The Alma Ambassador® Student Referral Program is a trend-setting engagement initiative led by Alma College’s Advancement and Admissions Offices. The program supports the institution’s top priority–boosting student enrollment. The Referral Program is a signature element of the award-winning Alma Ambassador Program®, a comprehensive effort to organize, support, and promote all types of volunteer service to the college and its community. In 2017, referred students comprised 60% of the entering class, and in 2018 they comprised 56% of the entering class. In just two years, the Alma Ambassador Program® grew into the largest constituent engagement program among U.S. liberal arts institutions. Peer institutions now regularly request the assistance of Alma College leaders in establishing similar student referral programs.
From the Judges
The judges were impressed with Alma College's ability to unite many departments that don't always work together, from admissions to alumni to development. This wide-sweeping collaboration has made institutional impact on the university, and many other private universities seem to be replicating it already! While public universities would be unable to offer the same incentives due to state and federal guidelines, the sentiment of working cross-campus to solve a problem is strong and the judges believed that many other private universities could learn from this model.
