How a strong alumni network can enhance the student experience

HOW A STRONG ALUMNI NETWORK CAN ENHANCE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Value of alumni

Alumni have the potential to become an institution’s most valuable asset. There is a significant opportunity for colleges and universities to leverage alumni to drive new student engagement on a global scale. This not only adds value to the student experience, but also enhances the strength and engagement of the alumni network, creating more satisfied domestic and international alumni throughout the student-alumni cycle.

Alumni from day one

We recognise that the student journey and stakeholder landscape in higher education is complex. Undergraduate, postgraduate and governance pathways are diverse. This challenges institutions in defining who is a student and who is an alumni. The best evidence from around the world is that we identify alumni from day one of the student journey. Identifying students as alumni from day one is a welcoming and nurturing experience, facilitating deeper connections with existing alumni and allowing for a seamless transition to the alumni community upon graduation or course completion.

How important is student experience?

Student experience and satisfaction are increasingly important measures of success and drivers of future student choice. The QILT survey measures student experience based on teaching quality, student support, learning engagement, learning engagement and skills development. Alumni network engagement is likely to positively impact these metrics, thereby enhancing the student experience. Student experience is increasingly important as it not only impacts student enrolment and retention, but is also a differentiator in a market saturated with rankings, which is dominated by academics and research.

How can schools promote alumni-student engagement?

Segmenting alumni and students is important to create value, identify life stages and needs, and drive meaningful and effective engagement.

Before developing an engagement strategy, schools need to articulate their value proposition to current students and alumni. Students and alumni have different needs as they move from undergraduate to mid- and senior-level careers.

There are numerous examples of global alumni organizations that are recognized for successfully integrating international and local student and alumni engagement, enhancing the student and alumni experience and value created for diverse student and alumni segments globally.

• Value through connection: Harvard University provides students with access to their alumni portal using “Harvard Keys” from day one. This technology platform is an integral part of the student-alumni integration experience, creating deep and meaningful connections, information exchange, and discussion forums.
• Career Development: The University of California promotes partnerships between career services and alumni relations to enable students and alumni to expand corporate connections, provide career exploration, and provide career workshops. “Collaboration between career services and alumni relations will enhance the ability of undergraduate and graduate students to develop the skills, experiences, contacts, and opportunities necessary to identify and achieve their career goals.”
• Giving back: The University of Manchester has a comprehensive giving strategy, providing opportunities for alumni to give their time to students and donate to student activities. This extends to volunteering on campus, mentoring, community work, giving events, scholarships and class gifts.

How can schools support international students and alumni?

A strategic alumni governance model that leverages technology and the support of local alumni chapters to balance the on-campus and off-campus experience is essential in an environment where students are studying online globally or residing in regional areas. One institution recognized for addressing this international need is Pennsylvania State University, which operates a large online global program with over 18K students. They support international and regional students with local chapters to ensure that students without access to campus feel truly connected.

How can your university better attract students and alumni?

• As a first step, we recommend that schools convene key internal stakeholders to discuss this topic. Examine existing strategies and programs (at senior and unit levels), information and research gaps, and opportunities to promote meaningful and informed student and alumni engagement strategies.
• Map out the customer journey of your students and alumni and identify pain points or engagement drivers for your students and alumni.
• Conduct student and alumni research to ask what is important to these segments and to refine the organization's segmentation model and value proposition.

Source: https://incuspartners.com/2018/07/02/how-a-strong-alumni-network-can-enhance-the-student-experience/

July 2 ^nd , 2018