Development of Services for Lancaster University Management School Alumni

1. Development of Services for Lancaster University Management School Alumni Katherine Beaumont and Kristine Koehler The Ohio State University

2. Outline • Internship Program • Lancaster University, Lancaster University Management School • Alumni Relations • Literature Review • Research Process and Findings • Recommendations • Implications • Conclusion

3. Lancaster Internship Program • Approximately 8 students and faculty resident director • Field research projects identified and supervised by Lancaster faculty and staff • Alumni Services • Study Abroad Office • College Tutor Program • Seminars on British education system

4. Lancaster University • Established in 1964 • Ranked in top ten universities in UK • Over 16,500 students • Five schools housing dozens of departments • Small campus outside of city • Eight residential undergraduate colleges

5. Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) • Founded over 40 years ago • Consistently ranked in the United Kingdom’s top five management school • World-ranked, offering programs at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD levels • Mission • Facts and figures • Corporate social responsibility • International focus

6. Lancaster University Management School: Alumni Relations Department • 21,000 alumni with 50% from outside the UK • Services offered • International networks, publications, business information, careers, MBA WebBoard, and merchandise • Staff • Susan Lucas and Rebecca Heron

7. Purpose of Research The purpose of this project was to identify best practices in business school alumni services and review and make recommendations for improvements to services, facilities, and branded merchandise provided by the LUMS Alumni Relations Office.

8. Alumni Relations in the UK vs. the US • Term ‘alumni’ is not widely recognized in the UK • Lack of focus on fundraising in the UK • Fundraising is becoming more popular in the UK • Directors of alumni relations programs are being hired and are typically American • Focus on relationship building in UK • Typically no membership fee

9. Literature Review • Alumni Relations • Overview of the field • Fundraising • Current trends • Branding in Higher Education • Challenges and benefits • Branded merchandise

10. Research Methodology • Literature Review • Website analysis • Data collected during website analysis was reduced into eight categories • Open-ended interviews with members of Lancaster University and LUMS • Two site visits • University of Edinburgh Business School and Manchester Business School

11. Research Findings • Membership & Organization • Branded Merchandise • Communications • Events

12. Research Findings • Services • Discounts • Career Services • Opportunities for Involvement

13. Recommendations • Implementation of an email-for-life service • Minimal focus on discounts for alumni • Creation of an intentional branded merchandise program • Increased communication with alumni • Enhanced career services offerings • Improvements to the LUMS alumni website

14. Implications for Alumni Relations in the United States • US colleges and universities tend to equate alumni relations with donor relations • Services are important to reward monetary gifts or make membership “worth it” • Could borrow some from relationship-building model of alumni relations • Services are important to ensure continued success • Increased communication with alumni about current events and research • Provide diverse opportunities for alumni to stay involved

15. Conclusion • Internship Program • Lancaster University • LUMS and Alumni Relations • Research • Findings • Recommendations • Implications

16. Questions? Katherine Beaumont (beaumont.11@osu.edu) Kristine Koehler (koehler.109@osu.edu)