Today Universities are increasing their capacity to track their alumni through high end database systems and new outreach programs. Once (re)connected, these alumni prove to be a limitless resource of information, ideas, and at times energy - no, not money no matter how much an advancement officer wishes! This dedication to their institution and to the state/region in which they live are positive relationships that should be explored.
Within the context of UNC Tomorrow, there are many identified challenges with even more solutions - but as we realize that one size does not fit all - the response phase should probably include the very public that helped us identify the list in the first place.
What is the appropriate role for alumni in the modern University? How should campuses best engage their alumni beyond the checkbook and sporting events (both necessary and exciting in their own rights)? Who is getting it right? What can we learn from them?
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4 comments:
From a students prospective I feel that in order to make sure alumni are engaged we have to make sure students feel an emotional connection to their university. That they are seen as more than customers.
Students at schools without a complete college experience feel that they are merely in a degree factory and have no incentive to contribute to their institution at a later point in life. UNC system institutions should be allowed to make investments in programming and athletics that tie students closer to their university and closer to the state of NC so that their unique talents will be invested in the state economy and the well-being of their university.
I would like to corroborate Justin Ritchie's comments regarding the complete college experience.
Justin is right on the money here.
Point #1: my own college experience validates that assertion. I had a complete college experience in undergraduate school (at Ohio State University). I always contribute to programs at the school, sit on advisory boards, and have become a strong advocate of their academic programs at Cisco. My graduate school experience (at Santa Clara University) was much less complete and I have never contributed them in any way.
Point #2: My daughter is currently evaluating undergraduate schools. In terms of the complete college experience, as evaluated by the Fiske Guide to Colleges, UNC outranks some of the other schools she is evaluating, such as Carnegie Mellon University.
North Carolina is doing a lot of things right and they will reap the benefits of this over the long term.
{{wow, that's very tasty I think
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