Alumni Communication

The aim of this article is to conceptualize and empirically examine the constructs that constitute the concept of Alumni Orientation (AO). Using a discovery-oriented approach, conducted by supplementing educational and marketing literatures with in-depth interviews from 22 alumni personnel in six different UK universities, the author identified three second-order formative constructs and three first-order reflective constructs to measure the concept of AO. The study then developed a self-administrated survey to validate the six identified constructs that form AO. Through using rigorous statistical analysis, the study confirms that the measurement instrument for AO is the 48 items that can be validly and reliably measured using the nine multi-item

JKUAT advances "elimu bora"; quality education. It is proud of its alumni. Graduation is not the end of learning. It is just a confirmation of a glimpse into the world of knowledge and thus we forge forth with the "power to read". As JKUAT celebrates the 25th Graduation, the JKUAT Alumni Association beseeches the alumni, past, present and future to stand up and be counted among the best in the Grateful Graduate Index. In everything trusting God to grant us favor in service to God and humanity.

Social media is completely changing how universities communicate with their alumni. As social media technologies become more embedded in our society, it is even more necessary for alumni administrators to use social media to engage and stay connected to their alumni constituents. This study explores the social networking preferences of Andrews University alumni constituents, to discover how they would choose to be communicated with.

The setting for this research is the Texas State University Master of Public Administration (MPA) graduate program. This is a follow-up study to Cavazos’ (2000) and Escobar’s (2008) alumni perceptions of the MPA Program. The purpose of this research is to collect alumni opinions about their experience in the program and recommendations they might have. The survey also helps to establish whether the MPA program is fulfilling its mission. The research also provides feedback to department, program faculty and leadership.

The results of the survey suggest the alumni are satisfied with the MPA program. Over 80% of the items surveyed revealed positive attitudes among the alumni concerning their experiences. The responses also suggest that the program is true to its mission. Survey findings were compared to the two previous studies and were consistent with previous findings. Overall, alumni were mostly satisfied with the frequency of the courses offered and times of the courses. They also were satisfied with the faculty performance. 

The following were the recommendations that alumni had about the program:

 Provide more networking opportunities with organizations and alumni
 Help students with job placement at graduation
 Offer more technology focused courses

Many higher educational institutions today have to face issues concerning institutional quality and accountability. The public is asking questions about the cost, pricing, outcomes and effectiveness of these institutions. When U.S. businesses were faced with global competitive difficulties, many responded by implementing quality management and continuous quality improvement principles. There is now a growing trend in higher education to implement these same quality principles.

Continuous improvement in quality includes developing a mission that reflects the purpose and goals of an institution. Continuous improvement works best when an organization is diligent about self-assessment. Effective assessment is helped when an organization has clear purposes and goals - such as those derived from a mission statement.

The Public Administration Graduate Program at Southwest Texas State University is a management/practitioner-oriented program. Its core mission is to prepare its students for careers as managers and leaders of public service; the tenets of its mission statement reflect the means by which the program strives to cultivate its students in the field of public administration. The purpose of this research project is to assess whether the MPA program at Southwest Texas State University is effectively meeting the tenets of its mission - via the perception of the program's alumni. The research methodology includes survey research and analysis of existing statistics.

The questionnaire asked alumni to rate aspects of the MPA program that were reflected in the program's mission statement. The survey was sent to alumni (those whose addresses were on record with the graduate alumni office) that had graduated from the program within the past eight years (149 former students). Ninety-one former students completed and returned the survey.

The findings of the research show that the program's alumni do perceive the MPA program to be successful in living up to its mission of preparing its students to be managers and leaders in the public service sector.