American University Alumni Management Studies

In recent years, alumni administration has increasingly received additional consideration in universities in China. Whereas in the Unite States, where most universities have long history in alumni management, it has been a full-blown section within schools'overall administrative work. Both public and private schools institute Alumni Offices or other similar departments, which maintain and develop the relationship between alma mater and alumni based on mutually beneficial"win-win"condition. Alumni administration in Chinese universities started much later than their western counterparts, but during last twenty years, it has made some progress in uniting alumni, enhancing cohesion of schools, and supporting alma mater. However, comparing with U. S. universities, alumni administration in Chinese universities has a long way to go.This thesis is an investigation to the alumni administration in the U.S. universities. It explores its history, organizational structure, operational procedure, and the notions and ethics that are implied by, and supporting to, their work. I hope this introduction of the American precedents would be useful for Chinese universities when we are establishing and reforming our own system. The research consists of the following four parts:I. The historical trajectory of alumni administration in the U.S.II. A further exploration to its characteristics, missions and notions, including:1. The notions of alumni administrationa. Giving consideration to and balancing the interests of both alma mater and alumni, and creating win-win situation.b. Alumni service is not merely for those famous alumni.c. Graduation does not mean leaving.d. To develop the school-alumni relationship by maintaining personal feeling.e. All current students are alumni, keep promoting educational quality.f. Absorb alumni to participate the school administration.2. The characteristics of alumni administrationa. Long history and highly valued by the faculties, students and staff. b. Sophisticate organizational structure, policy and procedure.c. Professional team supplemented by volunteer members.d. Functional combination of Alumni Affairs and schools'development department; adopting various financial means to manage donation from alumni.e. Utilizing websites to deal with alumni affairs, and developing an extensive alumni network.f. Providing perfect service to alumni.3. The missions of alumni administrationa. Severing alma materb. Severing alumniIII. Various organizational structures, categories, and functions of alumni administration; and case studies of University of Chicago and University of California, Berkeley.IV. Based on a brief introduction and analyses of status quo and implication of today's alumni administration in Chinese universities, in this part I will propose following thinking inspired by the U.S. experience, they include:1. It is required by the time to improve the alumni administration as one of the most important issues in development of schools.2. It is the natural result of rationalization of alumni administration to provide the comprehensive service to alumni.3. To have alumni supporting their alma mater is substantially decided by the educational quality of the school.4. The well-organized professional team and volunteer members ensure successful alumni administration.5. To absorb alumni to participate schools'administrative work is an effective way to mobilize alumni as a resource.6. The application of new technology, such as web and database management, will largely improve the alumni administration.