College alumni associations are using a variety of approaches to improve alumni participation. Surveying alumni for needs and preferences can be fruitful. Program ideas include career planning, parent programs, community service, student relations activities, and high school recruitment. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation is crucial to…

Fifteen innovative ideas for activities by student alumni associations, based on existing programs, are described briefly. They include activities for career awareness and development, fund raising, student fun, service to alumni families, alumni orientation to the current campus community, graduation festivities, and service to the community.…

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.…

Guidelines for establishing an effective fund-raising board include knowing the group's and the institution's mission, getting expert help, recruiting helpful individuals, making expectations clear, giving trustees honest information, promoting trustee self-examination, getting a key leader to direct recruitment, welcoming new leadership, having…

The annual report, still vital to most colleges, is a key tool in communicating with the public for fund raising, community and government relations, student recruitment, and public relations. Format and content are more flexible, and institutions are making efforts to be environmentally conscious and save time and money. (MSE)

Use of student focus groups to help shape college and university student recruitment efforts is examined, illustrated with the experiences of a variety of institutions. Benefits and limitations of the approach are noted, specific techniques for maximizing the groups' effectiveness are suggested, and uses of the resulting information are discussed.…

International alumni programs can strengthen relationships overseas, stimulate student recruitment efforts, and provide student placement options. A strong overseas program benefits from a careful strategy, thorough research, faculty cooperation, innovative use of communications technology, and support of chapter objectives. (MSE)

Reasons and techniques for encouraging planned giving among baby-boomers are outlined, and one approach is detailed. This involves recruiting a volunteer financial services team of alumni to host financial presentations for fellow alumni in their local areas, and developing a newsletter for the target alumni population. The fund-raising program at…

A growing number of alumni associations have begun chartering subgroups to cater to special interests. Special alumni groups can develop around a variety of interests but a growing number of institutions are fostering groups tailored exclusively to minorities--particularly Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. (MLW)

Electronic versions of college catalogs, viewbooks, and applications are used successfully as tools for college student recruitment. High school guidance counselors and community college advisors can be given access to special information services, students can both obtain and provide information on diskette, and the approach is cost effective for…

Training for new development officers is discussed in four articles: "Basic Training" (Lindy Keane Carter) for new employees; "Continuing Education" (Scott H. Levine); "Bringing Staff Around" at Harvard (Richard B. Boardman); and "Off to a Good Start" with performance evaluations (John E . Clewis, Janice I.…

Guidelines are offered and suggestions made for creating a student recruitment video that captures and keeps prospective students' attention. Illustrations are provided from the experiences of colleges, universities, and private schools. Topics, techniques, style, and cost control are discussed. (MSE)

For colleges and universities to recruit transfers from community colleges, they must make the academic transition smooth and easy, by identifying student needs and offering services tailored to meet them. Such services may include special orientations, career planning services, student personnel services, clear credit transfer policies, and…

Gives information on how Duke University (North Carolina), Purdue University (Indiana), Severn School (Maryland), Spelman College (Georgia), Syracuse University (New York), University of California/Los Angeles, and University of Massachusetts/Amherst structure their corporate relationships, including program administration, staff, number of…

Colleges can communicate important positive messages to minority group students in the information disseminated about institutional mission and goals, admission and financial aid, administration, student support services, curriculum, the campus community, campus activities, location, and educational benefits and in photographic images of college…