Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

AProf.*Jessica*Vanderlelie

IRU*Vice*Chancellors’*FellowOLT*Fellow

Oh*sh_t*I*just*graduated!*

“There*were*no*feelings*of*great*elation*or*relief*among*the*many*hugs*and*cheers.*Instead,*there*was*a*feeling*of*

total%panic%and%paralyzing%fear%of*the*unknown.*Picture*a*frozen*smile*on*the*outside*melting*into*panic*on*the*inside.*Of*course*I*was*happy*to*be*done*with*school,*but*I*was*in*

an*unexpected*state*of*shock.*Every*hug*and*congratulations*on*my*graduation*was*complete*with*the*

question*“What’s*next?”

# Katherine*Schwarzenegger

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

Graduate*transitions:*The*employability*hole

• Lack*of*awareness*and*capacity*to*articulate*key*skills.• unaware*of*the*supports*available.*• Varied*understanding*of*the*path*ahead*&*realities*of*job*search.

From*this…. To*this….

The*employability*challenge

Alumni*have*been*a*significantly*underutilised*resource*in*the*process*of*enhancing*both*the*quality%of%higher%education%and*the*capability and*

employability%of%graduates%(Irani,*2012)

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

Alumni*Engagement

! The Council of Alumni Association Executives defines alumniengagement as

“Activities and experiences designed to identify,cultivate, steward, solicit and manage gifts oftime, talent and treasure from former students andgraduates of a given institution in service to theneeds of both alumni and alma mater”. (Forbes, 2014)

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

Value*of*alumni*to*employability

! Mentors! Normalise the*transition*to*the*world*of*work! Professions*awareness! Strong*industry*networks! Job*search*strategies*that*worked*for*them

» "Someone*who*has*walked*in*my*shoes"

The*statistics*

Alumni*commonly fail to%see%themselves%as%old%or%experienced%enough to*provide*mentoring*or*do%not%have%the%financial%capital%to*contribute*philanthropically*(Irani,*2012).*

Question

! What*are*we*asking*of*our*alumni?» Money» Mentoring» Employment» Networking» Industry*advisors

! What’s*in*it*for*them?» Reputation» Network» OpportunitiesRe#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

What’s*in*it*for*them*and*how*can*we*keep*connected?

! Current%Strategies» Free*or*heavily*discounted*

professional*development*courses/masters*offerings! (Korn,*2012*Wall*St*Journal)

» Career*Programs! Helping*young*alumni*build*their*careers

! Share*career*stories! Transition*between*careers

» Discount*offerings» Networking*events» Sporting*events

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

Pathways*to*Medicine

Taxonomy*of*alumni*engagement*domains

Alumni*Engagement

Graduate*enrichment

Student*Recruitment

CareerDevelopment

Diversity

Global*outreach

LifelongLearning

Philanthropy

Tradition*Spirit*Pride

AdvocacyCitizenshipRecognition

Community*Development

StudentEnrichment

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

(Created from the work ofForbes, 2014)

Community

Enrichment

Contribution

It*is*both*timely*and*important*to*reshape*alumni#university*relationships*into*an%intentional%and%mutually%beneficial%partnership%with*student%and%graduate%success%as*the*

overarching*mutual*goal.*

Friend*Raising*(Myran et*al.,*2003)

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

Connecting*authentically

! To*facilitate*this*kind*of*authentic*connection*with*alumni*we*must

» Understand*that*alumni*engagement*must*be*earned

» Consider*graduates*as*belonging*tothe*university/school*community*long*after*graduation

» Acknowledge*OUR*role*in*supportinggraduates as*their*careers unfold,*through*times*of*success*and*transition.*

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

! Difficulty*tracking*students*after*graduation» Generic*university*alumni*network*dilutes*connection*to*schools

! Generic*degrees*are*a*stepping*stone*to******************************************further*study

! Issues*maintaining*contact*with*graduates.! Mobile*graduates! Busy*! Costly! Takes*a*lot*of*time*and*effort! Data*collection*and*privacy! School*based*vs alumni*office*initiatives! Champions*but*not*sustainable

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

Engagement*challenges

Australia*global*alumni*engagement*strategy*2016#2020

Student*Lifecycle*Model

Lizzio and*Wilson*(2010)

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

Senses*of*success*for*alumni1.Citizenship*and*leadership2.Proficiency3.Resilience4.Contribution*and*progression5.Positive*professional*identity

Alumni*Engagement*and*Employability*model*

Transition%in:%awareness

• Connect*alumni*with students*from*orientation.• Pathways*for*success*and*'tips'• Build*professions*awareness*with*alumni*

examples.• Begin*to*connect*students*with*alumni*through*

LinkedIn*networks.

