MISSION GOALS. Develop a plan to deliver an Alumni Center that East Carolina University and her Alumni deserve.

Transcription

1 Strategic Plan

2 MISSION The East Carolina Alumni Association informs, involves, and serves members of the ECU family throughout their lifelong relationship with the University. GOALS Position the Alumni Association as the primary link to the Pirate Nation by offering programs, services, and communications that are relevant to our alumni and the University. Build relationships with students by supporting their ECU experience and introducing them to opportunities for life long involvement with ECU. Develop a plan to deliver an Alumni Center that East Carolina University and her Alumni deserve. Continue to strengthen our financial position through membership and partnerships with an eye towards self sufficiency. Build awareness of the Alumni Association brand.

3 Position the Alumni Association as the primary link to the Pirate Nation by offering programs, services, and communications that are relevant to our alumni and the University. Utilize East magazine to promote programs and services of the Alumni Association. Provide content for the Pirate Nation section in each issue of East. Coordinate the advertising inventory for each issue of East. Provide an Alumni Association advertisement for each issue of East. Produce EC Alumni magazine. Produce 4 quarterly issues delivered on or around March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15. Feature a minimum of 3 alumni in each issue. Partner with The Career Center to provide career-related advice in the Career Corner column. Partner with the Chancellor s Office to provide content that encourages alumni to support the University s legislative initiatives. Publish content from each school and college in two issues each year. Convert publication to digital format so it can be distributed via . Secure advertising that provides revenue streams to help offset the cost of the publication. Maintain an online community for alumni to connect with one another. Update online alumni database every 2 weeks. Work with vendor to maintain online community. Assist alumni with registration process. Approve photo and content submissions. Produce PiratePulse e-newsletter. Design and deliver 12 issues of PiratePulse each year, delivered on the 1st day of each month. Feature an alumnus in each issue in the Alumni Spotlight section. Feature an Alumni Association volunteer in each issue in the Volunteer Spotlight section. Maintain a relationship with the local media that insures appropriate media coverage of our programs and events. Alert the media about the ECU Alumni Scholarship Golf Classic and its impact on ECU students. Alert the media about the Pirate Alumni Road Race and Fun Run and its impact on ECU students. Alert the media about the Pirate s Bounty Scholarship Auction its impact on ECU students Send press releases announcing the Alumni Awards recipients. Provide local media with details surrounding Homecoming. Coordinate television and radio appearances that promote various alumni events. Utilize community calendars to promote events. Connect with constituents through the use of online social networks. Publish Alumni Association news and upcoming events to Twitter. Publish Alumni Association news and upcoming events to Facebook Profile Page and Fan Page. Utilize Flickr to display photos on PirateAlumni.com. Utilize YouTube to share video content related to alumni programs and services. Connect constituents through LinkedIn. Share information about alumni programs and services through all available communication channels including, but not limited to, direct mail and . Post information to social networking sites. As budgets allow, design and print invitations to alumni events. Send initial and reminder s to invite constituents to events. Utilize local media to promote alumni programs and services.

4 Research the needs and wants of our alumni so that we are planning events and providing services that they need and want us to provide. Send yearly regional program surveys to alumni in the 55 plus regional areas, have an active regional contact in each of the 55 plus regions, host at least 75 regional programs a year. Enhance our networking and continuing education regional programs. Use survey results to identify key regions for Networking Breakfasts and Alumni Panels. Communicate with regional chambers of commerce, find interesting venues for regional programs to attract more alumni to attend. Acquire corporate sponsors to increase program offerings and enhance networking and continuing education regional programs. Plan at least 2 per year. Spread the message of the University by hosting regional events that are attended by highly elected officials and University Administration. Work with University Advancement and Campus leaders to develop ideas and identify locations for regional events. Work closely with MGOs and Regional contacts to develop topics and programs that are informative and interesting to alumni. Host 4 VIP regional events (Chancellor s Tours, Deans on Deck, or substitute programs) in 2010, return to those cities and host additional 2 VIP regional events in new regions in Continue this growth through Highlight successful and accomplished alumni with interactive programs. Explore new Industry Inside Out, Published Pirates and VIP Weekend options, use campus resources to help determine some of these alumni and locations. Offer 1-2 VIP weekends annually and 2-4 Industry Inside Out and/or Published Pirates events per calendar year consistently through Explore new ways to engage alumni and volunteers by promoting participation with participating in service projects. Research other schools service programs, staff attend service projects, staff plan the first service project in an active regional area, involve University representatives appearances including: PeeDee, ECU cheerleaders, ECU athletes, and student organization leaders at alumni service projects. Develop a service project planning manual that also includes Pirate goodies to distribute to attendees. Host 11 service projects in 2010, host 14 service projects in 2011, host 17 service projects in 2012, host 19 service projects in 2013, host 22 service projects in 2014, and host 25 service projects in Continue planning regional events that allow opportunities for socializing amongst Pirate Alumni and supporters within those regions. Meet the need for alumni fellowship in regions across the Pirate Nation by offering activities that build affinity to the university and the Alumni Association. Broaden our events to include more group outings, family-friendly events. Host at least 1 event in each active region at least once a year. Enhance our career programs. Continue a working relationship with the ECU Career Center and ECU Human Resources to present 9 Pirate Career Calls a year. Participate in local and regional career fairs. Provide proper training, support, and leadership to Regional Contacts. Provide training videos, conduct quarterly conference calls and provide guidance by attending regional events planned by the regional contacts and volunteer guide. Create avenues to recognize and thank Alumni volunteers. Add a regional contact award to the Awards Ceremony and send a thank you letter and gift to regional contacts once a year. Incorporate continuing education/professional development programs into Reunions and Homecoming events to offer a comprehensive schedule of activities to our diverse constituency. Meet with colleges and departments to see how they would like to participate in our classroom experiences. Offer Classroom Experiences at Homecoming that highlight 4 of the University s Colleges with the goal of highlighting each College through a classroom Experience at least once by Invite at least 3 campus leaders per year to participate in alumni homecoming activities such as the Homecoming Luncheon, Classroom Experiences and campus bus/walking tours as key note speakers and guests tour guides.

