We’ve heard about the enrollment cliff and its likely impact on higher education. For her dissertation, Dr. Carrie Phillips researched how marketing strategies might help mitigate this cliff. This session shares findings from visiting with chief marketing officers about how they’re preparing. The session will begin with a high-level overview of the enrollment cliff followed by a deep dive into how marketing strategies might lessen the impact. You’ll hear about the challenges participants face, strategies they’re exploring and best practices to consider. As you’re looking to navigate change at your institution, this session is a great place to start.

This session will provide findings from survey results, provide tools to navigate conversations with dissenting opinions, and harness the power of honoring traditions and values of the past while forging a relevant and progressive future. Attendees will learn how to engage alumni and donors in a way that empowers them to join in the vision, and identify when to detach from donors who do not uphold the institution’s current mission and vision.

In the digital age, universities must consider how a thoughtful approach to social media content strategy can leave a lasting impact across all audiences and help to achieve your goals. In a unique session, co-hosted by the Texas State University Marketing Team and University President Kelly Damphousse, attendees will delve into the transformative role that social media plays in advancing a university's stature, amplifying key messages and goals while fostering a sense of community and engagement. President Damphousse and the TXST marketing team have individually found a sweet spot between social media content and community engagement while creating space for cross collaboration on content related to the university’s broader academic, fundraising, and community goals. Together, President Damphousse and TXST marketing have fostered digital communities that have driven unprecedented levels of engagement between the students, faculty/staff, alumni and community – all on social media. Learn valuable insights on how leadership can approach social media and build engaged communities online while implementing practical strategies for cross collaboration between leadership and your university’s accounts to harness the full potential of social media for your institution's growth, community engagement, and strategic advancement.

In this session, we will discuss the importance of CASE Insights on Alumni Engagement survey as well as techniques and best practices in gathering key data points in the four modes of Philanthropic, Volunteer, Experiential, and Communications engagement. Whether a small shop or large decentralized institution, we will explore how to successfully execute and utilize this key strategic initiative. Co-presenters Jenny Cooke-Smith and Chuck Arnold will present the latest findings from recent Alumni Engagement surveying activity as well as a deep dive into how to successfully (and efficiently!) complete the Alumni Engagement survey for your institution. Learn how measuring engagement really does drive your organizational outcomes and how your institution can take part in this important benchmarking project.

Launching a Giving Day is no small feat. Contrary to what the name implies this type of high energy campaign encompasses much more than a single day of philanthropy. This session will outline everything from recommended timelines and strategic messaging to key successes and areas of improvement from UNT's very first on campus day of giving. Join us as we walk through the key components of starting a giving day from initial idea to fruition.

In the Spring of 2023, the UTSA Alumni Association had an identity crisis. It was striving to engage Roadrunner Alumni, but its brand was bland. From inconsistent design application to fickle messaging, they lacked a true marketing strategy. It was time for a REBRAND.

In working with partner and brand agency, Parallel, find out how the UTSA Alumni Association made its brand come alive, implemented it throughout its programming, and garnered alumni buy-in while capturing the unique spirit of UTSA. Plus, get the inside scoop the process start to finish, the things that worked, those that didn't, and what you should consider before taking the "rebrand" plunge.

Challenged by Covid, leadership changes, and a changing university climate, the University of Louisiana Alumni Association clubs and chapters fell dormant, association financial support waned, and the staff was burned out and tired. This is the story of the Ragin' Cajun spirit rising better than ever before. Come hear the story behind the story - from strategic planning, staff realignment, new focus on clubs and chapters, and a reenergized, engaged board - you'll hear it all!

Legal concerns in advancement aren't just for planned giving anymore. Whatever you do in advancement – fundraising, alumni relations, communications, or advancement services – knowing how the law affects your work could make the difference between celebrating success and a costly lawsuit. Learn from a "recovering attorney" and advancement veteran about key principles and situations to consider, whether you're planning an event, managing a fundraising campaign, writing a press release, maintaining a database, or organizing a reunion. You'll hear about plenty of real-world examples, so bring your hardest questions and toughest challenges to this lively, engaging, and interactive session – no retainer required!

ChatGPT is the fastest-growing app in history. For many users, this is their first experience with generative AI — technology that is designed to create content. And it’s their first time encountering how AI will transform how we live, work, and fundraise. In this interactive workshop, we'll talk about the rise of AI, help everyone understand generative AI and large language models, and talk about data protection and privacy. We'll then spend time in an interactive prompt engineering workshop, showing how generative AI can increase efficiency, generate ideas, and become a part of your daily work.

Alumni and Donor Relations are rarely sitting at the same table, part of the same reporting lines, and often lack a cohesive approach to constituent engagement. Breaking down the barriers between these two teams is critical to moving alumni through attitudes to affinity to engagement to becoming current and future donors. Alumni and Donor Relations are two sides of the same coin. Join us for a candid conversation on how to bridge the gap between these two worlds through leveraging alumni surveying to meet everyone’s needs with special emphasis on events, communications, and special interest areas of our constituents. We will explore how these two teams can partner on annual engagement and interest surveys, event and experience surveys, to gauging overall satisfaction with your institution. We will dive into event strategy development and partnership, collaborative communication schedules, and ensuring all programs are designed to enhance the overall alumni and donor engagement experience. Designed to be both strategic and tactical in nature, this session delivers the partnership, surveying, and engagement deep dive you’ve been needing for your organization.