With over 80 institutions included in the data, the latest results from the Impactrics survey are very positive showing more robust alumni relations programs in most areas.

For many institutions, there is a need for building the Advancement efforts for effective alumni relations and fundraising to strengthen education through alumni and community support.

Continuing and lifelong education for alumni with traditional and new programs is generating a lot of interest as an opportunity for engagement and connection.

It is that exciting time of year for many schools and universities when you will be welcoming a new generation of alums! Yes, commencement should live up to its name and be the beginning of a lifelong relationship for the newest graduates with your school.

Kathy Edersheim has rightfully drawn our attention to alumni education as a “new paradigm” for engagement. As various models for exploring this opportunity have been explored, important insights have emerged.

On March 22, Jeffrey Selingo published an article in The Atlantic which said …Now a third wave in education and training has arrived, argue economists, educators, and workforce-development officials.

If you could ask your alumni board president one question, what would it be? We are dependent on asking questions for many reasons from generating big ideas to evaluating the success of events to understanding the interests of alumni and more.

Following the annual Educational Travel Conference sponsored by the Educational Travel Consortium last week, it is a good time to consider the purpose and the impact of affinity travel programs.

Alumni relations has gotten into a groove but that may not be such a good thing. Offering the same programs, following the same procedures as last year (or the past five years) may not work so well in the new era of hyper-connectivity and constant entertainment.