Development of Services for Lancaster University Management School Alumni

Katherine Beaumont and Kristine Koehler

The Ohio State University

Outline

Internship Program Lancaster University, Lancaster University

Management School Alumni Relations Literature Review Research Process and Findings Recommendations Implications Conclusion

Lancaster Internship Program

Approximately 8 students and faculty resident director

Field research projects identified and supervised by Lancaster faculty and staffAlumni ServicesStudy Abroad OfficeCollege Tutor Program

Seminars on British education system

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

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

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

StaffSusan Lucas and Rebecca Heron

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.

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

Literature Review

Alumni RelationsOverview of the fieldFundraisingCurrent trends

Branding in Higher EducationChallenges and benefitsBranded merchandise

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

Research Findings

Membership & Organization Branded Merchandise Communications Events

Research Findings

Services Discounts Career Services Opportunities for Involvement

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

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

Conclusion

Internship Program Lancaster University LUMS and Alumni Relations Research Findings Recommendations Implications

Questions?

Katherine Beaumont (beaumont.11@osu.edu)

Kristine Koehler (koehler.109@osu.edu)