This article examines the philosophy behind alumni merchandising programs used by several colleges and universities, focusing on how alumni association directors determine which products best suit their mission and their audiences. It discusses techniques and products used by associations at Boston College and the Universities of New Hampshire,…

This article discusses the drawbacks of alumni merchandising, with alumni association directors voicing concerns about overloading alumni with solicitations and detracting from the associations' primary mission. It argues that if alumni associations must resort to merchandising, they should offer only high quality products. (MDM)

This article presents five basic guidelines for initiating a successful alumni merchandising program: (1) shop around for the best vendor; (2) decide what to sell; (3) manage merchandise properly; (4) watch out for risky business; and (5) get what you pay for. (MDM)

This article reviews the tax implications of alumni association merchandising programs, focusing on unrelated business income tax (UBIT) that nonprofit organizations, such as alumni associations, must pay on income derived from a trade or business not substantially related to their tax-exempt status. It also discusses postal regulations that…

Humor in college and university publications is helping editors and designers communicate to target audiences. Successful campus punmakers are identified at LaGuardia Community College, Brigham Young University, and Johns Hopkins. (MLW)