5 Tried and Tested Ways To Increase Alumni Engagement!

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Commencement is one of the most exciting weekends for the entire campus community. It is also the time when students get ready to leave campus. 

While student engagement is a good predictor of alumni engagement, this is not always the case. Some of the most committed and engaged students leave campus only to lose touch with their alma mater. Proximity to campus as well as new demands on their time quickly become the priority. 

Keep Students Engaged after they Graduate

The key question is:

โ€œHow can colleges and universities continue to support and keep young alumni engaged when they leave campus and transition to another phase in life? โ€œ

Alumni Relations teams know that it is paramount to create a relationship with students before graduation. This makes it easier to foster, rather than reinvent, the relationship once students graduate.

Not Sure Where to get Started? 

Below are a five tried-and-true tips from our campus partners to engage with soon-to-be-alumni:

  1. Start early- Welcome students into the alumni association before they graduate. Offering gifts with hand written notes or recorded videos from fellow alumni help provide a sense of belonging.

  2. Donโ€™t lose touch after graduation- Offer to facilitate distribution of caps and gowns. Collect a non EDU email address as part of the alumni registration process to continue to engage post-graduation. 

  3. Meet them where they are- Send introductions from regional alumni clubs or host receptions to welcome new or soon to be graduates into their new place of residence. Students will be glad to have a professional network in their new city before they get there.

  4. Provide a service- Hire a photographer to take professional headshots for LinkedIn profiles. Host mock interviews or ask alumni to connect students with recruiters in their companies.

  5. Be present- Attend AND sponsor senior week events. Students should know your staff and recognize the Alumni Office as their go-to resource post-graduation.

Build an Incredibly Engaged Alumni Community!

The goal is to help incredibly engaged students transition to become incredibly engaged alumni!
Therefore, engaging with students while they are still on campus and transitioning to their new roles as alumni is critical. Establishing a connection with fellow alumni models the benefits of lifelong engagement, mentorship and volunteerism. 

How does your team engage with students before they graduate? We would love to hear your ideas!

Are you looking for an online engagement solution to power student and/or alumni engagement initiatives? CampusGroups would be thrilled to help evaluate your needs. 

ABOUT ANASTASIA:

As an Account Executive at CampusGroups, I have spent my career in higher education technology as well as in alumni relations and fundraising. I have a Bachelor's degree from Worcester State University in 2008 and a MBA from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2013. I live in Massachusetts with my husband and three children and am an avid photographer.