Engaging Alumni : From Re-Entry to Post-

Graduation

CIEE Annual ConferenceMinneapolis, MN

21 November 2013

Susan E. Pratt, Duke UniversityTommy DeMarco, CIEE-SL Dominican Republic

Katie Selby, Carlson School of Management, UMN

Engaging Alumni

Definitions Session goals

› Approaches for preparing students› Focus on programming for returnees› Career integration and networking

Understanding and Preparing Students

Tommy DeMarcoCIEE Service-Learning ProgramSantiago, Dominican Republic

My Student Experience

CIEE SL DR Program

› Holistic approach

› Intensity factors

› Skills enhancement

Recognizing Returnee Needs

› Finding community, language

and culture

› Sharing experiences with

others

› What to do with new-found

inspiration?

Need to Relate

Need to Express

Need to Engage

Understanding Our Returnees

In-country Record Keeping Impacts Study Alumni Study

CIEE SL DR Alumni Study

› 44% of our alumni have returned to the DR

› 22% are residing internationally

› 78% continue to speak Spanish weekly

› 94% declare that CIEE SL DR played a role in their specific field of employment or study

What works in terms of outreach?

In country re-entry meeting

On site Exit interviews

Potential alumni network in the works Skyping with current students Networking Fundraising

CIEE Alumni Network

Programming for Returnees

Susan E. Pratt, Duke University

Recognition of Need

Recognizing need for programming for returnees

Post program surveys to students, focus groups, advising session feedback

Cultivating Ideas for Re-Entry Programming

Best practices from the field Other institutions’ programming

models International education conferences Institutional practices across campus Trial and error

Intra-InstitutionalCollaboration

Career Center Service Learning Alumni Office Student-run organizations Student Affairs Program Specific Re-Entry University-wide working groups Staff, faculty, and administrator exchange

Sample Re-Entry Event “Unpacking Your Study Abroad

Experience”

Study Abroad Office/Career Center/Alumni Office

Reverse culture shockResume/Interview advice and mock

interviewsAlumni presentation or panel

Resources for Returnees

Program agenda Culture shock discussion/activity Resources for on and off-campus global

involvement Resources for curricular integration Career Center handouts on transferable

skills/career benefits of global education How to talk about/capitalize on your global

experience Information on scholarships/ grad

school/international job search

Career Integration and Networking

Katie M. SelbyCarlson School of Management

University of Minnesota

Carlson School Requirement

International Experience graduation requirement for undergraduate students

Short-term and semester options Business exchange programs Liberal arts program options Partnership with Carlson Global

Institute & campus-wide Learning Abroad Center

Student Service Collaboration

Shared messages in student coaching: academic advising, career services, Carlson Global Institute

Employer conversations about hiring process

Referral to expert office across campus for visas, teaching & working abroad

Integrated Career Services

Career coaching: marketing study abroad experience› Interview prep› Language competencies› Resume-writing› Elevator pitch› Transferable skills (intercultural

communication, adaptability, ambiguity)

Networking andPost-Graduation Opportunities

Networking with alumni abroad (during and post-program)

‘Engage search’ for language-based student opportunities

Mentorship matches with alumni abroad Coaching on employer conversations

re: post-graduation experience abroad GoinGlobal tool for hiring practices Lifetime alumni career services

Case Study

Junior returning from semester in developing country Questioning major Difficult reconnecting with family &

peers “No one wants to listen to me” Wants to go back ‘somehow’

Playing Card = Your Role

Program Alumni (Returnees)

Study Abroad Office

Faculty

Student Affairs Offices

Case Study Debrief

What are you currently doing to serve returnees?

What do returnees need? How do you know?

What are the current gaps in service? What actions steps can you take in the

next year in order to improve service?

Any questions? Thank you for

coming!

Tommy DeMarco, tdemarco@ciee.org Susan Pratt, pratt.susan@duke.edu Katie Selby, kmselby@umn.edu