Strategies used at Oberlin College to justify a budgetary increase for alumni programs are outlined, along with suggestions for budgetary planning. Alumni program coordination with other important programs--such as recruitment, career exploration, and attracting experts to campus--is suggested. (MSE)

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…

Ingredients for a successful alumni association membership campaign are outlined, including clear objectives for the campaign; support of staff, board, and administration; careful timing; focus on college events; strategically targeted mailing audience; appropriate type of mailing; unique message; attention-getting format; follow-up; and use of…

A directory lists computer software vendors offering software useful in administering college alumni and development programs. Listings include client/server system vendors and minicomputer and mainframe system vendors. Each listing contains the vendor name and address, contact person, software title(s), cost, hardware requirements, and client…

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)

Successful techniques for administering alumni associations are described, including a live mascot (University of Redlands, California, bulldog), ethical/social focus reflecting institutional mission (University of Notre Dame, Illinois), humorous gifts for board members resulting in high attendance and participation (University of Idaho), and…

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.…

Successful alumni travel programs require good organization, careful targeting, and attention to detail. Planning includes understanding audience demographics, choosing an appropriate tour, knowing current travel trends and constraints, selecting the best host for the group, calculation of costs and tax limitations, choosing a good agent, and…

Five tactics used by the University of Massachusetts to make alumni operations effective with minimal cost include assuring the campus administration's commitment to alumni club programming, training chapter volunteers on campus and through regional visits, controlling mailing costs, planning events in a cost-effective manner, and deciding whether…

Results of a national survey of colleges and universities concerning alumni involvement in off-campus community service programs indicate a broad variety of activities. Steps to take in establishing and managing an alumni association community service project are outlined. (MSE)

College alumni associations are using a variety of approaches to improve alumni participation. Surveying alumni for needs and preferences can be fruitful. Program ideas include career planning, parent programs, community service, student relations activities, and high school recruitment. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation is crucial to…

The University of Missouri's alumni association is using technology to recruit new members, increase retention, and provide benefits and services. Examples include the use of members' electronic mail for communication, use of personal barcodes on membership renewal notices, and automatic membership renewal using credit and debit accounts. (MSE)

Suggested strategies for running a more effective college alumni program include effective calendar organization; careful staff utilization; administrator visibility; increased efficiency; effective use of alumni volunteers and student workers; good office communication; broad information dissemination across campus; consistent use of priorities;…