What are the most effective ways to measure alumni event success?

Alumni events are very important for all Institute's, but they need to have an objective behind hosting the event. Just calling the alumni for entertainment will not be beneficial, neither for the Institute nor for the alumni. Every alumni wants to give back to their alma mater, give them the opportunity to do that. The objectives could be: 1) To show the alumni the development of the Institute. 2) To increase the number of alumni on campus and collect their data base. 3) To invite the alumni to share their journey with the existing students. 4) To honor or facilitate the most active alumni.

Fostering strong ties between institutions and students, especially those with diverse interests, is vital for successful alumni engagement. Building a sense of community through tailored events during students' academic years lays the groundwork for continued involvement post-graduation. This inclusive approach contributes to the growth and vitality of both institutions and their alumni networks.

Rather than setting goals, I would set expectations. When the university has been able to create a sense of belonging and an emotional connection during the learning journey (on-campus or online), this relationship can endure beyond graduation. If there hasn't been an effort to create that bond, expectations of getting anything in return should not exist. From my experience, it's all about relationships: creating touchpoints with the alma mater but also within the alumni network itself. If done right, alumni themselves will organize get-togethers and continue that bond. It takes a couple of champions to push initiatives and above all, it takes time and a soft approach.

If we want to assess true impact, it’s important to move beyond satisfaction data. While it’s useful to know if attendees enjoyed the food, you want to be sure each stakeholder gained something of value. Ask questions that dig deeper such as: what was most impactful, did they engage in any action as a result of the event (e.g. follow up with someone they met or join a listserv), DEI metrics like how welcome they felt & what would have helped them more fully engage, etc. Responses should be interpreted through an equity-oriented strategic lens & seen as a way to continue to strengthen your offerings in line with your alumni & team goals. Use the data to improve on meeting alumni needs, & your needs will eventually get met, too.

Pour mesurer l'impact et le retour sur investissement de vos efforts en matière de relations avec les anciens dipl?més, il faut utiliser des outils tels que des enquêtes de satisfaction pour recueillir des données pertinentes sur leur expérience. Il faut mesurer également le taux de participation des anciens aux événements et aux programmes proposés, ce qui vous donnera une idée de leur engagement et de l'impact de nos initiatives. De plus, vous devriez utiliser des méthodes de suivi intensives telles que des entretiens individuels avec les anciens dipl?més réussis dans leur carrière pour évaluer l'influence de notre relation sur leur parcours professionnel.

Recognize alumni for their efforts to drive engagement within the network or to support recruitment initiatives. Monetary incentives seem like a quick fix to generate a response from alumni to help out or organize activities. They will, however, create the wrong culture and make it very difficult to move away. There are many ways to recognize alumni for their dedication: - Awards & Special Mention - Invitation to high-profile events - Exclusive meetings with Deans & Presidents - Global, regional alumni boards - Social Media Praise - Stories in Alumni Magazines There is no end of creativity to make an alumnae to be a proud alumnae.