Alumni.
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Alumni. Connecting.
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Events. Calendar.
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Graduate. Alumni. Test.
Reason. Alumni. Alma Mater.
Right Classmates. Left.
Facebook. Classmates. Left.
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CASE Online Speaker Series December 9, 2010 100 College Alumni Web Pages Staying Connected Brenda Foster, Partner, GCF Katie Pugh, Senior Account Manager, GCF
GCF Research Ten years of surveying 100 college sites for trends and presenting findings 2010 asked, What s working, what s not, and how can alumni sites be improved?
The Participants High school seniors: 19 1 5 years out of college: 23 6 10 years out of college: 20 11 20 years out of college: 17 21+ years out of college: 21
The Participants
The Process Participants were given an alumni website to review. Most participants filled out one survey, a few filled out two. They were asked to complete the survey online. Once all 100 institutions were reviewed the data was collected, organized, and analyzed.
The Survey Online survey Consisted of five sections Landing Section Marketing Design Navigation Technology Total questions: 24
The Institutions
The Institutions Agnes Scott College Allegheny College Amherst College Bellarmine University Bethany College Bloomsburg University Brigham Young University Brown University Bryant University Bucknell University Carnegie Mellon University Champlain College Christian Brothers University Clemson University Coe College College of Charleston College of the Holy Cross College of William and Mary Concordia University Texas Cornell University Dakota State University DePauw University Dickinson University Drexel University Duke University Elizabethtown College Emory University Fairfield University Fordham University Gettysburg College Gonzaga University Goucher College Hendrix College High Point University Hofstra University Howard University Immaculata University Ithaca College
James Madison University King s College Lawrence University Louisiana College Loyola University Maryland Macalester College Missouri University of Science and Technology Montana Tech of the University of Montana Mount Holyoke College New Jersey s Science & Technology University Northwestern University Occidental College Oral Roberts University Pennsylvania State University Pepperdine University Pitzer College Quinnipiac University Rosemont College Rutgers University Salisbury University San Diego State University San Francisco State University St. Bonaventure University St. Olaf College SUNY Maritime College SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry Sweet Briar College Texas Christian University The George Washington University The University of Tennessee at Martin The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Transylvania University Tri-State University Tulane University University at Buffalo
University of Albany University of Dallas University of Georgia University of Iowa University of Kentucky University of Maine Farmington University of Mary Hardin Baylor University of Miami University of Northern Iowa University of Notre Dame University of Oregon University of Puget Sound University of Richmond University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of Tulsa Valparaiso University Villanova University Wagner College Warner Pacific College Washington and Jefferson College Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Western Washington University Westminster College Wofford College Xavier University of Louisiana
The Results
Landing Section
Landing Section 63% 91% 80% 73% 62% 74% 100% 85% 94% 95% 63% 96% 90% 100% 90%
Landing Section Winners Agnes Scott College Amherst College Bellarmine University Bethany College Bloomsburg University Bryant University Carnegie Mellon University Champlain College Charleston Alumni Association College of the Holy Cross College of William and Mary Concordia University Texas DePauw University Dickinson College Duke University Emory University Fordham University Goucher College Hendrix College High Point University Immaculata University Ithaca College James Madison University King s College Lawrence University Louisiana College Mount Holyoke College Northwestern University Oral Roberts University Pennsylvania State University Pepperdine University Pitzer College Quinnipiac University Rosemont College Rutgers University San Diego State University San Francisco State University SUNY Maritime College
SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry Texas Christian University The University of Tennessee at Martin The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Transylvania University Tri-State University Tulane University University at Buffalo University of Albany University of Baltimore University of Georgia University of Iowa University of Kentucky University of Maine Farmington University of Mary Hardin Baylor University of Northern Iowa University of Notre Dame University of Puget Sound University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of Tulsa Villanova University Washington and Jefferson College Washington University in St. Louis Western Washington University
Marketing
Marketing 79% 100% 90% 82% 81% 79% 100% 90% 88% 71% 79% 100% 95% 100% 95% 79% 100% 95% 88% 90% 32% 70% 45% 59% 62% 68% 100% 85% 100% 86%
Marketing Winners Allegheny College Amherst College Bellarmine University Brown University Bryant University Carnegie Mellon University Champlain College College of the Holy Cross Cornell University DePauw University Duke University Emory University Goucher College Hendrix College High Point University James Madison University Louisiana College Macalester College Mount Holyoke College Oral Roberts University Pepperdine University Pitzer College Quinnipiac University Rutgers St. Bonaventure SUNY Maritime College SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry The George Washington University The University of Tennessee at Martin The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania University at Buffalo University of Baltimore University of Dallas University of Georgia