Alumni*help*to*solve*the*questions*'am*I*in*the*right*place?''Is*uni*for*me?'

Transition%through: network%building

• Pair*students*with*alumni*for*informational*interviews*

• Career*information*sessions• Networking*functions*• Alumni*as*facilitators*

Alumni*help*to*solve*the*questions*'What*do*I*want*to*do?'*'What's*out*there?'

Transition%out:%industry%experience%

• Connect final*year*students*with*alumni*mentor• Work*experience*and*internship*opportunities• Alumni*co#designing*final*year*projects*

(capstones)• Industry*visits*and*perspectives

Alumni*help*to*solve*the*questions*'What's*it*like*in*the*real*world?''How*do*I*get*experience?'

Transition%up%and%back: supporting

• Alumni#alumni*mentoring• Contribute*to*curriculum*renewal• Collaborate*on*research*• Professional*development*and*lifelong*learning• Employ*other*graduates

Alumni*help*to*solve*the*questions*'Where*do*I*begin*to*find*a*job?''I'm*ready*for*a*change*but*what*else*can*I*do?'

Communicating*with*alumni

! Connect%Early%and%Often» Connect*with*students*during*their*undergraduate*degree» Relationship*building*starts*on*the*first*day*at*university.

! Go%beyond%sharing%‘News’

! Facilitate%conversations» World*of*work» Postgrad*opportunities» Work#life*balance» Career*resilience

! Always%prompt%action

! Continue%existing%relationships%to%staff

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

How*to*connect

Alumni*have*an*emotional*attachment*to*the*university*based*on*the*relationship*established*as*students.

How%do%you%keep%in%contact?

1. Print%» Alumni*feel*they*are*involved*by*reading*print*media» Still*important*especially*for*older*alumni*

2. Online:%Websites%and%email» Not*as*popular*with*alumni» Cheaper

3. Social%Media» Increasingly*important» Ability*to*maintain*connections*that*would*have*been*otherwise*lost*» Builds*social*capital*and*provides*mechanism*for*alumni*to*be*involved*from*afar.

4. Personal» Increasing*female*demographic» Want*face#to#face*or*personal*connection*(invitations)

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

Institutional*Level*Development*and*Alumni*

• Coordinate*university#wide*networking/engagement*functions• Support*international*chapters• Lead*industry/alumni*partnerships• Communicate*institutional*vision• Coordinate*benefits*program

Faculty*LevelAlumni*coordinators

• Coordinate*faculty*wide*networking*functions• Coordinate*alumni*awards*programs• Coordinate*faculty*industry/alumni*partnerships• Communicate*with*and*support*school*alumni coordinators

School*LevelAlumni*engagement*portfolio*

• Communicate*regularly*through*the*network• Facilitate opportunities*to*participate*within*the*curriculum.• Identify*excellence*• Help*to*connect*students

Institutional*model*for*alumni*relationship*management*

Professional*services

• Mentoring*program• Industry*networks*• Careers*and*employment*• Library• International*Office• Recruitment• Marketing*and*

communications*

Opportunities*for*engagement

It*is*the*goal*of*this*emerging*initiative*that*it*provides*a*foundation*by*which*to*re#imagine*our*goals*for*and*methods*of*engaging*with*our*alumni.*

1. What*new*approaches*to*engagement*with*alumni*would*maximize*value*for*recent*graduates,*alumni,*universities*and*professional*networks?

