This article describes the University of Illinois's telemarketing test to recruit new alumni association members. The computerized calling program resulted in 379 new members (out of 9,278 alumni contacted), netted a profit, and indicated that different groups of alumni react to phone solicitations differently. (DB)

Out of concern for declining participation in its local alumni clubs, Dartmouth College (New Hampshire) surveyed 10,400 alumni nationally, 800 club officers, and alumni officers of 10 other colleges and universities. Resulting profiles of recent and older graduates revealed substantial population changes, suggesting the need for adaptation of…

A study of content of seven major daily newspapers found coverage of higher education (excluding athletics) in 1990-92 higher than in 1987-89. Most commonly covered were students, faculty and research, budget and finance, and race relations. Editorial comment focused on cost and access. Article length remained relatively stable. (MSE)

A step-by-step guide to conducting readership surveys by computer is presented. Planning a computerized survey, handling the responses, and analyzing the data are discussed. (MLW)

Interviews with 30 million-dollar donors to colleges and universities, including 17 individuals and representatives of 8 corporations and 5 foundations, revealed that donors gave with the expectation of receiving some return but sought indirect rather than direct benefit: enhancement of the institution, community, or society at large. (MSE)

A survey of 300 college and university presidents found that presidents place a high value on public relations when making institutional policy and accept the public relations demands of their jobs. Public relations activities of presidents and presidents' relations with public relations staff are discussed. (DB)

A recent Council for Advancement and Support of Education survey of 115 campus editors concerning the autonomy of their publications found editors have more editorial freedom, in comparison with a 1981 survey, but feel some pressure from direct supervisors and fund raisers to write or avoid certain stories. They generally feel their publication is…

The annual Comparative Performance Study of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) contains data on the endowments of 223 colleges and universities. It can help answer many donor questions. (MLW)

Directors of small public relations shops were queried on how they have cut out unproductve work. Some time-wasters include: long committee meetings, telephones, outside services, things that require big effort for little reward, interruptions, junk mail, typewriters, etc. (MLW)

An informal survey of college editors via electronic mail (e-mail) found that many felt inter- and intrainstitutional e-mail was an efficient method of communication but also elicited some concerns. Some respondents noted it did not replace face-to-face communication; flaming and overload were also noted as negatives of e-mail. (MSE)

A survey of 300 institutions of higher education found 9 factors associated with alumni giving participation rates. These included library volumes per student; average Scholastic Aptitude Test scores of entering first-year college students; percentage of faculty with doctorates; educational and general budget expenditures per student; endowment…

Ten years after a first survey of journalists covering higher education, a follow-up survey found substantial changes in personnel and more coverage of higher education in larger newspapers. Journalists prefer that campus public relations officials distribute less self-promoting mail and fewer nonnews stories, provide expertise and access, and be…

Federal cutbacks have created new demand for fund-raisers everywhere. Educational fund-raisers are thinking about "pay for performance"--incentive-based pay plans that can help them retain, reward, and motivate talented fund raisers within the tight pay scales common at colleges and universities. (MLW)

This article provides ideas on how to conduct alumni telephone surveys: (1) use the information gathered; (2) implement a survey; (3) develop appropriate questions; (4) test a survey instrument; (5) train interviewers; (6) collect the data; (7) analyze the results; (8) report the results; and (9) use the results to take action. (MDM)

This article provides advice on how to plan and conduct an alumni census through the mail, drawing on the experiences of Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts, which undertook such a survey in 1992. It focuses on costs, information needs, questionnaire design, mailing considerations, reporting the results, and expected response rates.…