Engaging Alumni In Fundraising Efforts

College programs are looking at their former superstar athletes like strategic partners. Not just alumni. Last week, The University of Texas at Austin became the latest example. The school announced a new NIL venture with Nike and former Longhorns basketball star Kevin Durant. The initiative is designed to create NIL opportunities for Texas athletes through Nike partnerships and brand activations. Their first signing: women’s basketball star Madison Booker. More than 16 Longhorn athletes have already joined the program as Nike NIL athletes. But it's also a part of a major shift in college sports. More universities are bringing former star athletes back into the mix as partners, advisors, GMs, or program ambassadors. Why? Three main reasons: ➊ Recruiting: When elite recruits see legends tied directly to a program, it makes a difference. Access and mentorship become part of the pitch. ➋ Credibility: A former superstar backing the program instantly elevates the brand. It tells athletes and sponsors that the program is serious about competing at the highest level. ➌ Leverage: These athletes bring massive networks, brand relationships, and marketing power. Universities can leverage alumni star power to create major commercial NIL opportunities and better resources for current players. Other examples include: • Stephen Curry (Davidson College) • Trae Young (University of Oklahoma) • Damien Lillard (Weber State) Expect to see more of this going forward. NIL is only getting more competitive, and this is one of the best ways to stand out 🔥 Subscribe to the Vetted Sports weekly newsletter to get the latest industry news, trends, and updates 📩👇 www.vettedsports.com

Public health programs are underusing their alumni—and it’s costing their students. There’s power in your people. But if your alumni network only shows up for fundraising, you’re doing it wrong. Here’s how universities can activate alumni for workforce readiness: 1️⃣Build a speaker series from your own grads Focus on career pivots, consulting, entrepreneurship, and how they got their first job. 2️⃣Create an alumni-led mentorship program Match grads with current students based on niche, identity, and goals. Not just who’s “available.” 3️⃣Host live Q&As with alumni consultants, analysts, and execs Let students hear how people actually landed roles—and what no one told them. 4️⃣Leverage alumni in job placement Turn your network into a talent pipeline for internships, contracts, and roles. When alumni are involved, students don’t just imagine what’s possible—they see it. Tag your MPH program and share some ideas that could help them utilize their alumni more! If any MPH program is interested in creating something like this then I'd love to partner to make it happen! Please send me a message and let's chat! #AlumniPower #MentorshipMatters #PublicHealthCareers #MPHNetwork #PHCConnections

One of the most underutilized assets in India’s technology and R&D ecosystem is the alumni network of top colleges. While the education system in India may not always provide the most cutting-edge training, the rigorous selection processes of institutions like the IITs, IIMs, NITs, and top universities consistently filter out some of the best minds in the country. These students later migrate to the US, Europe, Japan, and other hubs of innovation, where they contribute significantly to world-class technologies, research, and enterprises. A large proportion of these alumni come from humble middle-class or rural backgrounds. Their early professional years are naturally focused on improving the financial status of their families, buying homes, supporting parents, affording good education for their children, and establishing financial stability. By the time they cross 10–15 years of experience, many achieve these personal milestones. At this stage, a growing number of them begin to seek a higher purpose, like contributing back to their alma mater, supporting schools and universities, mentoring young talent, or even making a broader contribution to the nation. Unfortunately, in India, the alumni bonding networks of even the best colleges do not scale effectively. Reasons include: 1. Weak institutional support and lack of a binding force from alma maters. 2. Bureaucratic hurdles and poor coordination mechanisms. 3. High inertia among alumni who remain disconnected due to geography or career pressures. In contrast, American and European universities have created extremely powerful alumni ecosystems. These networks not only contribute financially to their institutions but also actively mentor, invest in, and incubate startups. They act as career accelerators, open up global industry linkages, and serve as force multipliers for research and product development. There are inspiring examples in India too. During the COVID-19 crisis, the IIT Kanpur alumni network united to ensure that a ventilator project initiated by one of their alumni was executed seamlessly. Their efforts led to the development of a Make in India ventilator, proving that alumni-driven collaboration can directly impact critical national needs. The Alumni network of many IITs and IIMs are doing wonderful role in building investor pool or mentoring juniors. However, if structured well, such alumni forces could also be tapped for product development & manufacturing ecosystems (automobiles, electronics, defense, robotics), collaborative R&D projects with global best practices, mentorship programs for startups and young engineers. This can help India a lot.

