsin Alumni Learning Cafe Series: A Partnership Model for Alumni Associations and Local Chapters
Sheraton I
The Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) alumni chapter in Green Bay has developed a variety of creative events that engage alumni in the life of the university. One of the more successful is the Alumni Cafe Learning Series, which features distinguished faculty lecturers from the University of Wisconsin. Leaders in Green Bay and other WAA chapters have augmented those programs with local alumni experts in similar fields of interest. This and other creative approaches to outreach has generated active participation of alumni in chapter events, a steady stream of new volunteer leaders wanting to be involved, and a community of alumni willing to support UW-Madison's mission and goals. Find out how to work together to create and execute successful alumni outreach events.
— Michael Fahey, Senior Director for State Relations, Wisconsin Alumni Association
— Erin Elliott, WAA Brown County Board Member/Alumni Cafe Learning Series Chairperson, Wisconsin Alumni Association
Turning Challenge into Opportunity: Using Career Services Partnerships In Your Alumni Relations Plan
Sheraton III
The current economic situation has increased the number of alumni questioning alumni relations staff about career issues and has created an opportunity to shine or lose credibility. Learn about best practices for large, mid-size and small institutions that can help you work proactively with career center staff on your campus to develop programs that match your culture and, ultimately, engage alumni in ways that can increase giving rates. The presenters have experience with a wide range of collaborative initiatives that range from helping students transition into engaged alumni, utilizing alumni as career volunteers, and recognizing alumni contributions.
— Kelley Bishop, Executive Director, Career Services, Michigan State University
— Jane Linnenburger, Executive Director, Smith Career Center, Bradley University
— Lisa Hinkley, Director of Career Services, Lake Forest College