5 Research opportunities to host affinity and class reunions. Meet with campus organizations about the possibility of an affinity reunion, explore their interests, work with these organizations to improve databases and increase alumni involvement by effectively communicating with potential participants. Plan to hold at least 8 affinity reunions each year. Provide appropriate activities for those classes and affinity groups celebrating their reunions. Form committees for each reunion, send surveys to potential participants, increase alumni involvement by providing unique activities specific to the affinity group. Plan to include at least 2 other activities in the reunion weekend. Examples: campus tours, athletic games, classroom experiences, etc. Continue to explore ways on how we can better serve our diverse alumni with special emphasis on our affinity chapters and minority groups. Try different techniques to engage these groups to become more involved, continuously develop and improve the alumni data for these organizations, participate in all of the Black Alumni Chapter, ECU Club, GLBT, and ROTC alumni meetings/events, plan a spring MAIN Event for minority groups each year. Annually sponsor our Scholarship Golf Tournament to support ECU student scholarships. Enhance participation by using additional marketing tools to attract people to the event and inspire attendees to give a donation. Have the student scholar(s) attend the scholarship events. Acquire more sponsors and raise at least $23,000 annually. Annually sponsor our Pirate s Bounty Scholarship Auction to support ECU student scholarships. Enhance participation by using additional marketing tools to attract people to the event and inspire attendees to give a donation. Have the student scholar(s) attend the scholarship events. Acquire more sponsors and raise at least $12,000 annually. Annually sponsor our Pirate Alumni Road Race and Fun Run to support ECU student scholarships. Enhance participation by using additional marketing tools to attract people to the event and inspire attendees to give a donation. Have the student scholar(s) attend the scholarship events. Acquire more sponsors and raise at least $9,000 annually. Annually sponsor our regional scholarship fundraising programs. Enhance participation by using additional marketing tools to attract people to the event and inspire attendees to give a donation. Have the student scholar(s) attend the scholarship events. Acquire more sponsors and raise at least $1,000 annually. Continue to develop our Alumni Tailgate into a central gathering place for all Pirate alumni. Acquire more sponsors (Strive to acquire 2 food sponsors in addition to Aramark per home tailgate), add more games/activities and ensure the appearance of PeeDee and ECU Cheerleaders at every tailgate. Net at least $20,000 per year in profit. Recognize the achievements and accomplishments of our alumni nationwide. Seek sponsorships for the Awards Ceremony. Continue with 1 event sponsor annually. Acquire 5 table sponsors in 2010, 6 table sponsors in 2011, 7 table sponsors in 2012, 8 table sponsors in 2013, 9 table sponsors in 2014, and 10 table sponsors in Continue to promote the Awards Program to the University and the ECU community to increase nominations with the goal of receiving more than 25 new nominations for the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2015, more than 10 new nominations for the Distinguished Service Award in 2015 and more than 6 new nominations for the Honorary Alumni Award in Enhance recent graduate programs and experiences with the purpose of assisting alumni in making a smooth transition from student to graduate, inform alumni about the services that the Alumni Association offers, and keep alumni involved with their alma mater. Offer recent graduate events like Welcome to the City (fall and spring event), Grad Expo, GOLD Networking events and Real Life 101. Form a GOLD Counsel to advise staff on events to plan for these constituents. Form a Mentor program between board members and recent graduates. Encourage sign up for alumni .