Most universities are pursuing B2B partnerships through the front door. But there may be a better path through the side door that many are missing. Most institutions I know are trying to connect with leaders in HR, Learning & Development, and workforce development at their region's largest employers. The challenge? Those leaders are already inundated. Every college wants a meeting. Every college wants a partnership. Every college says they're different. But for many employers, higher ed can look like a sea of sameness. Which is why the institutions that break through are not necessarily the ones with the best pitch. They're the ones who can get to the pitch at all. So if you've been banging on the front door of your region's largest employers without success, it may be time to try the side door instead. What's the side door? Your own alumni, regardless of their role. Not because they make the decision. But because they can help you reach the people who do. Your alumni already know your institution. They understand what makes you distinct. And they already have credibility inside the organizations you're trying to reach. So don't just ask employers for a meeting. Ask your alumni for an introduction first.

Alumni: The Soul of Every Institution Having worked closely with colleges for years, I’ve realized one thing—we’re still not doing enough when it comes to alumni engagement. Too often, alumni are remembered only during annual meets or when there’s a need. But the truth is, a college’s greatest ambassadors are not its buildings or brochures—it's its people, especially its alumni. Big universities understand this deeply. I still remember the slogan: “Once a Ramaiahan, always a Ramaiahan.” And another powerful one: “Each one can mentor one.” These aren’t just lines—they’re philosophies. When lived, they create a culture where alumni become guides, mentors, and partners in progress. What can colleges do differently? Here’s a blueprint of best practices that institutions can adopt to build meaningful and lasting alumni bonds: Create Structured Mentorship Programs Alumni can serve as buddies to new students—helping them navigate fears, overcome self-doubt, prepare for interviews, and understand corporate life or higher studies. Let one mentor impact one life. Recognize Alumni Uniquely & Publicly Like Alliance University’s Global Alumni Awards, every college should celebrate alumni for: Academic/Professional Achievements Social Impact Contributions to the Alma Mater Young Entrepreneurship & Innovation Arts & Culture Global Representation Legacy (multi-generational alumni families) Stay Connected, Always Regular newsletters, spotlight features, video interviews, alumni-student mixers—not just once a year but quarterly. Invite Alumni to Participate in Campus Life Guest lectures, curriculum feedback panels, startup pitch judging, admissions mentoring, bring them back in. Offer Alumni Lifelong Value Access to learning resources, certifications, networking circles, wellness programs, or even career transition support. Enable Alumni to Contribute Meaningfully Not just through donations—but with time, wisdom, and connections. Crowdsource ideas for institutional growth. What’s in it for the college? Authentic branding. Elevated student experience. Higher placement quality. Stronger admissions. Global presence. What’s in it for the alumni? Belonging. Respect. Purpose. A chance to give back and stay proud. Let’s not just call them on Alumni Day. Let’s celebrate them every day. Because when we nurture alumni relationships, we don’t just grow a college—we grow a legacy. #AlumniMatters #AlmaMaterForever #StrongerTogether #CollegePride #LifelongConnection #HigherEducation #CampusToCareer #UniversityLife #StudentMentorship #AlumniEngagement #EachOneMentorOne #LeadershipInEducation #MentorTheNextGen #FutureReadyStudents #EmpowerThroughExperience #AlumniAwards #RecognizeAndRespect #ProudAlumni

