To recruit students and raise money, some colleges are presenting increasingly distorted pictures of themselves. Misrepresentation in fund-raising includes using money for a purpose other than the one for which it was raised. (MLW)

It is not effective to focus on the process of public relations, student recruitment, or fund-raising. In the 1990s, public relations must use rigorous research to achieve measurable results, not just more paperwork. (Author/MSE)

There are ways to fire an unproductive volunteer and still do minimal damage to both the volunteer and the alumni association, but an ounce of prevention is advocated. Some types of volunteers that might cause problems are identified and advice on what to do when dismissing a volunteer is provided. (MLW)

Guidelines offered for working with college alumni volunteers in student recruitment efforts include enlisting local alumni leaders' help; communicating expectations and procedures; requiring up-to-date records on local schools; prompt response to volunteer communications; and recognizing volunteer contributions. (MSE)

Three chief alumni relations officers discuss their views on the importance of hiring graduates of the college or university as alumni relations staffers. Opinions ranged from the belief that it is helpful when alumni and staff share an alma mater, to alumni status is not particularly important, to an attempt to mix both in the alumni relations…

Advice to college admissions officers is provided including recognition of individuals and responding to names, faces, interests, and personalities. Alert, personalized care and feeding will encourage the student's interest and can lead to an application and perhaps enrollment. (MLW)

Although volunteers serve many useful functions in fund raising, soliciting gifts should be left to staff. Volunteers are hard to recruit, keep, motivate, are unreliable, lacking in expertise, and they can balk at the realities of development tasks. Development offices should carefully think through the appropriate roles for these individuals.…

Media relations efforts at Wittenberg University are concentrated on newpapers, magazines, and radio and TV stations that will heighten the institution's visibility in the areas of student recruitment and fund raising. The college president is seen as the institution's chief public relations officer.

Changing populations will raise new issues for higher education student recruitment. Some changes include population sizes, characteristics, geography, and enrollment patterns. Steps to take include redefine the problem, make more out of less, improve student distribution, learn from the past, understand limitations, and recognize that each…

Nontraditional students are identified as evening students, older adults, part-time students, blue-collar workers, the handicapped, etc. Two reasons to attract nontraditional students are money and mission. The challenge is to develop the unreached and not-yet-served students. (MLW)

Four experienced college alumni volunteers offer information and opinions on how and why they became volunteers, how they serve, amount of time spent volunteering, what the alumni office does that is most helpful, how to keep volunteers from feeling overburdened, how to reward volunteers, and working with a spouse. (MSE)

Before an institution can decide how to recruit minorities, it must know why it wants them. Racial balance as a valid goal and the question of number goals and quotas in minority recruitment are discussed. (MLW)

Volunteer fund raisers for colleges bring enthusiasm, perspective, motivation, and influence to the task of soliciting gifts. They stretch staff time, fill out the fund-raising team, and cost little. Careful definition of responsibilities, recruitment, training, and monitoring and rewards for good work are essential to getting the best results.…