This past fall, Siena College’s Health Studies program and alumni engagement team held its first Teddy Bear Checkup Clinic. This event brought alumni back to campus with their young children and allowed them to share their college campus with their young families. Over 250 children of alumni brought their stuffed animals to Siena to learn about what happens when they go to the doctor or the hospital. Seventy-five health studies students volunteered to make sure everyone’s stuffy was as healthy as can be. Working with faculty, the alumni engagement team developed the event in response to specific goals in its Leading the Way Strategic Plan (2022-2027). Within the plan, there are four pillars: education, experience, reputation, and community. Under "education," a main objective is to become a leader in healthcare education. This event was an opportunity for students to test their knowledge and communication skills, as well as highlight Siena’s health studies programs. Additionally, under the "experience" pillar, alumni engagement was assigned the objective of increasing alumni involvement with the college; the strategy involves on- and off-campus events, activities, content, and student networking with alumni for personal and professional development. The teddy bear event attracted millennial alumni with young children-—a demographic that Siena has struggled to connect with.
From the Judges
Great program for alumni with families. Impressive cross-collaborative effort with university partners.
