Alumni programming in the age of technology

Abstract

Higher education institutions have become increasingly reliant upon private donations and support to maintain scholarship dollars, fund capital initiatives and provide support for collegiate departmental projects. As such, alumni relations departments have become much more involved in development processes besides only focusing on alumni reunion planning. Alumni relations offices organise communications, events and engagement opportunities in order to maintain relationships with alumni. The purpose of maintaining these relationships is to develop and cultivate alumni to financially support alma maters. In today’s digital age and with many organisations competing for an individual’s attention, alumni relations departments are turning towards technological advances to help maintain connections and engage alumni in ways that have previously been impossible or unconventional with traditional reunion planning departments. This paper will discuss the changing climate of higher education and how technology is a vital component to alumni relations event, engagement and communication plans.