Increasing alumni engagement at Delaware Technical Community College

Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Since Delaware Technical Community College opened its doors over five decades ago, over 50,000 people have graduated from the institution. There are currently 15,000 students enrolled at campuses statewide, and since 97% of those students are Delawareans, there is an extremely large untapped group of individuals who could be engaged to become involved with the College once they graduate. Delaware Technical Community College could benefit significantly from increased alumni engagement. My goals were to engage graduates to serve as role models and mentors for students and inspire them to complete their degrees, provide internship and networking opportunities, volunteer at events and activities that raise funds and project a positive image in the community, and act as ambassadors in the community promoting Delaware Tech as a high quality education choice. I recommended four strategies to increase alumni engagement at the College. The first was to improve Delaware Tech’s website to engage alumni more effectively. The second was to create and implement an alumni social media plan. Creating a college-wide alumni engagement task force was the third strategy, and the final strategy was hosting additional alumni events and inviting alumni to participate in existing campus events and activities. After reviewing best practices, I worked with Delaware Tech’s web manager to make significant improvements to the alumni pages of the College website. After the new alumni pages were launched, an e-newsletter was sent to the current alumni email list of 12,436 addresses inviting them to visit the newly designed alumni website. n order to implement the second strategy to create an alumni social media plan, I recently hired a social media manager (a new position in my division) to work with the vice president for institutional effectiveness and development and me on this initiative. Although we currently have alumni followers on all of our channels, social media will be an important tool to increase engagement. In order to implement my third strategy, I have recommended establishing a college-wide alumni engagement task force with representatives from all of the divisions in the College with additional representation from the Instruction and Student Affairs Divisions. This group will create and implement a strategic plan for alumni engagement. Additionally, I have recommended that alumni be invited to participate in existing events and that events should be created to increase alumni involvement. Moving forward, it will be important for Delaware Tech leaders to continue to explore creative ways to keep alumni engaged. Social media is just one example of a communication method that is constantly changing. It will be vital to keep a dialogue going with students, staff, faculty, and alumni about what will keep them engaged with the College.
Description
Keywords
Education, Alumni, College, Community, Development, Engagement
Citation