When students graduate, their relationship with the school is far from over. In fact, the key to building an engaged and connected alumni network starts long before graduation.
The most prosperous schools recognise their alumni as a foundation to their long-term success. Your school is the bricks, and your alumni are the mortar: your financial supporters, ambassadors and mentors. Especially those that become trusted advocates guiding prospective families back to the school through word of mouth. So, how do you harness this potential with current students?
Engage on a personal level
It’s never too early to start. A successful alumni engagement strategy relies on forming strong relationships and connections while your students are still on campus. Let’s face it, not everyone has a fairytale schooling experience. But if your students feel valued, supported and connected to their peers, teachers and the school, they’re more likely to feel nostalgic and stay connected post-graduation.
Set them up for success
This is particularly important for students nearing graduation. As conversations spark about life beyond school, there is an expectation you will give them the tools they need for the future. This could involve career counselling to guide students towards their aspirations, advising on subject selections and university entry or alternate pathway discussions, connecting students with alumni through mentorships or networking to provide invaluable industry insight or supporting on building real-world skills for their financial, social and emotional health. This proactive approach not only sets students up for success, but fosters a sense of gratitude and loyalty towards the school.
Celebrate every achievement
Student spotlights are a powerful tool to recognise achievements and foster a sense of pride and belonging. Featured on social media, in the newsletter, school magazine or through the website, spotlights celebrate students’ successes to make them feel acknowledged and valued. It also sparks prospective family interests, while keeping the school updated on high achievers, paving the way for continued engagement following graduation.
Invest in your alumni connections
The school-alumni relationship thrives on mutual support. Invest in your alumni network using online resources, invitations to school and alumni events, access to important information and more. Alumni platforms or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems designed to facilitate engagement can advance your alumni network to the next level. Embedded within these platforms are tools to help connect the alumni community both the school and each other. It is important to ensure your students are familiar with these platforms before they graduate in order to capture their data accurately. If your school is not yet at the stage of procuring such a platform, it’s still important to ensure that student data is captured and stored before they graduate.
Summary
The secret to a connected alumni network is simple: engage early, invest consistently and celebrate generously. Leverage the alumni lifecycle and instil values of what it means to be an alumnus. This fosters an authentic connection that triggers an invaluable cycle that benefits current students, alumni and the school combined. The rewards will follow, and your alumni will remain a pivotal part of your school’s journey long after they’ve turned their tassel.