6 Build relationships with students by supporting their ECU experience and introducing them to opportunities for life long involvement with ECU. Educate students about the life member pledge program. Mail information to admitted students who have paid their deposit. Discuss the program at Freshmen Sendoffs. Collaborate with and provide leadership to the campus-wide Homecoming committee. Continue to serve on the committee. Enhance the series of senior events with the dual purpose of educating seniors about the Alumni Association Form a senior committee, partner with campus departments by speaking at Capstone Courses, send out surveys and host a Senior Week that includes events like Senior Salute Dinner, Candlelight Ceremony, Welcome to the City, Farewell Feast, Real Life 101 and a Service project. Engage at least 100 seniors in these events. Conduct events to involve students with the East Carolina Alumni Association. Develop Freshmen Sendoffs program from 9 regional events to 12. Plan a yearly legacy event. Plan student membership events. Provide internship opportunities (1-2 per semester). Provide leadership to the ECU Student Ambassadors. Continue to meet with the group regularly and assist the executive committee in setting and achieving their goals. Goals include continuing to grow and retain membership in the group, cultivate campus awareness and host annual events such as the Special Populations Prom and T-Shirt Swap. Provide leadership to the Magnolia Belles. Continue to meet with the group regularly and assist the executive committee in setting and achieving their goals which include presenting a concert to the campus community each spring beginning in 2010, becoming more well known amongst the ECU students population, and producing an album annually by the year Recognize the accomplishments and enhance the student experience by awarding scholarships and awards (Robert H. Wright). Raise awareness of the new scholarship allotment, increase the pool of applicants, and create an online application process. Market the scholarship program through , print and online presence. Increase the number of scholarship recipients from 19 to 24 by Develop a plan to deliver an Alumni Center that East Carolina University and her alumni deserve. Conduct a feasibility study to determine space needs and potential cost of new Alumni Center. Work with Campus Master Planning Committee to identify a location for the Alumni Center. Develop a fundraising strategy that yields the private dollars needed to fund the Alumni Center project.

7 Position the Alumni Center as an indispensable tool for engagement. Support the university s priorities through Alumni Center. Create a marketing plan directed toward faculty and staff. Showcase university and alumni achievements. Provide a quality destination for events. Establish the Alumni Center as a key venue to advance the campus experience. Continue to strengthen our financial position through membership and partnerships with an eye towards self sufficiency. Produce appeals that engage alumni and attract them to become members. Send a total of 170,000 membership appeals per year. Ensure that every constituent receives a membership appeal each year. Send a minimum of three e-appeals each year. Communicate with members in a way that encourages them to renew. Send new members a welcome by the 15th of the month after they join. Include members in EC Alumni and annual report mailing lists. Invite members to events in their area. Maintain corporate partnership program that generates revenue to support programs and communications of the Alumni Association. Increase the revenues from, and enhance the relationships with, corporate and affinity partners. Investigate new relationships with corporate and affinity partners. Create a plan to strengthen and grow relationships with university and community units based on the priorities of the strategic plan. Evaluate membership processes in search of enhanced efficiencies. Annually evaluate costs related to renewal process. Annually evaluate costs related to the appeal process. Annually evaluate costs related to the membership fulfillment process. Acquire more sponsorships. Increase the number of sponsors for our yearly marquee events. Explore new ways to incorporate sponsorships with the goal of having a total of 4 fundraising events in Greenville per year by Identify businesses in active regions to sponsor regional events. Develop a consistent sponsorship package that helps us acquire more sponsors, use our time more wisely, and be more efficient when serving our sponsors. Put together a packet that is consistent of the ways that business and individuals can sponsor one of our events. The packet should include several levels of sponsorships per program. Increase the number of participants at events. Use more aggressive marketing, get regional contacts more involved. Ensure that the Alumni Association uses best financial practices and keeps up with industry standards. Maintain financial controls to ensure efficient and safe practices. Continue to conduct an annual audit of financial records. Work with staff to keep all background and compliance forms on file and up-to-date.

8 Continue to build the membership program. Pursue/maintain corporate sponsorships. Review and reevaluate the Alumni Association s investment strategy. Build awareness of the Alumni Association brand. Maintain a Web presence that delivers our messages and is seen by alumni as the main link to East Carolina. Post every alumni event to the Events Calendar. Podcast Pirate Career Calls and episodes of A Pirate s Life for Me!. Display Twitter feed updates that contain the latest alumni and University news on the homepage. Post event photos. Provide constituents the opportunity to join the Alumni Association online. lifetime accounts. Maintain archives of Alumni Association publications. When appropriate, provide online registration for alumni events. Re-design PirateAlumni.com. Publish an Annual Report. Produce content and design. Produce video content to augment the content covered in the report. Convert publication to digital format so it can be distributed via . Host A Pirate s Life for Me! radio show. Feature a minimum of 25 alumni each year. Podcast each episode. Produce audio and video products that promote the programs and services of the Alumni Association. Produce a video to highlight scholarship recipients each year. Produce a video each year for the Alumni Awards Ceremony that highlights what the Alumni Association is all about. Produce radio commercials to be aired on Pirate Radio 1250 and 930. Produce a television commercial promoting the Pirate Alumni Road Race and Fun Run to be aired on WITN. Produce a television commercial promoting the ECU Alumni Scholarship Classic to be aired on WITN. Produce an Alumni Association membership commercial to be aired on WITN.