Continuing with the series of declining US geoscience enrollment, let's talk about: 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 EXEMPLARY CAREER SUPPORT PROGRAMS ▪Jackson School of Geosciences at UT Austin operates a dedicated Career Services office providing comprehensive support including career exploration, interview preparation, salary negotiation, and networking opportunities. Their Undergraduate Externship program and Spring Employer & Alumni Spotlights create direct industry connections. ▪Colorado School of Mines maintains exceptionally high employment rates through strong industry partnerships and strategic location in Colorado's energy corridor. Their cooperative education programs allow students to gain real-world experience while completing degrees. ▪Penn State Geosciences has developed robust industry partnerships providing direct pathways from education to employment. Their strategic plan emphasizes career tracking and mentoring, with annual exit surveys to improve placement outcomes. 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬 Universities with the strongest job placement rates maintain formal advisory boards with industry representatives, guaranteed internship placements, and comprehensive alumni networks. Penn State's industry partners provide both internship opportunities and full-time employment pathways. 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: ▪Establish dedicated career services with geoscience-trained counselors ▪Build formal partnerships with local and regional companies ▪Create alumni mentor networks and career spotlight events ▪Implement comprehensive graduate tracking and employer feedback systems ▪Develop guaranteed internship and cooperative education programs 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 Geoscience students care about jobs, and rightly so. They need help navigating the choppy employment waters to move from academic studies to industrial jobs, and universities that can bridge that gap will have more geo students showing up...and more geo converts from other disciplines that realize that geoscience can be both a fun and lucrative career option.

To my amazing LinkedIn Late Night Wisdom Army, Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your beautiful messages, your concern, and your kind words. They truly mean the world to me. Now that I'm back, I'd love to share something that's been on my mind lately... ❤️ Millions of professionals are sitting in offices right now, holding degrees that are quietly depreciating in value. They got the degree. They put in the hours. They climbed the ladder. They did everything right. And yet, here we are. Executives are actively planning for a world where nearly half of all current workforce skills become irrelevant in the next two to three years. AI is not coming for the uneducated. It is coming for the experienced. For the mid-career professional. For the person who thought their degree was a finish line, but guess what, It was not a finish line. It was a starting point with an expiry date nobody mentioned. "We call them the forgotten alumni" We obsess over curriculum reform for the next generation. We introduce AI literacy programs for students who have not even declared a major yet. But the professional who graduated ten years ago, who is now watching their industry shift beneath their feet? We hand them a alumni newsletter and ask them to donate to the endowment fund. That is not good enough anymore. A degree can no longer be a one-time transaction that ends with a handshake on a stage. It needs to become a lifelong subscription to relevance. And universities are the only institutions with the infrastructure, the credibility, and the data to make that happen. Here is what that actually looks like: Alumni Upskilling Sprints. Not a two-year master's degree that costs a fortune and takes years to design. Short, aggressive, four-to-six-week virtual sprints built in direct partnership with industry leaders. When AI disrupts the finance sector, a university should have a sprint ready for its finance alumni within the month. Speed is the point. Career Resilience Audits. Just as we take our cars in for maintenance, alumni should be able to return to their alma mater for a skills audit. Universities have the industry data. They should offer personalized assessments that identify an alumnus's specific vulnerabilities and map out the exact micro-credentials needed to close the gap. Cross-Generational Cohorts. The best learning happens between people, not in front of screens. Pair recent graduates who are fluent in emerging technology with mid-career alumni who are fluent in leadership, nuance, and how industries actually work. Let them teach each other what no curriculum currently covers. It is a symbiotic exchange of the exact skills both groups are missing. let me know honestly, If your alma mater called you tomorrow and offered a free four-week skills sprint tailored to your industry — would you take it? "be honest 😁" And more importantly: why hasn't anyone offered that yet? #Hendlatenightwisdom #LifelongLearning #FutureOfWork #AI #CareerResilience

➡️ 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela ✔️ 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. ✔️ 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞. A key part of this evolution is 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 —working engineers in industry—directly with students and faculty. This approach calls for a new paradigm: 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬, contributing as mentors, lecturers, and advisors alongside traditional academic faculty. 🔵 Alumni support—𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬—is essential to achieving our vision for the future of engineering education. 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 To create an effective, organized system that leverages alumni expertise and time to support faculty, staff, and students across all engineering departments. The 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐦, but alumni involvement will be instrumental in making this curriculum more relevant, dynamic, and impactful. 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 The 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 is designed as a flexible, growing effort that enhances student learning, supports faculty development, and strengthens department-level initiatives through strategic alumni involvement. This initiative aims not only to graduate engineers but to launch leaders who are ready to hit the ground running—𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. *️⃣ “A degree alone is no longer enough—students need more than theory. They need practical connections and professional mentorship.” To meet this need, 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞—bringing together professors who teach and practitioners who lead. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 🟢 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: By offering meaningful, flexible ways to contribute, we aim to grow a larger, more engaged alumni network. 🟢 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Alumni will serve as critical links to industry, exposing students to current technologies, practices, and opportunities. 🟢 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫-𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: Students will be better prepared for professional success through real-world exposure and practice-based mentorship. Michael Mourot Member, American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) University of Arkansas College of Engineering Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering #AlumniSupport

