[Updated February 3, 2008: The discussion transcript shows that Williams gave a comprehensive laundry list of possible programs which other institutions can readily use to reach out to young alumni. Some of the specific efforts mentioned include the following (although Penn State isn't necessarily doing all these things):
- Student memberships
- Young alumni trips
- Targeted e-newsletter
- Reunions in different time slots & formats
- Recognition for "high achieving alumni under 35"
- Intellectual/cultural/networking events in regional cities
- Career-related webinars
- Social networking/online community tools
- Online courses/courseware
- Free membership to new grads
- Mentoring
- Youth-oriented design and formatting of communications
- Surveys and focus groups
- Discounts
- Email accounts and/or forwarding
- Relevant content in magazine
This last point is the one that Williams drove home repeatedly, and which has the most overall value: always make your programs and services relevant to what the alumni need.]
_____
The Chronicle of Higher Education is hosting an online discussion with Roger L. Williams, Director of the Penn State University (USA) Alumni Association. Williams will reply to
questions and comments about the headline topic (connecting with recent graduates) on Thursday, January 24, at
12 noon, U.S. Eastern standard time. Readers are welcome to post questions and
comments now.
Here's the description of the topic:
Alumni associations have found that the new generation of college alumni is among the most difficult to connect with. The alumni groups have spent the last few years figuring out how to remain relevant to graduates who prefer cellphones over home phones, have already created their own online social and professional networks, and job-hop at a dizzying pace. What can associations do to keep their institutions a part of the lives of young alumni?
And here's part of Williams' bio:
Roger L. Williams is director of the Pennsylvania State University Alumni Association, which is among the largest dues-paying alumni associations in the country, with nearly 160,000 members. A graduate of Penn State himself, Mr. Williams has held various posts in higher-education communications, public relations, and marketing for 25 years. Before starting work at Penn State, he was associate vice chancellor for university relations at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. One of Mr. Williams's priorities at Penn State has been creating opportunities for students to get involved with alumni-association programs before they graduate.
The chat is via text on the Chronicle web site; a transcript will be available at the same location once the chat is over. I will plan to circle back to the transcript and see what new ideas and trends are discussed.
