Alumni participation is a topic that is heavily emphasized by the College. There are approximately 25,000 total alums with about 10,000 of those alums living in the Chicagoland area. 6,000 of those alums live in Dupage County, so there is plenty of opportunity for engagement. They are a resource for students and Alumni which is something that Executive Director Adrian Aldrich Executive Director of Alumni Relations emphasizes.
“We don’t want people to view us as tucked away on the fourth floor,” Aldrich said. Director of Alumni Engagement, Jared Bogan, says that on student philanthropy day they interacted with 139 unique students.
The office means well but how effective are they? The campus has had over 1,500 alums engaged in 22 events held during the 2013-2014 academic year. Statistically that is more than 25% of the alumni in Dupage County. with a successful turnout of 62 people at an alumni barbecue held April 29th. Their social media presence has increased dramatically since recently hiring an alumni Engagement officer. At the time of the interview they had more than 1,300 likes on Facebook 1,341 and follows on twitter and a modest, but growing, following of 294 people on Instagram.
Typically the office narrows down which alumni they are able to reach with particular events based upon the type of event date and time as well as the cost.
The Alumni office of Engagement is in the process of brainstorming new ways to reach out to alums. Currently some ways the office is reaching out to alums includes regional networking events called “affinity groups” in places like Phoenix, Milwaukee as well as other events on campus.
“We are offering more events that are tailored to specific experiences alums had,” Aldrich adds. Bogan envisions a number of calendars with regional events, campus events and sports events.
The office of Alumni Engagement has a positive reputation with organizations. John Madormo Faculty Advisor for WONC says that in the past the alumni student basketball game the college hosts has had more alumni participants than this year. At the game off to the side an anxious Geoff Clark ‘11 practices shots. He was the sole alum who showed up for the event.
Senior North Central Student William Dawes grumbled “this is how it was last year.”
“We definitely have more staff than alumni” Fellow Senior staffer on WONC Josh Barlog said at 6:30pm the time the game was supposed to start.
Aldrich commented on this plight saying, “They should call Jared (Bogan). We want to help. There is a limit of course, The alumni staff is four people.”
Madormo admitted that in the past when they had contacted the office of Alumi Engagement they got a few more people to turn up. However, more of these alums are married and have prior commitments.
Is the college doing enough? Aldrich smiled as he said “No, you can never have enough alumni engagement. There is always something we can do. We are always looking for feedback.”
Of all of the events that the office hosts Aldrich’s favourite is the Homecoming reunion experience. Alumni from a variety of class years are present at the event.
Jared Bogan emphasized that the office of alumni engagement is a bloodline for the college.
“It is what keeps the heart pumping.” he says.
One aspect of alumni that Bogan sees as underutilized is the Alumni Ambassador scholarship. More than 400 people recommended students and of those 362 actually gifted the scholarship. Bogan described the scholarship to alum as a coupon $4,000 that you are handing for someone to go to North Central. Bogan wants alums to be proud of their college and often asks if they have their degree displayed in their office.
“We want Alums to communicate with us as much as we communicate with them.” Aldrich said
The networking opportunity that students have with alumni is underutilized. Once in a while students will come in, hand in resumes and get assistance connecting with alumni for future jobs. Aldrich credits his employment to an alumni connection at Aurora Washington University that ultimately led to his employment at the College.
Upcoming is the Fullbright Campaign. Aldrich would like to expand his staff like any department on campus, but cites the upcoming campaign as a potential opportunity to expand the department if only temporarily. The kickoff for the event is Friday May 15th which includes dancing and music, but costs money. As an opportunity to contribute to North Central College of course. Who knows it may be the inspiration needed to contribute to the senior class gift or begin thinking about your future and how alumni can or will play a role.
