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How To Enhance Alumni Relations For Your School

By Michael Johnson


Students take pride in their former learning institutions. These institutions use alumni relations officers and offices to keep in touch with their former students. This relationship is highly beneficial to the students and institution as well. However, this mutual relation does not come automatically. It requires the office and persons involved to use certain tactics.

All students must be regarded as valuable. There is a tendency to view some as more valuable than others because of their social and financial status. However, fortunes change with time. This means that you could ignore a member who ends up being crucial in your plans in future. Work with all of them because each contributes depending on his or her capability. Even the socially and economically endowed could lose their influence, be overtaken or unavailable for future engagements.

Plan regular activities where they are invited to participate. A routine is preferred because it makes it easier for them to plan. One activity should be specifically for the alumni while another takes place in school. Be modest with your activities to allow them to participate without failing to attend to work or social responsibilities at personal level.

Organize them in terms of years when they left school. Persons who left school at the same time find interactions to be easier compared to those who left earlier or before. The reason for vibrant relationships is the memories that they share. Once they meet, they can reminisce their time together. It is the shared memories that they meet to celebrate.

They also have concerns that need to be addressed. It is common to view alumni associations as being exclusive for helping the institution to gather resources and enhance its learning environment. However, some former students require recommendations from the school. Others need certificates to be released or their social welfare addressed. When such concerns are ignored, students feel exploited and will ignore your invitations.

Embrace modern media to mobilize and keep in touch with the former students. Traditional phone numbers could have belonged to parents and elder siblings. New media platforms make it easier to get these old boys and girls whenever you organize an event. In fact, they keep in touch and will spread the word to those who you cannot reach. Modern media, like social media, is also fast to communicate. You end up talking to them in a manner that they understand. Further, you will spend less to keep in touch.

Delegate some of the mobilization and planning to the alumni. They have ideas of what should happen to spice the school and events where they are involved. They take pride in giving back to the school or institution. Should they feel that their ideas are not being considered, they will keep away from the event. This affects its impact.

Cast your net wider when looking for former students. It is normal for students to disperse far and wide upon graduating. It helps to involve those who have spread to other parts of the country and world. This could be in an activity once in several years. It makes your alumni association inclusive and animated.




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