Day 1, Sunday, July 22

NOON-3:30 PM   
Registration

3:30-4:45
An Overview of Alumni Relations
This session will provide an overview of the institute and an introduction to the field of alumni relations, which will include:

• The history of alumni relations,
• The purpose of alumni relations: past, present and future,
• Alumni relations and university advancement,
• Current challenges of alumni relations,
• Careers in alumni relations, and
• The future of the field, including where it fits in advancement.

5:00-5:45
Advisory Group Sessions
Meet with faculty and peers from similar institutions and learn how to maximize your learning opportunities at the institute.

5:45
Shuttles to aquarium begin 

6:30-8:30
Networking Reception at the Aquarium
ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center
Enjoy food, drinks and good company at the ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center, located next to Lake Champlain. Find out more about ECHO at http://www.echovermont.org.

8:00-8:45
Shuttles return to residence halls

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Day 2, Monday, July 23

7:30-8:30 AM
Breakfast

8:30-8:45
Announcements

8:45-10:00
Opening General Session 

10:15-11:30
Elective Sessions

• The World of Development: A Primer For Alumni Relations Professionals
  Annual giving, planned giving, work with corporations, foundations and individuals, the campaign office, what's that? Get an overview on the work of gaining philanthropic support and learn how to work with development as a team.
• Strategic Alumni Communications and Branding (repeated at 1:15 PM)
  You've designed fantastic programming and events, but is the word getting out to your constituencies? Is your brand message clear and concise? Do your programs and services support your brand identity? Find out how to effectively create your communications program and make a positive, meaningful and sustainable connection with graduates.

• On Campus Partnerships: Keys to Increasing Alumni Engagement
  Advance your alumni programs and opportunities for engagement by partnering across campus with departments and offices. Alumni and students have multiple touch points and connections tethering them to your institution. Explore ways for capitalizing on programs and connections that already exist, and for developing mutually beneficial relationships for your departments. From academic departments connecting student majors to alumni graduates and featuring alumni speakers; admission programs sponsoring alumni admission programs; career offices connecting students, alumni and parents; athletic departments and teams offering athletic alumni mentors to teams and more, the opportunities are endless. There is likely a treasure trove of connection and activity already occurring on your campus-learn how to find, report on and encourage those connections.

11:45 AM-1:15 PM
Lunch

1:15-2:30
Elective Sessions

• Regional Alumni Engagement Strategies: Clubs and Chapters
  Are chapters still an effective way to deliver programs to alumni? What is regional engagement? What are other advancement departments' goals for regional programs? What is impacting our ability to engage alumni on a regional basis? All of these questions plus much more will be discussed during this session, perfect for programs that are either looking to expand or ones that are about to initiate their regional strategies.  

• Strategic Alumni Communications and Branding
  You've designed fantastic programming and events, but is the word getting out to your constituencies? Is your brand message clear and concise? Do your programs and services support your brand identity? Find out how to effectively create your communications program and make a positive, meaningful and sustainable connection with graduates.

• Strategies to Engage Recent Graduates (repeated at 10:15 AM on Tuesday)
  They're young, energetic, excited and full of new ideas. They don't stay in one place and are busy building their lives. Do they have time for their alma mater? Join us as we study this generation in depth. Discover the truth regarding the availability and interest of young alumni and learn proven methods to capitalize on this invaluable constituency-the future of your alumni program.

2:45-4:00
Elective Sessions

• You can come home again. (repeated at 10:15 AM on Tuesday)
  From more traditional events such as Homecoming and Reunion to opportunities for intellectual engagement such as signature on line programs, faculty lecture series and on campus programs, find the right match for your campus--explore ideas, learn the tools and identify the plan, then return to campus with ideas you can implement! Explore the essential components to creating programs that work for your school and call your alumni home again--virtually or in person!

• Affinity Outreach Programming (repeated at 10:15 AM on Tuesday)
  Many organizations are questioning whether class year is enough of an attraction for alumni to come back to campus. Research how alumni feel affiliated to your school, and learn how to use that information to engage them for the long haul. This session will use a combination of existing practices at the Rochester Institute of Technology and Seton Hall University, along with participant questions. Join us for a lively discussion and learn how to use affinity groups to engage even more of your alumni.

