The document discusses breaking down silos between university departments from recruiting to alumni relations. It recommends improving communication, aligning goals, rewarding collaboration, and focusing on students and alumni. Developing cross-functional teams and personal relationships across campus can help eliminate silos. Partnerships between enrollment, student engagement, athletics, academics, and development can also strengthen connections from recruiting to alumni. The UE Connect program was created to connect students to alumni and professional networks to aid career development and foster affinity across the alumni network through mentoring, resources, profiles, and events. Future emphasis will be on student accounts, social media, and continued improvements.

1. Recruit to Alumni:
Breaking Down University Silos

2. Recruit to Alumni: Breaking Down
University Silos
Sylvia DeVault and Liz Riffert

3. 4
The Silo Mentality reduces efficiency and morale, causes
frustration and wastes resources.

4. Eliminating the Silo Mentality
• Communicate – common rallying cry
• Align – learn how you can support each other
• Reward Collaboration – build into goals/evaluations
• Focus on Customer – share student/alumni feedback
• Use Cross-functional Teams to Brainstorm Together – see the bigger picture
• Get Personal – collaboration needs trust
2

5. Who better to do this than alumni
professionals?
• Treat co-workers across campus as you do
your alumni.
• Suck it up and reach out to them. Repeatedly.
• Determine key relationships and build them.
• Start in your own house – work closely with
your fund raising colleagues.
• NEVER WORK ALONE!

6. Recruit to Alumni Partnerships
• Enrollment Services – LEAGUE
• Student Engagement – SOAR, Homecoming
• Athletics – Reunions, Special Events
• Academic Affairs – Senior Seminar visits
• Ceremonies Committee – Convocation,
Commencement, Senior Keynote
• Don’t forget Development

7. UE Connect
Purpose
Designed to assist students with career-related needs
and to connect them with engaged alumni and
community professionals who will support and
champion their professional goals.
• Provides structured professional development
network
• Increases alumni involvement and fosters positive
relationships
• Encourages stronger connections and affinity across
the UE alumni network

8. UE Connect
Programming
• Student Mentoring Program
• Alumni Resource
• UE Connect Alumni Profiles – website
• Alumni involvement with Career Development
and Academic program events
• UE JobLink and Professional Network
• LinkedIn Communities

9. Work in Progress: Future Emphasis
• Student Accounts
• Social Media
• There’s always more…

10. Sylvia DeVault Liz Riffert
Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Assistant Director of Alumni &
1800 Lincoln Avenue Parent Relations for Career Development
Evansville, Indiana 47722 el37@evansville.edu
Telephone: 812-488-2586
sy5@evansville.edu

12. Recruit to Alumni: Breaking Down University Silos