CASE has launched its first-ever Global Alumni Engagement Metrics Survey, the outcomes of which are designed to look at the broad impact of relationships between alumni and their alma maters.

This innovative annual survey will enable institutions to measure alumni engagement across four different modes: philanthropic, volunteerism, experiential, and communications. The data, collected and tracked annually, is part of CASE’s AMAtlas, a global resource for educational advancement metrics, benchmarks, and analytics. By looking at a variety of ways that former students interact with their schools, the AEM Survey’s goal is to paint a broader picture of alumni engagement.

This survey represents the culmination of a task force created in 2016 by CASE’s Commission on Alumni Relations to create an industry framework for assessing alumni engagement. Along the way, this task force published a 2018 white paper which defined alumni engagement as “activities that are valued by alumni, build enduring and mutually beneficial relationships, inspire loyalty and financial support, strengthen the institution’s reputation, and involve alumni in meaningful activities to advance the institution’s mission.”

The goal of the AEM Survey is to capture these different means of engagement in a relatively simple and easy-to-report way. Because this was established as a global survey, the metrics can be applied to CASE’s expansive range of member institutions spanning more than 80 countries.

The survey is open now to all educational institutions, including colleges, institutes, universities, and independent schools. There is no fee to participate. In addition, CASE member institutions will be able to access and analyze data as a complimentary benefit by using the AMAtlas Data Miner tool. The deadline for submitting this data for an institution’s most recently completed fiscal year is Dec. 1.

Participate in the survey and find more information here. Contact CASE with any questions. Training and orientation are available free of charge. AMAtlas will share results and analysis regarding the survey early in 2020.

Because nothing like the AEM Survey has been attempted before, CASE is encouraging institutions to participate, even if they haven’t collected data for every category. As CASE and the survey contributors build this new venture together, it is better to begin with what is available, rather than delay in the hopes of comprehensive information in all spheres.

Fred Weiss, CASE’s chief research and data officer, is excited about this survey on behalf of CASE and its members. “Not only is this the beginning of a groundbreaking endeavor,” he says, “but the evolution of this survey and the valuable information it will provide to member institutions we believe will be enlightening and will change the understanding and conversation about alumni engagement.”