• Alumni Membership Programs: Trends and Challenges
  Whether it's acquisition, retention, future alumni cultivation or revenue generation, these alumni association membership issues are universal. Address these principal alumni membership trends and challenges and discover ways to make alumni feel that joining is indispensible to their university connection.

4:15-5:30
Advisory Group Sessions

6:00 PM-MIDNIGHT
Shuttles run between residence halls and downtown Burlington

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Day 3, Tuesday, July 24

7:30-8:30 AM
Breakfast

8:30-8:45
Announcements

8:45-10:00
Managing Volunteers
Volunteers are a treasure, often a luxury, and for some, a drain on our ever-tighter budgets. No matter, volunteers play an essential role in strengthening our institutions and it is our job to continually focus their work towards our mission. Explore the challenges and benefits of building and maintaining volunteer programs.

10:15-11:30
Elective Sessions

• You can come home again.
  From more traditional events such as Homecoming and Reunion to opportunities for intellectual engagement such as signature on line programs, faculty lecture series and on campus programs, find the right match for your campus--explore ideas, learn the tools and identify the plan, then return to campus with ideas you can implement! Explore the essential components to creating programs that work for your school and call your alumni home again--virtually or in person!

• Affinity Outreach Programming
  Many organizations are questioning whether class year is enough of an attraction for alumni to come back to campus. Research how alumni feel affiliated to your school, and learn how to use that information to engage them for the long haul. This session will use a combination of existing practices at the Rochester Institute of Technology and Seton Hall University, along with participant questions. Join us for a lively discussion and learn how to use affinity groups to engage even more of your alumni.
• Strategies to Engage Recent Graduates
  They're young, energetic, excited and full of new ideas. They don't stay in one place and are busy building their lives. Do they have time for their alma mater? Join us as we study this generation in depth. Discover the truth regarding the availability and interest of young alumni and learn proven methods to capitalize on this invaluable constituency-the future of your alumni program.

11:45 AM-1:15 PM
Lunch

1:15-2:30
Technology and Social Media in Alumni Relations
Connecting with alumni has never been easier, thanks to technology. The changes that technology has brought about in the past few years in alumni relations boggle the mind. What lies ahead in the next few years and how will you stay ahead of the curve? Will your job get easier or more challenging? Find out at this session.

2:45-4:00
Elective Sessions (repeated at 10:15 AM on Wednesday)

• Engagement Metrics and Alumni Relations
  Increasingly, alumni relations professionals are charged with the explicit goal of increasing alumni engagement in the life of the institution. Increased engagement not only supports long-term fundraising goals, but it also provides a living endowment of experiences and contacts for students, alumni and the entire community. Quantifying and measuring that engagement provides a framework for making informed decisions about your programs. Using Amherst College, RIT and several other schools as case studies, we'll explore the steps for defining metrics that will capture the breadth of alumni engagement and how you can implement the same to strengthen your program.

• Student Programs: Developing Relationships with Tomorrow's Alumni, Today
  We had them at "hello"...but we let them get away. Our future alumni, a captive audience while on campus, are much harder to locate after they receive their diplomas. Discuss ways to get students to understand the lifelong relationship they can enjoy with Alma Mater.

• Career Services and Professional Networking Strategies to Engage Alumni
  Career services is the number one thing alumni look for from their alumni office. Learn best practices and strategies that deliver career services to your constituents, regardless of staff size and resources.

4:15-5:30
Advisory Group Sessions

6:00 PM-MIDNIGHT
Shuttles run between residence halls and downtown Burlington

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Day 4, Wednesday, July 25

7:30-8:30 AM
Breakfast

8:30-8:45
Announcements  

8:45-10:00   
Managing Expectations
Entitled alumni. Aggressive managers. Vendor relationships. Unrealistic expectations. Alumni relations professionals can be confronted with a myriad of awkward and confusing situations each day. At a time when there is renewed emphasis in personal and organizational responsibility and working together as partners, this session will help participants sharpen their ethical, practical and people skills in dealing with these kinds of situations.

