Truman State University Alumni Association Strategic Plan

Transcription

1 Truman State University Alumni Association Strategic Plan At its core, the Truman State University Alumni Association exists to serve and benefit Truman State University and its alumni, and to strengthen lifelong relationships between these two entities. To ensure maximum impact, a Strategic Plan is necessary to guide and shape the Association s activities. The Association Board of Directors adopted the first Strategic Plan in This second edition marks a thorough review and update of the original plan. This Strategic Plan is a living document and should be updated and modified as needed. These changes may be implemented by the end of each four year period, or they may be ongoing. The Association s vision, mission and purpose are the basis of the Strategic Plan. VISION That every Truman State University alumnus would be a Bulldog Forever. MISSION The mission of the Association is to strengthen lifelong relationships between its alumni through chapter and club development, consistent and current communications, timely activities and events, and ongoing giving opportunities. PURPOSE The purpose of the Association is to promote the interest and welfare of the students and alumni; provide social activities that create opportunities for alumni to stay connected and become acquainted through alumni activities; encourage networking and camaraderie among alumni; and stimulate opportunities for alumni to support the mission of the University in areas of public relations, student recruitment, and fundraising. The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to outline the Association s core objectives and goals. The Strategic Plan lays the foundation for the Association s programs, policies and initiatives for the next four years and beyond. 1

2 I. Objectives 1. Identify Stakeholders An integral part of the Strategic Plan is to identify those persons, groups and organizations that have a vested interest in the principles and concepts the Strategic Plan promotes. After careful consideration and analysis of feedback, we recognize the following as stakeholders, listed in alphabetical order: Alumni Attendees Board of Governors Community Members from Kirksville and the Surrounding Area Corporations and Foundations Faculty, Staff, and Emeriti Foundation Board of Directors Friends of the University Past and Present Parents of Students Students 2. Identify Guiding Principles Emphasize communication. Emphasize bridge-building. Emphasize the lifelong relationships formed between the University and its Emphasize the never-ending goal of strengthening the University. 3. Establish Goals and Strategies The goals of the Association and the Board should complement those of the University, the Board of Governors and the Foundation Board of Directors. Goals should be reasonable, fiscally responsible, and within the capability and capacity of the Association, its Board and the Alumni Relations Staff. 2

3 II. Goals and Strategies 1. Emphasize the importance of lifelong relationships, between both the University and its stakeholders, through targeted, value-added programs and activities. Encourage alumni to attend Homecoming and other campus-based alumni events such as the Taste of Truman, and work with the campus community to develop additional campus-based alumni events, activities and services. Explore opportunities to develop events that appeal to various alumni affinity groups. Explore opportunities to increase professional development offerings for Continue the alumni travel program, offering package trips to domestic and international destinations. Encourage alumni to take advantage of the University Career Center; and work with the University Career Center to increase offerings for Encourage each of the academic schools to develop communication outreaches, advisory committees, and activities for Continue to foster and enhance social networking among Continue to promote the Alumni Association through Facebook, LinkedIn, the alumni website and the enewsletter. Partner with schools, organizations, and honorary societies for mutually beneficial initiatives. 2. Support the continuous development of successful alumni chapters and clubs. Challenge chapters to offer a substantial number and array of events targeted to different demographic groups. Help chapters to develop strategies for reaching young Support the development of alumni clubs. Encourage chapter members to become involved in student recruitment efforts in their area; involve chapters in the student sendoffs, campaign and accepted student events, utilizing established guidelines. Encourage chapters to utilize the honor points system, the endowment fund grant program, the Alumni Resource Book and other tools available for chapter development. 3

4 Encourage chapters to support student scholarships and/or the Truman State University Foundation. Encourage chapters to create and/or expand use of social networking tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, chapter websites and collaborative use of text and correspondence to promote chapter events and network with chapter members, in conjunction with the Alumni Relations Office. Further enhance the annual Alumni Leadership Conference as a means of sharing best practices and developing alumni leaders. Utilize events such as National Spirit Day to increase awareness of and participation in alumni chapters/clubs. 3. Take an active role in furthering the various initiatives that include or impact Establish a collaborative role for the Association to participate in legislative advocacy regarding issues of interest to the University. Encourage alumni to contact the University Career Center for student mentoring/internships/job placement and opportunities. Encourage alumni to participate in activities within the academic schools. Encourage alumni to actively contribute to the University annual giving program. Support capital campaigns and regional campaign events. Encourage 100% Board giving to the annual fund, scholarship funds or other giving opportunities. 4. Foster a dynamic and diverse Alumni Association Board of Directors. Encourage nominations and recruit Board members that will encourage the Board is demographically diverse. Continue to enhance strategies that will ensure Board member success, including active retention efforts and a thorough orientation program. Continue to enforce the Board s bylaws, attendance policy, conflict of interest policy and confidentiality policy to ensure optimum Board function. Promote communication and collaboration between the Board and the alumni chapters/clubs. Establish policies to create Board positions for a member of the Foundation Board and a member of the current student body. Work 4

5 collectively to place a member of the Alumni Association Board on the Foundation Board. Work to further enhance interaction between the Board of Governors, Foundation Board and Alumni Board. 5. Support the activities of the Office of Advancement, particularly those of the Office of Alumni Relations. Continue to strengthen our distinctive brand, logo and tagline in alumni communications, publications and marketing. Advocate for increased staffing within the Office of Alumni Relations to allow for greater allocation of time and resources to chapter development, alumni communications and alumni activities. Assist the Office of Alumni Relations staff in event planning, event staffing, chapter communications, record keeping and other activities to the greatest extent possible. III. Measures of Success The following metrics will allow the Board to measure the success of the goals and strategies presented in this Strategic Plan. 1. Continually monitor chapter activities and operations, focusing on chapters needing assistance, and considering the following indicators: Honor Chapter Status Attendance at Leadership Conference Procedural Policies Membership Goals 2. Utilize the results of the University s assessment/testing survey of 5- and 10- year alumni in the development of alumni programs. 3. Gather annual feedback from the Administration, Board of Governors, Foundation Board and other affinity organizations to measure the engagement of the Association with these stakeholders. 4. Conduct an annual appraisal of Homecoming events to ensure a positive experience for attendees, with input from University leadership. 5. Conduct a regular review of alumni programming. 5