Public Brief SuperCA Forum, the professional services initiative of the IIT Alumni Council willl work with the upaca gurukul to help evolve the SuperCA framework for producing world class Investment Bankers from India through a global dual degree program. The SuperCA framework will be built around a dual degree comprising of a CA from ICAI and a post graduate program in IB on the lines of ISB. Subsequently the program will be offered in other specialisations such as cybersecurity and niche areas like private equity, ai, ESG etc In order to help increase the technology quotient in the profession to facilitate a smooth transition to an ai assisted paradigm for finance professioanals, the course will initially target premium graduates including IIT Alumni who have an interest in investment banking. Student will need to pass CA final exam of ICAI to get the PGP degree. Course duration is a minimum of two years. The course fee will be a fraction of the cost of similar programs elsewhere in the world. Course cost will include courseware, equipment (including an iMac, iPad and iPhone), all paid two months in a leading overseas university, exam fee, lodging/ boarding. 100% scholarship will be provided to needy students who complete the course in the minimum stipulated time. The SuperCA two year residential program in investment banking will be developed in partnership with the UPACA Gurukul near Mount Abu /Udaipur. Eventually the course will also be available at IIT Alumni campuses in the NCR and the Mumbai Pune region. The SuperCA program aspires to create a new genre of technology literate and maths proficient CAs who have unmatched skills in deeptech and frontier technologies including AI. The technology aspect of the course will be developed by the IIT Alumni Research Centre. The course will be conducted by visiting faculty from the IIT alumni members. Forum will onboard eminent CAs in four categories to create a differentiated team to mentor and guide the program. This includes Patron members (CA networks from India and overseas), Honorary Fellows (senior distinguished CAs), Charter Members (eminent CAs who commit time and resources to be mentors and academic board members), empanelled CA firms (who undertake govt work allocated to the Forum) and Partner Firms (technology and infrastructure owners and young firms engaged in advisory work) The formal process for selection of the Patron members, Charter members, Partner members and Empanelled firms has already commenced and is expected to be completed by December end. Membership will be strictly by invitation and restricted to pre defined numbers. The Super CA program is likely to be launched in academic year 2024-25. #ICAIGloPAC #Forum #SuperCA #SuperCAProgram #IIT #ProfessionalService #InvestmentBankers #Graduation #IITAlumni #CharteredAccountancy #ScholarshipOpportunities #UpacaGurukul

The most powerful systems aren’t just built overnight. They take time to grow. When we built Extern, I knew our success wouldn't come from what we built, but from what our users would do after going through the program. I'm now seeing the flywheel begin to spin. 🛞 Here's how it works: A student completes two-to-three externships. They land an internship or job. Then they come back – not just to say thanks, but to actively help the next generation. Conversations we've had this year with alumni show a pattern: "Extern changed my trajectory. What can I do to help?" This creates three compounding loops: Knowledge Transfer: Alumni run AMAs in our Slack community, sharing exactly how they turned their externship into a job at Meta, Google, or startups. Current students get tactical advice from someone who was in their shoes months ago. Company Evangelism: Alumni who've entered the workforce bring Extern to their employers. One told me: "I'll do anything to help turn my company into a partner." They don't need convincing since they lived the experience. Opportunity Creation: Alumni are starting to become externship hosts themselves. They remember how hard it was to get that first break, and now create pathways at their companies. The student becomes the mentor. Every alum who returns to host an externship creates opportunities for dozens more students. Those students become alumni who do the same. This is the difference between institutional solutions and network solutions. Institutions deplete while networks compound. 🌐