2. Are*our*current*measures*of*graduate*success*congruent*with*our*graduates’*perceptions*of**success?

1. How*can*universities*better*support*the*study#work*transition?

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

The*Program*of*Activities

! Phase&1:&Scoping&the&sector,&its&strategies&and&key&stakeholders» Activities*focus*on*three*main*themes:*connection*with*alumni,*connection*with*academic*environments*and*modelling*alumni*engagement.*! 1a:*Connection*with*health*sciences*alumni*from*home*institution! 1b:*Connection*with*University*staff*that*provide*alumni/employability*support! 1c:*Modelling*Alumni*engagement*nationally*and*internationally

! Phase&2:&Establishing&network&of&graduate&lifecycle&leaders&and&testing&generalisability

! Phase&3:&Developing&the&theoretical&framework&and&conceptualising&models&of&Engagement

! Phase&4&Internal&and&external&dissemination&and&evaluation&

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

For*further*information*or*to*get*involved

! Website» http://engagingalumni.com

! Twitter» @engagingalumni

! Email» j.vanderlelie@griffith.edu.au

Re#visioning*alumni*relationships*to*improve*graduate*employability

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Newcomer’s$Guide$to$Success. 2nd Edition.*Washington:*CASE,*123#129.*! Chadwick#Jones,*J.*K.*(1976).*Social*Exchange*Theory:*Its*Structure*and*Influence*in*Social*Psychology,*Academic*Press,*

London.! Coolman,*J.*(2011).*The*science*behind*alumni*engagement.*Council*for*the*Advancement*and*Support*of*Education*(CASE).*

Retrieved*from*http://web.utk.edu/~utaa/newsletters/foundation/alumniengagement.PDF! Forbes,*J.T.*(2014)*Toward*a*definition*and*taxonomy*for*alumni*engagement.*Discussion*Draft*Prepared*for*the*Council*of*

Alumni*Association*Executives.*Retrieved*from*https://alumniframework.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/toward#a#definition#and#taxonomy#for#alumni#engagement#v1.pdf

! Gallo,*M.*(2012)*Beyond*Philanthropy:*Recognising*the*value*of*alumni*to*benefit*higher*education*institutions.*Tertiary*Education*and*Management.*18(1)*41#55.

! Irani,*Z.*(2012,*November*8).*Don’t*forget*to*harness*the*power*of*your*alumni.*Higher*education*network*blog..*Retrieved*from*http://www.theguardian.com/higher#education#network/blog/2012/nov/07/student#employability#alumni#network#support

! Mael,*F.*and*Ashforth,*B.*(1992).*Alumni*and*their*alma*mater:*A*partial*test*of*the*reformulated*model*of*organizational*identification.*Journal*of*Organizational*Behaviour.*13.*103*– 123*.

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! Precedent.*(2009).*Alumdergraduates:$Aligning$the$alumni$and$student$experience$online.$London:*Precedent.! Rissmeyer,*P.*A.*(2010).*Student*affairs*and*alumni*relations.*New$Directions$for$Student$Services,*130,*19–29.! Rusbult,*C.*E.*(1980)*Commitment*and*satisfaction*in*romantic*associations:*A*test*of*the*investment*model.*Journal*of*

Experimental*Social*Psychology.*16.*172*– 186*.! Volkwein,*J.*F.,*Webster#Saft,*L.,*Xu,*W.*and*Agrotes,*M.H.*(1989)*A*model*of*alumni*gift*giving*behaviour.*Paper*presented*at*

the*meeting*of*the*Annual*Forum*of*the*Association*for*Institutional*Research.*Baltimore,*MD.! Vroom,*V.*H.*(1964)*Work*and*Motivation,*Wiley,*New*York.! Webb,*C.H.*(1993).*The$role$of$alumni$affairs$in$fund$raising. Inv*Worth,*M.J,*(Ed.)**Educational$Fund$Raising:$Principles$and$

Practice.*Phoenix:*Oryx*Press.! Weerts,*D.J.*(2007).*Toward*an*Engagement*Model*of*Institutional*Advancement*at*Public*Colleges*and*Universities.*

International$Journal$of$Educational$Advancement,*7(2),*79#103.! Weinstein,*S.*(2009).*The$Complete$Guide$to$Fundraising.$3rd Edition. New*Jersey:*John*Wiley*&*Sons.