COLUMBIA CONNECTIONS CONTINUED [ 2 OF 3 ]

Where to begin

It seemed to us, based on extensive interviews with professionals at peer institutions, that the greatest challenge we face is with young alumni (up to 10 years out), because this group has the lowest participation at Columbia and at most other schools. We looked at this group broadly, included undergraduates who soon will be young alumni, and developed a series of programmatic initiatives that were introduced this past year.

Current Students (Student/Alumni Programs)

Columbia Connections was the impetus for the creation of a new unit in the Office of Student Affairs (Student/Alumni Programs) to enhance opportunities for current students and alumni to interact. Students not only will benefit, but also, we believe, will understand that their connection to the College is not simply their undergraduate years, but one that is life long. Working together, Alumni Affairs and Student Affairs have created several programs to implement this objective.

Incoming students from California pose with visiting College deans in June. PHOTO: KEN CATANDELLA

Advising sessions have been held for newly admitted students in Atlanta, Washington, D.C.,Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as in Singapore and Hong Kong. Students met with a dean to discuss their programs and a welcoming reception, which included their parents, followed. Each newly admitted student was presented a copy of the Iliad, a gift from the Alumni Association and bestowed by its president. All other incoming students also were sent a copy of the book from the president of the association.

At orientation, the Alumni Association president welcomes new parents and the Columbia College Young Alumni president addresses and welcomes incoming students to the Columbia College community.

We also are developing class-appropriate programs to connect students with alumni for each of the four years of the undergraduate experience. This has required increasing cooperation and coordination among the Alumni Office, the Office of Student Affairs and the Center for Career Education. These interactions have included thank-a-thons by first-years to alumni donors, networking nights, social gatherings, mentoring opportunities, career guidance and the Dinner and Discussion series, as well as connections through the Living and Learning Center, which hosted a broadcast journalism series. The goal is to create a culture in which students begin to understand and appreciate the alumni network, learn how it can be helpful, and learn how, in years to come, they, in turn, can help undergraduates.

By senior year, the activities of the Student/Alumni initiative culminate in the Senior Class dinner and the Senior Fund drive. In April, 960 of approximately 1,000 College seniors attended the dinner on South Field, where a symbolic "hand-off" of the Class of 2002 occurred from the dean of students to the president of the Alumni Association.

Current students met with prospective students and their parents in Hong Kong in June to answer questions about the College. PHOTO: KEN CATANDELLA

The 2002 Senior Fund drive represented a dramatic shift in sentiment. Led by a committee of 25 enthusiastic captains, more than 52 percent of the senior class made a gift to the Senior Fund, up from 30 percent for the Class of 2001 and eight percent only three years ago. Equally important, the Senior Fund committee invited the junior class designees to a reception hosted by the Alumni Association, which inspired the Class of 2003 to set a goal of 60 percent participation.

The value of these programs can be heard in the voices of the students and participants.

• Dinner and Conversation with Richard Witten '75 on February 27, 2002:
  "The dinner/conversation came at a perfect time for me. I spent all last week in turmoil and frenzy about what I want to do after graduation . Mr. Witten is a prime example of how his major at Columbia, although it has nothing specifically to do with his present career, has given him the ability to function in different social settings and with problem solving. The two hours flew by, and I found myself wishing we had several hours to listen to Mr. Witten speak and to ask him more questions." - Erika Dunham '04

• Living and Learning Center Alumni Series:
  "The Larry Grossman ['52] event was the best attended event ever. We had more than 50 people, and he talked for more than an hour and a half. The students loved him, and it was a huge success.'' - Julie Beerntsen, residence life coordinator

• Alumni responses during First Year Thank-a-Thon on March 4, 2002:
  "Fantastic place (Columbia). This is the nicest call I've received in a long time." - Peter Broido '63
  "We've never received a thank-you call from (Columbia) and . we're delighted." - Richard Toder '62
  "No one has ever called to say thank you before. This is wonderful." - Francis Aquila '79

• Class of 2006 Academic Advising and Information Session in California, June 2002:
  "It was gratifying to see the humanity coupled with professionalism that was so evident during our time together. A number of students already noted it in e-mails that I have received; the response has been terrific . it speaks volumes about the true Columbia spirit. What was revealed to me was the beauty of cooperative work leading toward a desired goal." - Diane McKoy, associate director of admissions

• Class of 2002 Fund Committee:
  "I just wanted to express my gratitude for making it possible for me to attend [the Hamilton Dinner] last night. Low looked as lovely as I've seen it, I was genuinely moved by Dean Quigley's speech, and the evening as a whole made me feel palpably, as I've sensed for some time, that I am privileged to be a part of a great tradition at Columbia." - Ben Letzler '02
  "It is our hope that our senior gift has set us on a path of giving back to the College as alumni." - Ali Hirsh '02

• Reflections on the value of a Columbia education:
  "Drafting this letter has made me realize how fortunate I am to have been here at Columbia. All the opportunities over the past four years originate from the people, resources and ideas found here on Morningside Heights. And though graduation is simultaneously thrilling and scary - it's also a reminder of how lucky we Columbia College students are. Jeesh. It's overwhelming sometimes." - Charles Donohoe '02

• The Senior Class Dinner, April 29, 2002:
  "The senior dinner was awesome. Thank you so much for making my final student experience so memorable." - Ellen Gustafsen '02

Young Alumni

Dean Austin Quigley chats with members of the Class of 2002 at the Senior Dinner in April. PHOTO: TIMOTHY P. CROSS

It is easy to lose touch once you leave campus. Friends and would-be friends disappear into the workplace or graduate schools. It seemed to us that Columbia College could play a positive role in facilitating connections within this population, and in providing opportunities to meet Columbians from other age groups, through electronic innovation and social/career activities.

Our survey and interview research left no doubt that the creation of an effective electronic community needed to be our highest priority. This past year, we vastly upgraded the alumni Web site. In addition to viewing College events through online videos, our calendar of events permits online registration and payment for events such as Reunion or Homecoming. Our new monthly electronic newsletter, ccalumni@columbia.edu, keeps alumni up to date with recent news from the College.

Starlight Dancing on Low Plaza is an annual highlight of the expanding Reunion program. PHOTO: EILEEN BAROSO

This year, we are broadening the agenda. Beyond the e-mail forwarding offered by the University, we are developing an online network (currently being tested by selected classes) to which alums can voluntarily subscribe. An online directory that allows alumni to locate friends, volunteer as mentors or post information about themselves will be of great benefit to all alumni, but especially those from recent classes, whose members tend to be more mobile. The directory will allow each alum to publish his or her personal, business and family profile, list student interests and post a résumé. A Class Notes function will enable alumni to announce marriages, births, new job information or anything else of interest. Alumni will be able to network and connect with one another according to career interests, student activities, current interests or location. Also in the works are a bulletin board feature and online learning opportunities.

An ambitious expansion of networking activities has been implemented under the auspices of Columbia College Young Alumni. Opportunities to exchange personal information and career aspirations with peers and older alumni have been developed in a variety of fields, including finance, entertainment, education and not-for-profit administration.

Two years of increasingly encouraging attendance and enthusiasm at a post-Homecoming young alumni party has proven that the event should be continued. And the expansion of young alumni activities to San Francisco, Los Angeles and other cities also will be continued.

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