Getting LinkedIn with Lost Alumni
Article A Pennsylvania community college more than tripled its alumni mailing directory in less than two years using the social network LinkedIn.

Out of Thin Air, an Alumni Database
Article When the Northwest Technical College Foundation was established in 2005, it had a problem. The small Bemidji, Minn., institution and its predecessor colleges had never kept track of alumni data in their 40-year history. In 2009, the foundation set about the tall task of compiling its very first alumni database. And it found a significant number of alumni by asking local businesses for help in the search process.

One Craft, Different Cultures
CURRENTS Article More alumni directors outside North America are reaching out to their alumni audiences to encourage lifelong relationships with alma mater. However, these alumni directors face unique challenges. In Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Australia, school and university alumni often don’t have the tradition of giving to alma mater that’s a given in the United States and Canada. The institutions might not have maintained close ties with alumni, and poor record keeping can hinder relationship-building efforts. Some institutions' goals for alumni relations include encouraging continuing education and career networking by alumni as well as fund raising. Campus alumni offices also can become resources for groups of alumni who are more connected to each other than to the institution.

Ultimate Presumption
CURRENTS Article When should you give up looking for lost alumni who might be deceased? Some campuses draw the line at 50 years after graduation, but others say 65 or even 100 years—and they don't rely solely on the Social Security Death Index for confirmation.

AdvanceWork: On the Trail of Lost Alumni
CURRENTS Article Locating lost alumni takes time, money, and institutional commitment. Here are seven tips to make the task easier.

AdvanceWork: Seek and Ye Shall Find
CURRENTS Article This article covers five tips for tracking down lost alumni.