Elon University - NewCentury@Elon

National Alumni Executive Board
Discussion Summary – Sept. 16, 2005
"On Arriving, Deepening and Sustaining: Key Questions about Elon University's Future"

National Alumni Executive Board Question #1 – All groups – "If you visit Elon in 2020, what values and attributes of today's Elon would you want to have been preserved?

Most groups agreed they want to preserve Elon' beautiful campus, warm, friendly community (Southern hospitality, where everyone knows your name – you're not just a number) and strong academic programs that value close relationships between faculty and students. Other attributes mentioned included the following:

Manage the community regardless of the size of the student body
A "walkable" pedestrian campus
Strong study abroad, internship and volunteer programs
Diversity of the community
Greek system
A philosophy of "giving back"
Quality faculty members and love of learning
Good transportation system (shuttles, bikes)
Affordability
Small classes
A tradition of always looking to the future
Good reputation

National Alumni Executive Board Question #2 – All groups – "If you visit Elon in 2020, what would you hope to find that is not at Elon today?

Groups often mentioned improved athletics teams and stronger alumni participation in the life of the university as mentors and career advisers. Many other single items were brought up, including the following:

Deepen academic programs
Add Phi Beta Kappa chapter
More focus on Elon's history
Expanded study abroad program
More scholarships to increase diversity and for athletes
Greater emphasis on career services
More semester-long internships and study abroad opportunities
More foreign language courses
More flexibility for athletes to participate in academics and activities such as study abroad
Perhaps lengthen Elon 101 (Elon 202?)
More recognition in the immediate local area
Study abroad opportunities for alumni
Greater education about Elon's need for giving, with programs that involve students early in the process

Question #3 – All groups – How do we deepen the connection between alumni and the university?

National Alumni Executive Board Groups often mentioned more frequent alumni events, especially in areas distant from campus, and strong alumni chapters, including North Carolina chapters. They also supported involving alumni more often in speaking on campus and mentoring students. An alumni career day, perhaps during Winter Term, was seen as a good way to facilitate interaction between alumni and students. Alumni say there is a perception that Elon only contacts them for contributions, and that they would like to be personally contacted by faculty, staff and students for other things. Those occasional contacts would make them more likely to support the university. Here are some specific ideas brought up:

Elon officials giving frequent updates "on the road"
Assign a student intern to alumni chapters
Bring alums of every generation together
Encourage alumni attendance at sporting events on the road
Offer free courses (could be online), workshops and career services for alumni
Start early with students to teach them about Elon history, philanthropy and their role in supporting the university – perhaps a pre-alumni association
Get feedback from the junior class: What do they want as alumni?
Raise the profile of the National Alumni Executive Board – put a summary of their activities in the Magazine of Elon and on the Web site; have a table at Homecoming
Establish competition among organizations for the number of people attending Homecoming and contributing to the university
Encourage young alumni to join the Elon Society at a lower giving level
Encourage more alumni to mentor students
Give alumni the opportunity to sign up as mentors or guest speakers through the "Turn Yourself In" form in the Magazine of Elon
Produce a mailing telling alumni how they can get involved
Use alumni in admissions interviews in their communities
Promote stories of alumni success
Improve communication – quarterly e-mails or CD/DVD mailing
Continue Elon Ambassador program after graduation
Keep NAEB members involved after their terms have ended
Tap into Greek organizations
Elon 901 class for alumni
Get more alumni to sign up for "ThisWeek@Elon" newsletter

National Alumni Executive Board What should be the next level of quality for the Elon Experiences? Should we add another experience or deepen the existing ones?

Alumni were highly complimentary of the existing Elon Experiences. They suggested lengthening internships and semester-long study abroad opportunities, and also giving study abroad students more independence. They also support expansion of undergraduate research.

How can we build a culture of philanthropy in the Elon community? What are some compelling messages for growing the endowment?

Alumni support getting young alumni involved in giving through tiered levels for young alum members of the Elon Society. They also support educating the community about the size of Elon's endowment and the advantages of estate planning. The board members also said involving alumni in activities will lead to greater giving to the university. Some suggest more financial estate planning sessions. "Keep the dream alive" was suggested as a theme.

A premier program of international education and top-rated pre-medical and pre-law programs have been suggested as prime foci for "deepening." What other examples can you suggest/defend?

Alumni suggest obtaining accreditation for all Elon academic programs and further developing experiential learning as the hallmark of an Elon education. They suggest investigating programs for emerging careers including the fields of international business and high-tech/computer information.

How concerned should Elon be about enrollment growth? How much price elasticity does Elon have? How do we find the right price point?

Alumni agreed that enrollment growth is a concern, and that care should be taken to maintain a slow growth policy. They said Elon's size will always be a concern. They suggest growing graduate programs and said the law school and business school could become sources of additional revenue for the university in the future.

How would you advise the president about balancing facilities needs and endowment needs in the next campaign?

Alumni believe growing the endowment should be the top priority in the next campaign, with an emphasis on more scholarships and professorships through planned gifts. They suggest more class-funded scholarships (like the Class of '69 scholarship). They said the top priority facility is the auditorium and suggest there be more naming opportunities. They suggest advertising the campaign and show a map of future plans. They also recommend that it be made clear that the law school is self-sustaining.