In today’s rapidly evolving higher education landscape, understanding and effectively engaging young alumni has become more crucial than ever. To help others better understand this cohort, we looked at how over 100,000 young alumni (those who graduated in the last 10 years) responded to our surveys over the last five years. These alumni come from over 80 different universities and colleges throughout the United States. The following are some of the highlights from our findings. Over the next few months, join us as we take a deeper dive into what matters most for these young alumni and how engagement might be different for various cohorts of young alumni.
Post-Graduation Preparedness
Overall, young alumni feel less prepared for their lives after graduation than older alumni did when they graduated. This sentiment is particularly pronounced when it comes to securing employment after graduation and achieving success in their chosen careers. This highlights a need for institutions to enhance their career preparation and transition support services.
Networking and Career Development
There’s a 14% higher interest in networking opportunities among young alumni. While this doesn’t necessarily translate to higher attendance, it indicates a desire for awareness about these activities and their impact on fellow alumni and their alma mater. Institutions should focus on not just offering these opportunities, but also effectively communicating their value and outcomes.
The Digital-First Generation
Young alumni are significantly more inclined towards digital engagement. They show a strong preference for social media, videos, email, other visual content, as well as online alumni communities. Online resources hold greater importance for this group, compared to older alumni. This digital-first approach presents both challenges and opportunities for alumni relations offices.
Virtual Engagement: A Paradox
Interestingly, while young alumni report lower average participation in online events, they express considerable interest in virtual engagement opportunities. This paradox suggests that there’s untapped potential in virtual programming, but it needs to be tailored to meet the specific needs and interests of this cohort.
Campus Connections
Despite their digital preferences, young alumni maintain a strong interest in on-campus happenings. They are more closely connected student organizations and faculty than older alumni. Finding ways to sustain this connection for young alumni might be a good way to lead them into a life as an engaged alumnus/a. Keeping young alumni informed about these, especially through social media and email, is crucial for maintaining their connection to the institution.
Diversity and Inclusion: A Top Priority
Young alumni demonstrate a strong interest in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives on campus. Their interest in DEIB is 13% higher, compared to older alumni. Moreover, those who feel their alma mater is not adequately addressing these issues are less likely to be engaged. This underscores the importance of robust DEIB programs and transparent communication about these efforts.
Post-Pandemic Shift
Interestingly, while young alumni generally show less interest in athletic team success and school rankings compared to older alumni, there’s a notable shift in the Post-COVID Era. Alumni who graduated after the pandemic are 14% more likely to be interested in athletics and 10% more likely to be interested in school rankings, than those who graduated in the middle of the pandemic. This highlights the impact of the pandemic on alumni perspectives and the need for adaptive engagement strategies.
Philanthropy and Trust
Young alumni are significantly less likely to believe that their alma mater uses its donations wisely. This skepticism stems from a general feeling that the leadership is not truly committed to the vision and mission of the institution, and that their gifts will have little impact. Additionally, they are less likely to understand how giving furthers the institution’s mission. This underscores the need for greater transparency in fund allocation and more effective communication about the impact of alumni contributions.
By understanding these preferences and tailoring engagement strategies accordingly, institutions can build stronger, more meaningful relationships with their young alumni. This not only enhances the alumni experience, but it also contributes to the long-term success and vitality of the institution.
For more content about alumni engagement data trends, check out our blog Alumni Insights.