engaging young alumni: 25 methods in 20 minutes kourtney kleine temple

Engaging Young Alumni:25 Methods in 20 Minutes

Kourtney Kleine TempleAssistant Director of Student and Young Alumni

ProgramsNicole Kusiolek ‘06

Young Alumni Committee Member

25 Methods in 20 Minutes

Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center College Park, MD 20742-1521301.405.4678/800.336.8627 alumni.umd.edu [email protected]

1. Define who your club considers “young alumni”

• Alumni Association defines it as 0-10 years out of school

• Recent alumni is defined as 0-3 years out of school



2. Highlight the young alumni membership rates in your

materials.

• Alumni Association membership is complimentary

for the first year after graduation.

• 2nd and 3rd years out are eligible for reduced dues

of $25.



3. Consider implementing a young alumni discount if

there is a fee to attend an event. Even $5 or $10 off

the registration fee could be an incentive for a young

alum to attend.



4. If you are asking for gifts, make the giving levels

attainable for young alumni. Focus on participation

and the impact of every gift, no matter how big or

small.



5. Make sure your online presence is dynamic and up-to-

date, including updated contact information for your

club or chapter and an updated calendar of upcoming

events.



6. Provide prominent links to any of your social media

pages. Social media is one of the top ways young

alumni will connect with your group.



7. If your club or chapter does not have an up-to-date

and engaging web presence, consider identifying a

young alum to take over the maintenance of these

pages. Social media is second nature to young alumni

and your request will likely elicit an enthusiastic

“YES!”



8. Keep the lines of communication to your club open.

Get back to inquiries about club activities as quickly

as possible.



9. Consider providing incentives to young alumni (or

anyone) who updates their contact information with

you. This group in particular changes mailing

addresses frequently. Many continue to use their

parents’ addresses to receive mail for several years

after graduation.



10. Ask young alumni to identify how they would prefer

to be contacted. Most will indicate “email” and give

you an accurate email address.



11. Ask for a phone number. Most will give you their cell

phone numbers since they don’t have a landline. If

they would prefer not to be contacted by phone, they

probably won’t even give you a phone number.

11 ½. Don’t forget to share all updated contact

information with the Alumni Association!



12. Remember that young alumni notoriously wait until

the last minute to RSVP. They like to keep their

options open until the last possible moment. If you

need an accurate headcount, make your RSVP

deadlines earlier than you actually need that info.



13. Learn the young alumni language of Facebook RSVPs.

It may not mean what you think it means!

• A Facebook Yes = Maybe

• A Facebook Maybe = Probably not, but I’m paying

attention.

• A Facebook No = I can’t this time, but keep inviting

me!

• No response = I’m not interested or I’m not even

paying attention.



14. For a free event, count on 50-60% of those young

alumni who said yes actually showing up. That might

go as high as 80% if they had to pay for the event. If

your attendance rises above 80%, you’re doing

something incredible!



15. Consider the lifestyles of young alumni and plan

accordingly.

• Do young people in your area tend to rely on public

transportation because it’s too expensive to have a

car? If so, make sure your event is accessible to public

transit.

• If parking at the event is not free, be sure to mention

that in the invitation or reminder emails.

• If cash would be helpful to have at the event, let

young alumni know. Very few regularly carry cash.



16. The Young Alumni Committee has seen tremendous

success with our Young Alumni Career Workshop

Series. Even if the topic is not specific to young

alumni, programs that “meet them where they are”

are successful.

• Example: Young Alumni Financial Planning Workshop



17. Career Networking is huge for young alumni, but they

also dread it. Consider hosting a networking event

specific to a popular industry in your area. Since most

young alumni aren’t “natural” networkers yet,

consider adding structure to the event, like speed

networking. “Forcing” young alumni to connect with

others will ensure they get the most out of the event

and are more likely to return for other programs.



