To succeed in recruiting development officers, colleges and universities must use more aggressive methods to reach alumni, people with ties to the campus, and local business people; expand their selection criteria, perhaps including candidates with little or no experience; streamline the hiring process; and train new professionals. (MSE)

This article provides ideas on how to conduct alumni telephone surveys: (1) use the information gathered; (2) implement a survey; (3) develop appropriate questions; (4) test a survey instrument; (5) train interviewers; (6) collect the data; (7) analyze the results; (8) report the results; and (9) use the results to take action. (MDM)

College development administrators are wise to make special efforts to keep their best contact staff, those who have significant contact with major gift prospects. However, those officers are likely to be recruited away. When they do leave, a structured transition is best for all parties. (MSE)

This article provides advice from editors of alumni magazines on how to improve such periodicals: (1) get better writers; (2) improve content; (3) improve design quality; (4) multiply good ideas; (5) make the most of photographs; (6) achieve savings in design; (7) get a bigger budget; and (8) manage magazine staff. (MDM)

An in-house media training program can help college faculty feel comfortable with taped and on-camera interviews. Everyone benefits: faculty gain valuable experience; the media and public obtain quick, concise, and clear information; and the campus gets good public relations. Effective programs are carefully designed, realistic, and include…

At George Mason University (Virginia), a consulting firm designed a program to train university administrators to deal with the media effectively. On-camera simulations, followed up with practice sessions in the university's telecommunications department, were an effective method of preparing for difficult media questions. (MSE)