Brandeis Alumni, Family and Friends

Introduction

Alumni Board Group Photo - Alumni Board Meeting Fall 2019
Alumni Board members and Institutional Advancement staff outside of Skyline Residence Hall at the Fall 2019 Alumni Board Meeting.

As Brandeis has taken on a process of renewal through the Framework for the Future, alumni are uniquely positioned to support this effort and contribute to the success of Brandeis. A recent institutional survey of alumni sentiment revealed that a majority of alumni are not fully engaged with Brandeis, yet a majority actually want to become more engaged. Brandeis needs to call on its alumni to provide a bridge between the dynamic campus community and a world in need of the strong values and leadership fostered at Brandeis.

Recognizing the strengths within the alumni population and the need for greater engagement on behalf of Brandeis, the Alumni Association and the Alumni Relations Office undertook this strategic planning process to focus the efforts of the alumni in alignment with the Framework and on behalf of Brandeis for the next three years.

The alumni engagement strategic plan is a unified effort of the Brandeis Alumni Association, the Alumni Relations Office and Brandeis campus partners. The dual purpose of the plan is to showcase the lifelong value of a Brandeis education and to bolster opportunities to give back in meaningful ways, including volunteering, providing expertise and making philanthropic contributions.

The Alumni Association and the Alumni Relations Office are co-owners of this plan, which is designed to impact many areas that are crucial to supporting the institution, and to align with the priorities of the Framework for the Future. This plan is a guide and a framework that builds upon the depth and complexities of the multitude of engagement opportunities for and by the Brandeis Alumni Association inclusive of the on-campus team, alumni and friends. It focuses on new initiatives and improvements to some existing programs, while also enabling the continuation of successful programs such as Alumni Weekend and educational travel. In order to succeed, the plan relies heavily on campus partnerships, coordinated communications, measurement of impact and appropriate technology.

The strategic planning process took place over the course of four months, and intentionally solicited input from alumni, friends and many departments on campus, led by the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the Alumni Relations Office, under the auspices of Institutional Advancement and the President’s Office. The plan was formally adopted by the Alumni Association Board of Directors and approved by the senior vice president for Institutional Advancement, the Board of Trustees’ Institutional Advancement Committee and the president in January 2020.

The strategic plan officially launched on July 1, 2020. The plan will serve as a guide to benchmark progress on a quarterly basis for the next three years with the expectation that there may be amendments to the plan based on new ideas and changing circumstances.