Advice is offered on promoting diversity within the college alumni association, based on the University of Kansas Alumni Association's experience. Suggestions include providing offerings that appeal to everyone; challenging alumni to participate in reaching out to others; and inviting alumni involvement when dissatisfied. (MSE)

An audit can give easy-to-understand indicators of how the various parts of an alumni association are doing. Prepare for an audit by: identifying goals and the areas that are most symbolic of the well-being of the organization, and quantify what to measure. (MLW)

Alumni with drive and influence can help a college alumni organization meet its long-term goals. Prospective donors may be willing volunteers, and regular review of the alumni notes may suggest volunteers. A diverse volunteer group can best represent diverse alumni populations. Challenging, meaningful assignments that tap expertise are the most…

As college alumni become more diverse, alumni associations are finding that special interest groups are increasingly popular. Gay, ethnic, and racial clubs may spark controversy and require that alumni administrators address concerns tactfully while nurturing the affinity group. (MSE)

Discusses a variety of fun activities that college and universities can develop as alumni fund-raising events: a golf tournament; scholarship auctions (silent, on-the-spot, live televised, and live); charitable raffles; duck dashes; themed banquets; and a tuition raffle. (MSE)

Five veteran college alumni directors share strategies for creating an effective association: deciding what program aspects must be measured; assessing the program realistically; listening to customers; stretching program resources to hold down cost and work more efficiently; and remembering the value of the human touch in program design and…

Alumni leaders should be included in a school or college capital campaign drive. The alumni office can help find prospects, provide events and programs for fund raising, promote the campaign, involve alumni staff members. Alumni themselves can assist in campaign planning and inspire others to give by donating themselves. (MSE)

Effective fund raising among graduate school alumni requires efforts that differ from those used with undergraduate alumni. Working with school-based or umbrella alumni organizations, staffing, and development of services and programs appropriate to this population are keys to success. Reunions, career roundtables, orientation, mentor programs,…

Points to consider when contemplating a national alumni program are reviewed, including: (1) the program will be expensive, (2) a national clubs organization will take staff time, (3) volunteers will be used effectively, and (4) the college will come alive to those who rarely get to the campus. (MLW)

This article proposes that the success of an alumni travel program depends on finding the right faculty leaders. Advice for selecting appropriate faculty includes learning as much as possible about the individual's interests and strengths, matching trips with enthusiastic professors, and considering potential benefits and disadvantages of faculty…

Advice is offered for developing and strengthening college alumni special interest groups. These include setting clear guidelines; striving for membership quantity and enthusiasm; focusing on a mission; developing strong and creative leaders; sharing responsibility among staff; setting reasonable objectives; and finding financial support. (MSE)

A professional, effective, and efficient college alumni office is the key to linking loyal alumni and campus. A wise alumni administrator will also increase alumni participation through communication, become involved and influential in campus affairs, gain the support of the president, and offer a program valuable to constituents. (MSE)

College alumni associations can use new events management software for effective, innovative event planning. Possible applications are illustrated in the cases of three universities. Information is provided on planning time, budget, hardware and software used, software uses, evidence of event success, and lessons learned. Planning considerations…

Four experienced college alumni volunteers offer information and opinions on how and why they became volunteers, how they serve, amount of time spent volunteering, what the alumni office does that is most helpful, how to keep volunteers from feeling overburdened, how to reward volunteers, and working with a spouse. (MSE)

Eight steps to use in promoting the alumni office on campus and create lasting ties with other campus offices are outlined. They include keeping in personal contact with campus colleagues, staying involved in campus programs, keeping the top administrators and campus informed of activities, garnering support, being professional, keeping current.…