Commencement had been evolving at UAlbany for several years as we saw shifts in graduate and audience behavior, institutional priorities, and event trends. Then COVID-19 hit, and UAlbany’s Office of University Events was tasked with creating a safe and meaningful in-person event amid a global pandemic. Commencement was reimagined, and the result was a unique and intimate experience focused on grads and their families that combined innovative ideas with traditional pomp and circumstance. The success of that experience has forever changed the landscape of UAlbany’s Commencement activities, and 2022 saw the debut of our school and college-based Stage Crossing Celebrations in the place of ceremonies, an improved version of our University-wide undergraduate degree conferral ceremony, and an institutional culture shift.

In this session, we will share our story and offer scalable takeaways and actionable ideas applicable to not only academic ceremonies but all types of university events. We will address event logistics and communications, faculty/staff participation and management, academic protocol, health and safety, customer service, graduate/family and faculty/staff feedback and ideas, financial management, data/metrics/ROI, leadership/change management, and more. We hope to inspire you and your institution to reimagine your Commencement! Advanced Track

Attention campers! How a pop-up summer camp harnessed the power of experiential events to re-engage donors and alumni. Experiential. Immersive. Activation. We’ve all heard these terms around the event world but they are more than just buzzwords. What do they mean and how can they inform event strategy? What kind of budget do you need? What key moments take an event from ho hum to humming? How do you get buy-in from leaders, donors and alumni? We’ll break down the buzzwords, tackle those questions and walk away with a simple framework to bring elements of experiential to your own event portfolio. We’ll also learn how, with a modest budget, VCU incorporated experiential, immersive and activation elements into a pop-up summer camp that celebrated giving and built affinity through a new and unexpected shared experience. Intermediate Track

In this session you will hear relevant examples of how The University of St. Thomas maximized a non-conference football game against the Harvard University at the historic Harvard Stadium to engage multiple audiences including alumni, mid and principal level donors for a weekend of activities and high-touch events resulting in an incredible ROI. Foundational Track

See how the latest innovations are changing special events forever and engaging even the most strategic donors in new ways. Learn how organizations are leveraging personalization to engage strategic donors and analytics to meet goals. Clemson innovated their Homecoming weekend event experiences for donors with personalized digital purls for their top giving societies (up to $10 Million donors). They sent a unique invitation to each donor, a personalized reminder, and a weekend itinerary they could save to their phone. The results were incredible and deemed “a smashing success”. Key donors raved about the experience.
See examples of these experiences and where you could use them for special events. Intermediate Track

Looking for a fresh way to engage and celebrate top level donors? Donor Appreciation events are ever evolving and moving the needle to make these events impactful while celebrating the philanthropy of donors can pose a challenge. Join colleagues from Clemson University's Office of Central Donor Relations as they share how a rebrand of their cumulative giving society recognition program, the 1889 Societies, prompted a brand new multi-day Celebration of Philanthropy donor experience. Walk through the steps taken to plan the elevated donor weekend experience that included an Alumni Holiday Shopping Fair, Cocktail Hour with college deans and administration, full day of ten donor impact track experiences, celebration gala, and football tailgate. Learn about involving campus partners to assist in executing unique donor impact tracks. Walk through strategy to elevate your celebration gala to be more than just dinner, dancing, and drinks. Take away ideas that will help you to plan and execute a donor experience that is engaging on multiple levels and in various modalities so that donors leave feeling not only appreciated but see a true measure of the impact of their gifts. Advanced Track

In the fast-paced realm of Advancement, the demands are soaring, and your team faces a pivotal choice – burnout or build. Picture this: limited budget, no room for team expansion. What's your move? Join our dynamic conference session for an exhilarating dive into unleashing your hottest commodity - students! Learn innovative strategies to harness their potential, lighten your workload, showcase their talent, and cultivate super alum ambassadors, steering your institution towards an unstoppable future. It's time to transform challenges into opportunities – ignite the power within your team and set the stage for success! ? #TeamTransformation #StudentPower #InstitutionalSuccess Foundational Track