Narrowing the Field
CURRENTS Article Traditional alumni programs are about prompting graduates to do something—anything—for the institution. But these mass approaches, on their own, deliver small returns on large investments. Allocating some significant resources to a smaller group gives alumni professionals the opportunity to better engage a population that can truly advance the institution.

The Diversity Imperative
CURRENTS Article As the United States as well as college enrollment grow more diverse, advancement shops are challenged to improve outreach to alumni and donors of difference. Many colleges and universities are trying new approaches, such as meaningful engagement of minority communities and business groups in their areas or a rethinking of race-based affinity groups.

Odds and Ends: Big Man on Campus
CURRENTS Article Ernie G, a spokesperson for the Hispanic College Fund, delivers jokes across the United States to inspire current and prospective Latino college students.

The Mindful Development Officer
CURRENTS Article Veteran advancement officer Deb Taft offer tips for reaching out to diverse alumni and volunteers and ensuring they're involved in meaningful ways.

Taking Off
CURRENTS Article At Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, the student-led Queen's Student Alumni Association strengthened its link with the Queen's University Alumni Association to find new ways to engage the next generation of alumni.

Rally ’Round the Leader
CURRENTS Article New York's Albany Law School celebrates Kate Stoneman Day.

Bright Prospects
CURRENTS Article Graduate students have different campus experiences than undergraduates and are generally not immersed in the social energy of the campus—at least not to the extent of undergraduates. But that doesn't mean they don't want to contribute to the alumni community, if approached in the right way.

Putting on a New Game Face
CURRENTS Article The University of Mississippi recently introduced Rebel Bear, the new mascot that replaced Col. Reb, the previous controversial mascot that the university banned in 2003. In this article, Michael Thompson, senior associate athletics director for communications and marketing at Ole Miss, discusses the challenges of creating and developing a new mascot and introducing it to the university community.

Come Together
CURRENTS Article The article explores how alumni engagement has evolved. Alumni professionals today are reaching out to current students and pursuing a relationship with alumni that spans the different stages of their lives. A sidebar--"It's the Alumni, Stupid" by Mark W. Jones--accompanies this article.

Advance Work: Quality Not Quantity
CURRENTS Article In order to build the University of British Columbia alumni association, Marie Earl focused on getting the "thought leaders" together--people who know and influence many other people.

AdvanceWork: Any Way You Slice It
CURRENTS Article Alumni relations professionals can borrow a page from the corporate playbook by thinking about alumni segmentation in terms of career stage. A corporate alumni relations manager details five segments she uses to plan her alumni programming: The new alum, the experienced alum, the stay-at-home alum, the entrepreneurial alum, and the hiring alum.

Keeping Them In the Fold
CURRENTS Article Some major companies have launched alumni programs for former employees, in the belief that long-term ties with former workers could increase business referrals, strengthen corporate image, and provide access to intellectual capital. Like campus alumni programs, these groups offer such benefits as directories, newsletters, and events. The article discusses the implications for campus alumni programs, which may find themselves either competing with or partnering with corporate programs.

AdvanceWork: What's in a Name?
CURRENTS Article Six different ways campuses define the term "alumni"