An estate planning seminar is a personal and cost-effective tool for alerting college constituents to a financial opportunity. Such seminars are not hard to coordinate, are a service to alumni and friends, and may bring long-term benefits to college and participants. Experiences at a number of colleges illustrate diverse approaches. (MSE)

Basic principles of designing a reunion gift program include beginning small, researching class prospects, gathering volunteers, determining the financial goal, communicating needs and intentions, organizing volunteers, advertising well, and making the donation at the reunion a major event. More ambitious plans can be tied into the program later.…

College programs targeting parents as potential donors are discussed. Factors to be considered in program development, such as finding the right constituency, approaching them, program budgeting, and incorporating the program into others, are examined. Benefits of such programs are seen as substantial. (MSE)

The administration's adviser to the Illinois State University Student Alumni Council examines the benefits of student participation in alumni affairs, outlines some considerations in the creation and development of a new student alumni program, and suggests program possibilities for different constituencies, including alumni, students, future…

Five major considerations to be addressed by college development programs before upgrading a computer system include: (1) evaluating functions of the current system; (2) assessing system capabilities needed; (3) discovering what users need; (4) deciding whether to patch an older system, build a new one in house, or buy it complete; and (5)…