Alumni, soar! 7 academic research on alumni engagement to influence your practice
It’s KITE’s 7th anniversary – celebrate with alumni academic research!
Dear Friends,
Academic research is the backbone of our institutions. Despite this research prowess, alumni engagement is often discussed in three ways– even among academic staff and leadership:
As a personal experience: “I received an invitation to my alumni reunion and was excited/disappointed about...”
As a ‘hunch’: “I have a feeling alumni would come back to campus if we did...”
As a way to mimic good practice seen elsewhere: “At X university they had a Y successful alumni event – we should do the same here.” (this last one is called mimetic isomorphism)
This is a strange phenomenon. In so many other parts of the university, there is a reliance on data and research to inform work. Alumni engagement involves the human condition and behaviour. However, data and research can and should inform alumni engagement work.
In honour of the 7th birthday of KITE – Keep in Touch Education, our parent company driving The Alumni Way, I am sharing 7 of my favourite go-to academic-based research. In the past, colleagues reported to me that my own academic research was effectively used to communicate concepts about alumni engagement effectively to senior leadership and even helped to secure extra staff and resources. Time to dive in – some resources worth a read!
1.Fleming, K. (2019) ‘The “Pots of Water” Emerging Framework for Alumni Engagement: Examining How Alumni Make Sense of Their Relationships with their Alma Maters.’ Philanthropy & Education 3:1. Link
Why: Kevin explores how personal values link to alumni connectedness to their alma mater, conceptualized in a compelling visual you can use to track your/your institution’s alumni engagement. (bookmark this journal too!)
2. El-Awad, Z et al (2022). ‘Unpacking the early alumni engagement of entrepreneurship graduates.’ Journal of Small Business Management. Link (open access)
Why: An innovative alumni lens focused on entrepreneurship graduates with a framework of explorative, instrumental and emotional alumni engagement.
3. Freeland Fisher, J (2018) Who you Know: Unlocking Innovations that Expand Students’ Networks’ Jossey-Bass Link
Why: This is a book I cite every week. Her research on the power of social capital and networks (including students’ inherited networks) is powerful. An inspiring read.
4. Dillon, J. (2017) ‘Factors and Characteristics of Alumni Role Identity.’ EdD Dissertation, University of San Francisco. Link
Why: Jay offers a wealth of resources based on his alumni identity research starting from the disruptive premise: start alumni identity where they are today not their student identity.
5. McDearmon, J.T. (2013). ‘Hail to Thee, Our Alma Mater, Alumni Role Identity and the Relationship to Institutional Support Behaviors.’ Research in Higher Education. 54: 3 Link.
Why: This introduces alumni identity that inspired Jay’s work (and my work too). Travis situates alumni at the centre of the research, looking at their perception of why they support their alma mater after graduation.
6. Vanderlelie, J. (2019). ‘Engaging Alumni for Employability: Good Practice Guidelines.’ Department of Education – Australian Government. Link.
Why: Only want to read one resource? This is it! Jessica presents a practical guide outlining first alumni engagement domains (page 8) and the Engaging Alumni for Employability Framework (page 10) - this is alumni integrated in the university experience gold!
7. Gallo, M.L. (2013). ‘Higher education over a lifespan: a gown to grave assessment of a lifelong relationship between universities and their graduates.’ Studies in Higher Education. Link
Why: This is my own go-to article that still resonates a decade later – especially when I offered it in a visual format - what are the stages of alumni towards engagement? Check this out for insight!
Curious about alumni academic research book a Discovery Call with me! Proud of so many in this circle who completed Masters/Doctoral level academic studies in alumni relations - we need more of this!
Don’t forget the ICARe (International Conference on Alumni Relations) is June 13th and 14th in Prague is open for registration – an inspiring event including alumni research.
Happy reading! We are celebrating on the KITE side!
With cake and sprinkles,
Maria
Photo above:
As the proud founder of KITE, I had my launch on my local beach – here's my son flying a kite for the occasion!