A study was conducted to determine whether alumni who were previous scholarship recipients were more likely to pledge financial assistance to their alma mater than were alumni who were not financially assisted. A total of 140 alumni were to be contacted through a regular phonathon, with a special script for the 70 previous scholarship recipients.…

Ideas for homecoming themes, events, and staffing are provided from a nationwide survey of alumni directors including: theme spirit; choose a team and plan a strategy; think homecoming, but not necessarily football; schedule time out for fun, games, and food; and involve the community. (MLW)

A guide for conducting alumni surveys is presented, including 22 sample questionnaires. The first section on planning an effective survey strategy includes the following five articles: "Let's Take a Survey" (Cletis Pride); "Surveying Your Alumni: Or an Unexamined College Is Not Worth Loving" (Jocelyn Bartkevicius); "Make Your Survey Scientific"…

How alumni can strengthen a government relations program is discussed. Any government relations program tries to communicate higher education's importance to the economic and social growth of both the state and the country. No group can be more effective than alumni in promoting higher education as a political priority. (MLW)

Suggestions for undertaking and succeeding at publishing an institutional history address these issues: expectations, funding, choosing an author, stirring interest among alumni, involving alumni and older faculty, determining a writing approach, layout, and publishing. (MSE)

Two studies investigated the transferability of generalist social work practice skills and knowledge between rural and urban settings. Interviews with 20 social workers practicing primarily with low income persons in both rural (Las Cruces, New Mexico) and urban (Detroit, Michigan) settings focused upon social work skills, perceived strengths and…