Strategic Plan Update
May 18, 2002

The Alumni Association is pleased to report continued progress in the implementation of the Alumni Associationís Strategic Plan, adopted by the Board last October. As Dimitry Anselme ë93 prepares to assume the presidency of the Alumni Association, we are on track and gaining momentum.

Some key highlights of our progress include:

°E Overall implementation is moving ahead at a good pace. We are about where we expected to be at this point. The Committee recognized that success in the first year of implementation would be measured more by the number of activities launched than by outcomes, although some of the outcomes - like almost 1,500 alumni registered users of the new on-line community - have been impressive. Our emphasis continues to be on the first three goals as key to future successes. Specific activities related to each of the five goals are outlined in some detail below.

°E The Alumni Association is continuing to expand its reach to all of our alumni and future alumni including the Class of 2002.

In the more detailed progress outlined below, you will see that we are continuing to ask two key questions:

1. How effective is the plan in transforming the role of alumni at Clark?

2. How do we measure the extent to which the plan is making a difference in the overall level of engagement of our alumni?

We are very pleased at the increased visibility of alumni activities and we fully expect that increases in alumni gifts - to the Clark Fund, the Legacy Society and other capital campaigns - will follow, building on the re-engagement fostered by our new activities.

The new resources that Alumni Affairs has been given have enabled us to expand the foundation and put key building blocks in place to achieve even greater levels of success.

Coordination among alumni, faculty, staff and students has improved. Everyone agrees that we all will benefit from following the principles and goals put forth in the plan.

Goal 1: Communication

°E We increased both the number of regional events and attendance this year. The number of regional events went from 26 last year to 40. Attendance rose from 1,044 to 1,250 (projected through May 31).

°E Approximately 1,500 alumni have registered for the on-line

community. This represents about six percent of our alumni. We have had alumni from around the world - Israel, Japan, France, Sweden, India, the UK and Canada - register with our community.

°E We have almost 6,000 alumni e-mail addresses on file, more than one-quarter of our alumni.

°E Public Affairs has coordinated timely coverage of Alumni Association events in Clark News. We have expanded our web pages covering alumni activities as well.

°E The addition of another staff member has allowed Alumni Affairs to do more with current students, including hosting receptions for the incoming class last fall and for the graduating seniors this month, the expansion of SARC to 70 students, enhanced support for Pasticcio and work with the Senior Class Gift Committee. SARC coordinated a regional conference this year that attracted over 250 representatives from more than 15 other colleges including two from Canada.

°E We have also placed a higher emphasis on developing constituency-related alumni programming like the two GSOM alumni events we hosted and last fallís Alumni Athlete Homecoming.

GOAL 2: Leadership and Governance

°E We have increased coordination with the Clark Fund, where a new Class Agent system has been put in place for the reunion classes from last year and this year. This system will be expanded as we move through the next three years so that all classes will have class agents in place by Reunion 2005.

°E We have enhanced our relationship with our alumni-elected trustees, by having one of them report in person at each Alumni Council meeting, keeping the Council up to date on important issues confronting the University.

°E We have established alumni communities in six cities - Boston, Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. Each community has a Web page on the on-line community for local news and updates.

The success of our efforts in communication and governance will be critical to our success in raising additional monies for the Clark Fund and future capital campaigns.

Goal 3: Financial

While the September 11 tragedy has affected our fund raising, we are pleased that alumni contributions to the Clark Fund are running even with last year at this time (April 30) even though fewer alumni have contributed.

°E We have improved our working relationship with the Clark Fund through the efforts of Faith Linsky the Alumni Associationís Second Vice President.

°E We have continued the very successful Reunion Gift Challenge which last year resulted in a 40 percent increase in total reunion giving to $337,300 (final total after Reunion). To date this year the Challenge has raised $193,000, which is already an increase over last yearís final number for those classes celebrating their Reunion in 2002.

°E We expect to have 100 percent participation in the Clark Fund by the members of the Alumni Council.

°E Alumni are heading the committee that is raising the $6.0 million for the Dolan Field House.

Goal 4: Academic and Admission Issues

°E We worked with Alumni Admissions and improved the training and coordination of the program. Working with Admissions staff, Clark alumni have completed over 850 interviews. This is only one effort that the University has made to improve our yield for the Class of 2006.

°E We helped the Class of 2005 move in last August and the Alumni Council hosted a barbecue for them in September. We are planning the same activities for the Class of 2006.

°E The Alumni Association and the Clark Fund sponsored ìCookies and Finals Supportî in the library and dormitories during exams in the fall and spring.

°E We have increased the visibility of the Alumni Association among undergraduates by increasing membership in SARC, working with the Senior Week Committee and the Senior Class Gift Committee. Various Alumni Council members have made presentations at career panels. Dimitry Anselme addressed the Gryphon & Pleiades Student Leadership Retreat. And, Michael Ross ë93 was the keynote speaker at the Student Alumni Association District Conference, hosted by Clark in February.

Goal 5: Key Values and Ethics

°E We continue to look for ways to highlight our alumni who are making a difference in the world. We plan to feature Dimitry Anselme ë93 and his work at Facing History in an upcoming issue of Clark News.

°E We are continuing the mentoring program at the University Park Campus School. This program connects alumni with students at UPCS for career guidance, life advice and fun. We are planning a celebration for the spring of 2003 when the first class will graduate from UPCS.

In summary, we remain encouraged that the Alumni Association Strategic Plan has helped Clarkís alumni participate more fully in the life of the University. We expect the on-line community and regional communities to foster greater cohesion among our alumni and we plan to use technology to reach out to them in even more significant ways. We will be pursuing the development of an Alumni Center as part of our ongoing efforts to raise our visibility and influence. We know that our implementation efforts will take time but we are certain that we will be successful in raising Clarkís image and increasing alumni giving.