What are the best ways to align alumni relations goals with institutional goals?

To align alumni relations with institutional goals, understand the institution's objectives, collaborate with leadership, and develop a strategic plan. Segment alumni, use technology for data insights, educate and engage alumni, promote fundraising, collaborate with the development office, measure impact, and involve alumni in recruitment and mentorship. Maintain feedback loops, celebrate alumni successes, and adapt strategies as institutional goals evolve. Effective alignment fosters stronger connections and supports the institution's mission and success.

For such alignment to occur, institutional goals should go beyond student enrollment and completion, and they must include the appropriate preparation and degree alignment with workforce demand and careers with the proper ROI and social mobility for its students. Conversely, alumni relations goals should go beyond only engaging students for fundraising purposes during annual campaigns. Aligning these goals is about having the right strategy in the first place. Strategy is about choices, and one of those choices should be completely student-focused and not bound by completion of the academic credential but to a resilient career. The institution should not ask what our alumni can do for us but what we can continue to do for them!

Alumni - a vital aspect of ‘marketing’ an institute - can vary in terms of geographic locations, cultural influences, socio-economic conditions. In my opinion it should work the other way around. Institutes must align alumni relations goals with their own. If they do, they will not only cater to specific demographic groups but also ensure that diversity is maintained enhancing adaptability and tolerance.

I think sharing with students during the first class the institution’s mission and culture and why some activities and tasks are proposed in that way. I think students need to know why.

Start by identifying and defining the overarching goals and priorities of your institution. These could include increasing enrollment, improving fundraising, enhancing the institution's reputation, or strengthening academic programs. Ensure that these goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Understand the specific needs and expectations of your institution regarding alumni engagement. This may involve conducting surveys, gathering feedback from various stakeholders, and analyzing data to determine where alumni relations can make the most significant impact. Develop a comprehensive strategic plan for alumni relations that aligns with the institution's goals.

Alumni are brand ambassadors. Their success helps the institution to build a brand. However, there has to be a mutual respect. The institution can’t take the alumni for granted and vice versa

Alumni engagement is extremely important for any Institute. It is the alumni that makes the brand of the Institute, therefore engaging them effectively and efficiently is the key. One of the goals of any Institute is to get their students best placements. Alumni can play a major role by preparing the exiting students for job interviews, delivering placement talks, giving them internship opportunities in their companies. This will align the alumni and institutional objectives.

1) Alumni can collaborate with the admission department of the Institute and sit in interview panel along with the faculty members and help in the selection of the new batch. 2) Alumni testimonials and alumni wall of fame promotes the institute's brand and reputation. 3) Alumni mentoring works really well with students. Students understand college life and corporate life better through the alumni because they can relate to them. 4) Alumni, when invited to teach or take guest sessions leads to high alumni engagement and collaboration.

In the institutions of higher education, especially management schools, executive education has proliferated. Most management schools neglect executive alumni. Very few B schools even have a dedicated reach out person for executive alumni. Most people in the executive alumni category are in CXO role or about to be one! Ignoring this group is detrimental to the institution.