University of Mary Hardin Baylor University of Miami University of Puget Sound University of Richmond University of South Carolina University of Tulsa Villanova University Washington and Jefferson College Xavier University of Louisiana
Design
Design 63% 91% 75% 94% 86% 63% 74% 70% 88% 52% 42% 78% 55% 71% 29% 47% 78% 75% 76% 38%
Design Winners Bellarmine University Bethany College Brown University Bryant University Champlain College Coe College Concordia University Texas Cornell University DePauw University Dickinson College Duke University Fordham University Goucher College High Point University Howard University Immaculata University Louisiana College Loyola University Maryland Missouri University of Science and Technology Mount Holyoke College Northwestern University Pepperdine University Pitzer College Rosemont College San Francisco State University SUNY Maritime College Texas Christian University The University of Tennessee at Martin The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania University at Buffalo University of Baltimore University of Georgia University of Maine Farmington University of Mary Hardin Baylor
University of Puget Sound University of Richmond University of South Carolina University of Southern California University of Tulsa Villanova University Westminster College Xavier University of Louisiana
Navigation
Navigation 63% 100% 90% 100% 90% 68% 100% 90% 88% 86% 53% 100% 85% 100% 76% 68% 100% 90% 88% 81%
Navigation Winners Bellarmine University Bethany College Bloomsburg University Brigham Young University Brown University Bucknell University Carnegie Mellon Champlain College Christian Brothers University College of Charleston Concordia University Texas Cornell University DePauw University Dickinson College Duke University Emory University Fairfield University Gonzaga University Goucher College High Point University Howard University Immaculata James Madison University King s College Lawrence University Louisiana College Mount Holyoke College Northwestern University Pitzer College Quinnipiac University Rutgers University San Diego State University San Francisco State University St. Bonaventure University St. Olaf College SUNY Maritime College The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Transylvania University Tri-State University University at Buffalo University of Albany
University of Baltimore University of Dallas University of Georgia University of Northern Iowa University of Oregon University of Puget Sound University of South Carolina University of Tulsa University of Miami Villanova University Wagner College Warner Pacific College Westminster College Wofford College Xavier University of Louisiana
Technology
Technology 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 63% 91% 64% 41% 52% 63% 87% 80% 76% 81%
Technology Winners Agnes Scott College Allegheny College Bloomsburg University Brown University Bryant University Bucknell University Christian Brothers University Coe College College of Charleston Concordia University Texas Cornell University DePauw University Dickinson College Duke University Elizabethtown College Fordham University Gettysburg College Goucher College Hendrix College High Point University Howard University Immaculata Ithaca College James Madison University King s College Lawrence University Louisiana College Macalester College Mount Holyoke College New Jersey s Science & Technology University Northwestern University Occidental College Oral Roberts University Pepperdine University Alumni Pitzer College Rosemont College Rutgers University San Diego State University San Francisco State University St. Bonaventure University
St. Olaf College SUNY Maritime College Sweet Briar College Tri-State University Tulane University University at Buffalo University of Baltimore University of Dallas University of Georgia University of Maine Farmington University of Mary Hardin Baylor University of Notre Dame University of Puget Sound University of Tulsa Villanova University Warner Pacific College Washington and Jefferson College Westminster College Wofford College
Quantitative Top Ten Bryant University Carnegie Mellon University Clemson University Cornell University Drexel University Goucher College High Point University Louisiana College Montana Tech of the University of Montana Mount Holyoke College
Interview with Robin Torbron Warde Director of Alumni Relations; Bryant University Reviewed other websites and determined which ones we liked best. Created our site using the template university relations provided to us. Navigation is not final must be approved by the university committee.
Committee of experts on the alumni council make the site a priority. Desire to improve metrics how do alumni use the site? A bit text heavy but a lot of information to communicate. Reconnected with an alumnus from Saudi Arabia trying to find his transcript through FAQs. Alumni want to know how to find events in their area.
Advice: Think of it always as a work in progress. The most important element of the site is the ability to engage alumni.
Interview with Timothy Seidel Assistant Director, e-services; Carnegie Mellon University Benchmarked peer institutions. Focus groups of alumni reviewed the site before launch. Alumni want homecoming and Spring Carnival information, as well as the directory.
Desire the site to automatically show activities and classmates in the region. Quick links at the bottom of the page.
Advice: Talk to your alumni before changing the site. Keep navigation simple.
