alumni engagement

6 ways personalization can supercharge alumni engagement

Personalization is the backbone of modern marketing, and alumni engagement is no exception. Already, 80% of U.S. consumers are more likely to purchase from a brand that offers personalized experiences. But, in Cuseum’s November-December 2020 survey of over 150 alumni relations professionals, 77% believed that they need to offer more personalized engagement to their constituents.

That’s a big disconnect!

If you’re interested in getting the lowdown on alumni personalization, we’re here to help. Here, we’ll break down the what, the why, and the how of personalization – let’s dive in!

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Nurturing Engaged Alumni in the Digital Era: 6 Essential Strategies for Success

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In a time characterized by online engagement and pervasive digital access to social and professional networks, how can alumni associations facilitate the transformation of students and recent graduates into engaged alumni? Here are 6 crucial tips to assist you and your organization in smoothly transitioning students into proactive, committed members of your alumni community.

Top Technology Trends in 2022 – And What They Mean for Alumni Relations

As colleges and universities examine which technologies will propel them forward in the digital era, we are eager to contextualize Gartner’s 2022 predictions for alumni engagement. Read on to explore what 2022’s top technology trends could mean for alumni relations.

4 Ways Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Landscape of Alumni Relations

In the world of alumni engagement, AI has enormous potential that we’re only beginning to tap into. From saving staff time, generating fresh insights, personalizing content at scale, to enabling more intelligent fundraising, alumni relations had much to gain from considering the potential applications of AI:

Providing Value Virtually: How Alumni Professionals Can Overcome Zoom Fatigue to Create Meaningful Remote Experiences

How do you overcome Zoom fatigue to deliver virtual value? Even in a sea of virtual meetings and programs, many alumni professionals continue to achieve high participation and engagement rates. So, what’s their secret?

Although there’s no magic bullet to overcoming screen fatigue, successful virtual alumni events have many common ingredients. Read more…..

Unpacking the Big Data Buzz: How Can We Leverage Data in Alumni Engagement?

With all the rumblings about “big data,” industry professionals understand the urgency to start making data-driven decisions, but may be unsure of the benefits, the potential challenges, and how to get started.

Here, we’ll break down the basics of data analytics, what technology you need to get started, top tips to become more data-driven in alumni relations, and the biggest challenges alumni relations professionals face when trying to leverage data. Let’s get into it!

5 Tips to Offer Valuable Alumni Benefits in the Twenty-First Century

Alumni relations has changed and it will continue to change. To survive and thrive into the future, alumni professionals must continuously reassess not only what benefits they offer, but how to improve access to these.

In light of this, let’s examine five tips to offer value to alumni today.

Using Digital Membership “Back of Card Text” to Deepen Constituent Engagement

At increasing rates, associations and alumni organizations are launching Digital Membership Cards (also known as Digital Alumni Cards). Just what is a Digital Membership Card? Hosted in the mobile wallet, Digital Membership Cards are an easy way to provide digitally accessible member and alumni benefits. Already, leading institutions including University of Tennessee Alumni Association, University of Michigan Alumni Association, and Museums Association have begun issuing digital cards.

For organizations that traditionally issue physical membership cards, replacing paper or plastic cards with a low-lift mobile solution can provide enormous time and cost savings. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg! For all colleges and universities, Digital Alumni Cards offer fresh value and facilitate deeper alumni engagement in myriad ways, starting with dynamic “back of card text.”

4 Important Alumni Relations Trends Every University Needs to Consider

In recent years, the models and structures that have historically guided alumni relations and alumni engagement have evolved significantly. In light of these changes, universities and alumni associations may be trying to understand what this new landscape looks like and seeking strategies to remain relevant. In order to keep up, alumni organizations need to recognize how conventional modes of engagement are shifting, anticipate changing constituent expectations, and determine how they fit into the new digital landscape. Looking to the present and future, here are four big trends in alumni relations:

Webinar Highlights: Alumni Hour: Succeeding with Events & Programs (Part 2)

We’re back for Part 2! Over the course of the past six months, universities and alumni associations of every size have faced significant disruptions to their operations, events, and engagement strategies. Traditionally, alumni organizations have relied on a busy calendar of in-person events - like homecoming, tailgates, class reunions, and local alumni chapter meetups - to keep alumni active. Many of these in-person events are now risky and untenable for the foreseeable future. In response, alumni associations have devoted fresh energy and resources towards producing engaging virtual programs and events, with incredible results.

Join Dan Sullivan (Head of Growth and Partnerships @ Cuseum), Michael Smullen (Executive Director, Alumni Relations @ New Jersey Institute of Technology), Leslie Smith (Executive Director of Alumni Engagement @ DePauw University), Natalie Ross (Senior Director of Alumni Events & Programs @ University of Maryland Alumni Association) & Kelly Beyrer (Assistant Director for Alumni & Advancement Events @ Iona College) for PART 2 of a webinar on all things virtual events. In Part 1, we discussed utilizing digital tools, developing high impact events, reaching new audiences, and key ways to measure success. Picking up where we left off, Part 2 will explore leveraging your network to produce virtual events, working with partners on and off campus, and the long-term outlook of virtual engagement.

View the full recording here.

Read below for the main highlights.

Webinar Highlights: Alumni Hour: Succeeding with Virtual Events & Programs

Over the course of the past six months, universities and alumni associations of every size have faced significant disruptions to their operations, events, and engagement strategy. Traditionally, alumni organizations have relied on a busy calendar of in-person events - like homecoming, tailgates, class reunions, and local alumni chapter meetups - to keep alumni active. Many of these in-person events are now risky and untenable for the foreseeable future. In response, alumni associations have devoted fresh energy and resources towards producing engaging virtual programs and events, with incredible results.

Join Dan Sullivan (Head of Growth and Partnerships @ Cuseum), Michael Smullen (Executive Director, Alumni Relations @ New Jersey Institute of Technology), Leslie Smith (Executive Director of Alumni Engagement @ Depauw University), Natalie Ross (Senior Director of Alumni Events & Programs @ University of Maryland Alumni Association) & Kelly Beyrer (Assistant Director for Alumni & Advancement Events @ Iona College) for a special webinar on all things virtual events. Over the hour, these experts will dive into the planning, strategy, and creative thinking that goes into producing successful virtual events and programs!

View the full recording here.

Read the highlights below.

Webinar Highlights: Alumni Engagement in the Era of Coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of alumni relations, sparking new questions and concerns, as well as opportunities for alumni associations. Since the escalation of Coronavirus, traditional methods for alumni engagement, such as class reunions, sporting events, tailgates, homecoming, in-person social events, alumni chapter meetups, and networking opportunities have been cancelled. In response, alumni associations are pivoting to digital and virtual strategies to keep alumni engaged and actively involved.

Join Dan Sullivan (Head of Growth and Partnerships @ Cuseum), Jennifer Chambers (Assistant Vice President, Lifelong Learning @ Duke Alumni), Veronica Dominguez (Associate Director of Alumni Engagement @ UTSA Alumni Association), & Serena Bettis (Coordinator of Alumni and Parent Relations @ Southwestern University Alumni) as they do a deep dive into shifting alumni engagement tactics. This webinar will explore many aspects of digital engagement, including virtual events, programs, and networking opportunities, as well as digital communications.

View the full recording here.

Here are the main takeaways:

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