10:15-11:30
Elective Sessions

• Engagement Metrics and Alumni Relations
  Increasingly, alumni relations professionals are charged with the explicit goal of increasing alumni engagement in the life of the institution. Increased engagement not only supports long-term fundraising goals, but it also provides a living endowment of experiences and contacts for students, alumni and the entire community. Quantifying and measuring that engagement provides a framework for making informed decisions about your programs. Using Amherst College, RIT and several other schools as case studies, we'll explore the steps for defining metrics that will capture the breadth of alumni engagement and how you can implement the same to strengthen your program.
• Student Programs: Developing Relationships With Tomorrow's Alumni, Today 
  We had them at "hello"...but we let them get away. Our future alumni, a captive audience while on campus, are much harder to locate after they receive their diplomas. Discuss ways to get students to understand the lifelong relationship they can enjoy with Alma Mater.
• The 21st Century Alumni Program
  You can no longer get away with the beer-and-pretzel happy hours or meeting with the basketball coach twice a year to constitute a year's worth of programming. Not only does that -not meet our mission-driven strategic plans, but it is lower on the priority list for this what's-in-it-for-me generation of alumni. Attend this session to hear our thoughts on the nuts and bolts of a 21st century alumni program.

11:45 AM- 1:15 PM
Lunch

1:15-2:30
Elective Sessions

• Grow Your Financial Resources: Revenue-Producing Programs and Corporate Partnerships
  During times of tight budgets and growing demands for alumni relations work, opportunities exist to expand your financial resources by looking to outside sources of budget support. Learn how this can work for your institution, regardless of size or level of expertise.

• The World of Development: A Primer For Alumni Relations Professionals (repeated at 2:45 PM)
  Annual giving, planned giving, work with corporations, foundations and individuals, the campaign office, what's that? Get an overview on the work of gaining philanthropic support and learn how to work with development as a team.

• Developing Your Alumni Board (repeated at 2:45 PM)
  Volunteer leadership is a fundamental tenet of most strong alumni relations programs. Your alumni board can and should be at the forefront of what you look for in volunteers. During this session, we'll reveal the secrets to developing an alumni board that helps you meet your goals and supports your efforts to engage alumni. Case studies from a mid-size independent and large public university will be used to illustrate the transformative effect you can make on an underperforming alumni board.

2:45-4:00
Elective Sessions

• Regional Alumni Engagement Strategies: Clubs and Chapters
  Are chapters still an effective way to deliver programs to alumni? What is regional engagement? What are other advancement departments' goals for regional programs? What is impacting our ability to engage alumni on a regional basis? All of these questions plus much more will be discussed during this session, perfect for programs that are either looking to expand or ones that are about to initiate their regional strategies.
• Career Services and Professional Networking Strategies to Engage Alumni
  Career services is the number one thing alumni look for from their alumni office. Learn best practices and strategies that deliver career services to your constituents, regardless of staff size and resources.

• Developing Your Alumni Board
  Volunteer leadership is a fundamental tenet of most strong alumni relations programs. Your alumni board can and should be at the forefront of what you look for in volunteers. During this session, we'll reveal the secrets to developing an alumni board that helps you meet your goals and supports your efforts to engage alumni. Case studies from a mid-size independent and large public university will be used to illustrate the transformative effect you can make on an underperforming alumni board.

4:15-5:30
Advisory Group Sessions

5:45
Buses leave from residence halls for Spirit of Ethan Allen

6:30-9:00
Lake Champlain Dinner Cruise
Spirit of Ethan Allen
Spend your last evening in Burlington on the famous Spirit of Ethan Allen. Enjoy dinner and dancing during this cruise on Lake Champlain.

9:00-9:30
Shuttles return to residence halls

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Day 5, Thursday, July 26

7:30-8:30 AM
Breakfast 

8:30-8:45
Announcements

8:45-10:00
Developing Your Career in Alumni Relations
This session will help participants gain an understanding of how to pursue and develop a rewarding career in the field of alumni relations. What qualities and skills are necessary? What academic training is required? How about advanced degrees? Can I make a decent living doing this work? What are the rewards and what are the compromises? Get a practical approach to developing your career as an alumni relations professional.

10:15-11:30
Parting Thoughts
As the institute prepares to close, this open forum provides participants with a chance to ask those burning questions or delve into a topic covered previously during the institute.

11:30
Institute Adjourns

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