Interview with Cindy Golos Project Manager and Portfolio Liaison; Cornell University Contact Us web form provided years of questions and comments that we used as a guide for the new site. Conducted alumni survey overwhelming response. Alumni want specific information based on their region: events, activities, organizations, and student experiences.
Reunion microsite includes itinerary builder and allows users to sort events by interest. 50% of our visitors used the tool. Showed top five most popular events. Cornell Anywhere is a comprehensive search tool, took a huge commitment of time, but has a great positive impact. Work with campus community to help buy-in, and to keep site up to date. Director of social media programs experiments and increases traffic.
Advice: Observe visitor behavior on your site, keep metrics. Don t be afraid to experiment. Sites should be fluid and continually updated.
Interview with Cristina A. Geso Associate VP Office of Alumni Relations; Drexel University Non-scientific approach asking alumni about their needs. Some focus groups and young alumni association. Most visited pages are events and career services.
Constant improvement: adding links to YouTube, more ways for alumni to share stories and photos, mobile version.
Advice: Talk to alumni, often. Keep it simple and focused on why alumni visit.
Interview with Jill Thompson Director of Alumni Relations; High Point University New to High Point (two months); helped create University of Dayton Alumni site. Products from Harris Connect, Blackbaud NetCommunity, and now imodules InCompass make it easy for small offices to create and manage a site.
University of Dayton: Guidelines from the university office helped integrate the look. IT team heavily involved. Spent a lot of time with pencil and paper designing and redesigning. Instead of being just an alumni community, sites provide more information about events and people.
Some institutions questioning the need for an alumni site since social media sites are so popular. Most visited area of the site depends on the time of the year: Fall chapters and groups, visitors look for athletic events. Spring reunion pages and alumni directory.
Advice: Understand how your alumni use the site. The use of RSS feeds from the main page is a great time saver. Build a site that meets your specific alumni needs.
Interview with Leanna James Blackwell Senior Director of Programming; Mount Holyoke College Team members: Karen Griffin, Senior Director of Information and Technology; Jill Stern, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications; Ed Gray, Technology Support Specialist; J. Johnson, Web/Print Designer and Production Manager; and Katherine Kat Reisbig, Data/Web Coordinator.
Alumni association is independent from the college. Site is 5 or 6 years old, tweaking ever since. Google Analytics show that visitors use site to find alumni, review reunion information, visit class notes, connect to the monthly newsletter, and read quarterly magazine.
Advice: Gather facts before designing. Get outside opinions. It only takes 10 or 15 alumni to help. Trust your instincts and your site stats. You know how your customers are going to use your site. We learned that aesthetics were a priority but navigation is critical.
Use a long beta phase and test feedback. Keep re-evaluating the site. We meet once a week to discuss. Take pages down that people don t use. Have a clear focus on what your site should do and the best way it can serve your alumni.
GCF Top Five Amherst College Art Institute of Boston Kendall College of Art and Design Stanford University Swarthmore College
The Clunk List Logo confusion or Nascar effect Outdated news and events Confusing navigation Hidden calls to action Death by scroll Lack of personalization
The Clunk List Poor design and color scheme Launching and leaving Donation focus Trying to be Facebook Pages that lack a central focus
The Click List Let them contact each other Alumni information based on location Try something different, but don t go overboard Take down pages not being visited Watch the analytics regularly, and adjust Professional images Alumni profiles Accurate events calendar
The Click List Easy navigation Attractive color scheme Legible font Links to social networks Asking for feedback Continually updating Talk to and listen to your alumni and their needs Class Notes are always popular...be sure to feature them prominently
Cool Ideas Video Grid: Oxford University Star search Tickets and shopping A year in the life: Loyola University Memory lane Helping hands Build your own itinerary
Cool Ideas What s the hubbub? Tufts University As a matter of fact Hover craft: Amherst College Photo sharing Find alumni groups Alumni websites
Conclusion Be aware of design your audience is. Use the popularity of social networks to your advantage. (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.) Keep your calendars and news updated. Easy and clean navigation. Personalize. Make sure links are working and appropriate. Be sure photography is strong interesting crops can make dull photos sing, or not!
Conclusion Majority of the quantitative top ten came from the institutions reviewed by the 1-5 years out. They are still very connected to the college experience. Ask yourself what is the value of the alumni to the institution on a scale of 1-10? What is the value of the alumni website to the institution on a scale of 1-10? Conduct focus groups, test your site, review your analytics, and use that data to make your site better. Listen to your alumni needs; the site is for them, not you.
Questions?
Thank you! Brenda Foster: Brenda@GCFonline.com Katie Pugh: Katie@GCFonline.com 410.467.4672 www.gcfonline.com