18. Consider reaching out to new graduates or young

alumni who have recently relocated to your area with

a Terp-themed care package welcoming them to the

area. Provide helpful resources for new transplants

and invite them to one of your upcoming events to

connect with other Terps in the area. Provide contact

info for the club if they want to reach out to you.

Bonus: This might be a great way to engage a club

member who isn’t interested in event-planning!



19. Engage young alumni through local college fairs or

admitted student events in your area. Their

experiences are more relevant to potential or

incoming students and their presence might help

potential students feel more comfortable at an event.

More on this in just a moment…



20. Create structured volunteer opportunities for young

alumni. This group is ready to give back with time and

talent (and they have plenty of both) so utilize it!

• Event set-up or clean-up

• Work an info booth or registration table

• Run errands before an event to gather supplies

But a word of caution…



21. Don’t assign these roles without first getting buy-in

from the volunteer. Otherwise they may feel resentful

that the “grunt work” was forced on them. Share with

them your volunteer needs for each program and let

them volunteer for the job that most interests them.



22. Inspire young alumni participation with competition.

In general, this is a highly competitive group! Consider

integrating a challenge component to a program or

event.

• Fundraising challenge

• Volunteer hours challenge

• “Bring the most friends” challenge



23. Include young alumni in key club decision-making.

Club leadership should reflect the diversity of the

audiences you’re trying to reach!



24. If you have enough young alumni in your club or

chapter, consider starting your own Young Alumni

Committee, not to marginalize these young people,

but to give them the space and resources to

implement their own ideas and initiatives. If young

alumni don’t feel supported and encouraged, they

might want to break off and start a competing group!



25. Most importantly, be authentic. Don’t try to force it.

If it’s painful for you, it will be painful for young

alumni as well. This group in particular will see right

through a phony attempt to engage them. Young

alumni will follow enthusiasm. If your events are fun

and you are excited to be there, that Terp spirit will

reach young alumni too!

Questions?


Alumni-Admissions Collaboration:

Recruit a Terp

Admissions Timeline


August – November:Nationally:

High School Visits & College FairsOn Campus:

Open Houses, Tours

May 1Students confirm

enrollment for Fall semester

June –AugustSummer Sendoffs

On Campus Tours & Special Events

What is Recruit a Terp?


INFO

Changing the face of the university

Impacting the future of UMD

Representing campus in your

community

Expanding the reach of the

university

Meeting other alumni

Spreading the Terp spirit

Why is it important?


Increasing the Breadth and Depth of the Applicant Poolmore students we meet, more to apply, more to choose

from (talent, diversity, etc)

Year-round campus connection in your communityOUA has limited ability to be in an area (ex: Dallas)

Increasing Name Recognition

Ranking Methodology

Academic ReputationRetentionFaculty ResourcesStudent Selectivity Financial ResourcesGraduation RateAlumni Giving Rate

Opportunities for Involvement


Alumni are encouraged to attend events year round!. Show your support and share you passion for the University of Maryland!

College Fairs• Year round

participation• Local and National

Events• Greatest number of

students in shortest period of time

Maryland on the Move• The university comes

directly to students in their communities

• Students and families receive publications and presentation on admissions process and academic and social opportunities Maryland

Alumni Hosted Events• Congratulate admitted

students and encourage them to attend UMD!

• Alumni host, help with registration, greet guests, talk about the University, answer questions, and spread the Terp spirit!

TerpLink• Write notes to admitted

students to congratulate them on their admission (provided by Recruit-a-Terp)

• Share your passion for the University

• Registration occurs in fall for February participation

College Fairs


WHAT HAPPENS

UMD attends college fairs year round

We meet with juniors and

seniors in high schools and

their families

Participation at fairs can be

with an admission

representative or alumni only

WHAT TO EXPECT50-100 other

colleges

Arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of

the fair

Dress in business

casual attire, but show your

Terp pride with your

alumni pin!

Don’t know an answer? That’s OK! Pass along

our contact information.

engaging young alumni: 25 methods in 20 minutes kourtney kleine temple

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