Image For Activity Cover
Foundations of Alumni Relations
About the Course
Designed for professionals new to alumni relations, this on-demand course will provide the foundational knowledge needed to further your career and support the alumni relations work at your institution. You’ll come away with the knowledge and skills needed to cultivate alumni affinity, host impactful events, and steward volunteers.

Each module is expected to take between 30-45 minutes to complete.

Scroll down for a more detailed breakdown of the modules.
Pricing
If you are unsure if your institution is a member or you'd like to become one, visit the CASE Membership page
or email membership@case.org for assistance. 


Member

450 AUD

400 CAD

270 EUR

235 GBP

5,030 MXN

395 SGD

295 USD

Non-Member

630 AUD

560 CAD

380 EUR

330 GBP

7,080 MXN

560 SGD

415 USD

About the Instructors
Terrance D. Smith
Senior Director of Student and Young Alumni Engagement
University of Georgia
Kimberly A. Donaldson
Alumni Relations and Development Officer
University College Utrecht
Adwoa Owusu Abrokwa
Head - Alumni Relations
University of Ghana
Mary Larkin Griffin
Alumni Relations Operations Manager
Dublin City University
Bruno Hasa
Alumni Relations Manager
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
About the Course Modules
Introduction
  • Emphasize the importance of Alumni Relations to the field of educational advancement & the culture of philanthropy.
  • Define diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging according to CASE.
  • Explain the importance of integrating DEIB into alumni relations efforts. 
Module 1: Affinity Engagement
Alumni affinity is foundational to the work of alumni relations because it serves as the glue between alumni and their institution. In order to best serve alumni, it is critical that you first understand the multitude of ways that alumni affinity can be instilled and the strategies for achieving it.

In module one, you will learn how to:
  • Define affinity engagement and explain its importance to the profession.
  • Identify the types of affinity engagement
  • Outline approaches to affinity engagement
Module 2: Regional & Global Engagement
Extending your alumni efforts across regional and global borders allows you to tap into new markets for prospective donors and students by meeting alumni where they are and building insitutional affinity. 

In module two, you will learn how to:
  • Define regional and global engagement and explain its importance to the profession
  • Align regional and global engagement with your institution's strategic priorities
  • Implement best practices for regional and global engagement
  • Identify key performance indicators necessary to track and measure success. 
Module 3: Young Alumni Engagement
Introducing institutional affinity to students and young alumni serves as the gateway to volunteer and prospect stewardship.  

In module three, you will learn how to:
  • Define and explain the purpose and importance of student and young alumni engagement to the profession.  
  • Identify specific programs that attract students and young alumni.  
  • Highlight best practices for engaging students and young alumni.  
Module 4: Alumni Events
Creating meaninful events for your alumni is a major part of alumni relations efforts. 

In module four, you will learn how to:
  • Determine the key parameters of an impactful event. 
  • Recognize the principles and practices for pre-event, on-site, and post-event planning.
  • Identify key performance indicators necessary to track and measure success.
Module 5: Volunteer & Board Management
To truly grow your alumni relations efforts, you will need a talented group of alumni volunteers and board members supporting you. 

In module five, you will be able to:
  • Distinguish the difference between task forces, committees, and alumni boards or councils.
  • Comprehend key points and best practices for volunteer recruitment, orientation, management, and appreciation.
  • Identify strategies for implementing inclusivity in your volunteer and board management efforts.
Conclusion
  • Review key takeaways of affinity engagement, event planning, and volunteer management.
  • Highlight the stories of current professionals in the alumni relations discipline. 
CASE Career Level

Level 1 - Early Career (acquire knowledge about the common core of the advancement function for new professionals and mid-career professionals transitioning into advancement)

Level 2 - Emerging Early Career (develop technical, explicit knowledge in a chosen specialty and grow skills in the advancement competencies)

 

Level 3 - Practicing/maturing Mid-Career (work on achieving fluency in all aspects of advancement and grow leadership skills and gain a deeper understanding of ethics)

 

Level 4 - Senior/experienced Mid-Career (develop deep expertise in your discipline and your understanding of other disciplines)

 

Level 5 - Expert Seasoned Professional (develop an understanding of the role advancement plays in executing higher-level institutional strategy)

 

Level 6 - Leadership/Transforming Seasoned Professional (contribute with work that is more strategic than managerial and maintain a multidisciplinary understanding and portfolio)

CASE Competencies

Global and Cultural Competence
Working effectively with and for people from different geographies and cultural perspectives (Cultural intelligence, understanding bias, creating a safe work environment for all)

 

Integrity and Professionalism
Excellence in conduct representing oneself and one’s institution and the profession (Builds and maintains trust, ethical conduct, personal accountability, storytelling, effective communicator, presenter and facilitator)

 

Business and Financial Acumen
Understands the business situation and financial factors and takes responsibility for the best course of action (Data based decision making, financial fluency, institutional business knowledge, industry business knowledge)

Industry/Sector Expertise
Focused upon knowledge and skills requisite to specific domains of practice within the profession (Fundraising, Constituent and Alumni Relations, Marketing and Communications, Public Affairs and Government Relations, Management, Advancement Services)

Relationship Building
Effectively utilizing interpersonal skills to build and maintain strong professional relationships between the organization and internal and external stakeholders (Effectively engage volunteers and stakeholders, consensus building, collaboration and teamwork, stewardship, negotiation, conflict resolution, proactive relationship development)

 

Emotional Intelligence
Recognizing emotions and understanding how they impact you and others to guide thinking and behavior (Active listening, self-awareness, empathy, social awareness, social skill)

Strategic Thinking
Employs methods and processes to view a situation, assess factors, and create effective implementation plans with measurable results (Align strategy with action, critical thinking, innovative problem solving, change management, adaptability to complexity, strategic planning, understanding data and context, strategic stakeholder engagement)

 

Leadership
Leading with vision and credibility, to effectively manage self, others and resources to achieve organizational impact.  The ability to define what the future should look like, align people with that vision, and influence others through authenticity and inspiration to make the vision happen despite obstacles. (Entrepreneurial, models’ engagement in advancement, manages ambiguity, future focused, executive presence, perseverance, courageous communicator, continuous learning)
Summary
Availability: On-Demand
Credit Offered:
No Credit Offered
Powered By