Find the Right Fit
CURRENTS Article Many of institutions adopt a one-size-fits-all strategy for engaging international alumni, but what works for graduates in Germany may not work for alumni living in New York City. Alumni relations strategies must reflect the needs and cultural environments of graduates who live in different countries. The ESADE Alumni International team shares its successful model for governing international chapters that achieves this important balance.

Office Space: Foreign exchange
CURRENTS Article In this article, Sue Rees, head of alumni relations at City University London, discusses what she learned during her opportunity to observe and work with alumni associations at six U.S. institutions and compares and contrasts the differences between alumni organization efforts in the United States and the U.K., which she concludes is mainly a difference in scale and scope.

In Service to Others
CURRENTS Article At Stonehill College in Massachusetts, a service initiative helps local schoolchildren and serves as an extension of the undergraduate experience.

From Lancaster, Pa., to Milan
CURRENTS Article A European clothing company borrows its name from a U.S. college and boosts the college's international exposure in return.

Global Greetings
CURRENTS Article This article discusses Mount Holyoke College's efforts to involve its international alumnae and other audiences to make the inauguration of its 18th president a global event. The communications team leveraged the Web and social media, in addition to traditional communications tactics and tools, to reach out to its constituents. The article also discusses how the team measured and followed up on its efforts, from thanking staff to increasing its use of video to communicate with alumnae and other audiences.

Tending the Flock
CURRENTS Article Is international alumni relations worth the effort? Or should you focus your time on alumni who are closer to home and easier to reach? This article suggests items to ponder in making this decision and tips for implementing an international alumni program.

The Power of Two
CURRENTS Article BI Norwegian School of Management publishes two alumni magazine, one in Norwegian and the other in English. The English-language magazine has helped keep international alumni engaged.

Long-Distance Connection
CURRENTS Article Transient populations, cultural diversity, language barriers, competing loyalties, and geographic separation are just some of the challenges international schools face in communicating with their alumni. This article explores how international school alumni programs can develop a sense of community with far-flung alumni.

Office Space: Foreign Affairs
CURRENTS Article As more institutions expand operations abroad, setting up satellite offices in various countries that have high concentrations of alumni makes sense.

Continental Drift
CURRENTS Article Educational institutions are entering new education markets and recruiting students from abroad at a quickening pace. Now, of necessity, they are turning their attention to international advancement and how best to engage alumni, friends, governments, foundations, and other entities beyond their borders.

Through Space and Time
CURRENTS Article The status quo for international alumni has been to let them form a chapter and leave it at that. In an effort to tap their development potential, recruit more foreign students, and enhance their global reputation, the institutions highlighted in this article are taking international alumni engagement to another level.

Postcard from Beijing
CURRENTS Article A look at U.S. and Australian universities that organized alumni events for the Beijing Olympic Games.

Advance Work: Distance, Shmistance
CURRENTS Article An alumni group that started as a grassroots effort in North America has grown into a successful endeavor for the University of Sydney, half a world away.

Advance Work: The Eagle Has Landed
CURRENTS Article An international independent school has come up with an easy and relevant way to keep its alumni engaged. It involves a stuffed eagle, some pictures, and a blog.

Advance Work: Something in Common
CURRENTS Article Smaller institutions sometimes need to think about economies of scale when planning alumni events. A group of European independent schools did just that and pulled off a successful joint reunion in New York.

Advance Work: International Connection
CURRENTS Article The University of California is connecting students studying abroad with UC alumni living in the same city. Alumni feel more connected to their alma maters and the students have someone to help them get their bearings--a win-win situation.

Advance Work: International Incident
CURRENTS Article To cut costs, Carleton University stopped mailing its magazine to its 1,800 alumni living outside North America. The results were devastating, and the university made a concerted effort to win back its international alumni.

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.

Sending Signals
CURRENTS Article The popular distance learning approach of Britain’s campus-less Open University has generated a global presence and an international alumni base, as well as an atypical advancement operation. The fledgling alumni office seeks to involve alumni volunteers in multiple ways suited to OU’s character, such as student recruitment and mentoring. The development operation maintains a strong emphasis on business development while building programs in annual giving and planned giving.

Tech Support: High-Tech Ties that Bind
CURRENTS Article In addition to e-mail and campus Web sites, the Internet offers special advantages for reaching out to international alumni. The article describes ways to use Internet telephone programs, streaming audio and video, freeware, and live chat to increase contact with alumni globally.

Manager's Portfolio: Advancement Away from Home
CURRENTS Article Frankle, alumni and development director at the University of Toronto, describes how her staff established a Hong Kong office. The remote office carries out such tasks as coordinating visits for institutional leaders, planning events for the large Hong Kong alumni base, supervising volunteers, maintaining alumni records, recruiting students, and conducting prospect research. Frankle recommends that institutions considering opening overseas offices should: 1) hire people with local and institutional knowledge; 2) make sure they know the language; 3) bring staffers home for training annually; and 4) evaluate them fairly.

All Roads Lead Back to Alma Mater
CURRENTS Article Five case studies show how institutions are linking international alumni to their alma maters. Examples include: 1) University of Wisconsin, Madison, with alumni in Bangkok; 2) Stanford University, with alumni in Paris; 3) University College Cork, Ireland, with alumni in New York; 4) Phillips Academy, with alumni in London; 5) University of Toronto, with alumni in Hong Kong. A sidebar provides tips for keeping in touch with alumni abroad.

World-Class Annual Funds
CURRENTS Article Wondering how you might broaden your annual fund campaign to include prospects outside the United States? Consider these tips: 1) target those countries where your alumni are most concentrated; 2) follow your campus’ strengths by targeting countries where faculty already possess expertise; and 3) focus on building ties with parents. How can you keep overseas prospects connected to your institution? Consider establishing an alumni association just for alumni in a particular part of the world, and encourage volunteers with overseas connections to get involved. When communicating about the importance of philanthropy, remember that approaches to natives of other countries and U.S. expatriates need to be different. When wondering if you should use English in all correspondence, use English if you teach in English.