Graduation is not the ending of a student’s journey with an institution. In fact, it is the beginning of a new chapter, the one where alumni continue to benefit from the network, resources, and opportunities an alumni association provides. By becoming a life member of an alumni association alumni not only keep in touch with old classmates, but also avail a range of benefits that can shape their career and personal growth. Life membership offers exclusive opportunities that allow alumni to stay engaged with the alma mater while accessing valuable advantages that extend even after graduation.
Here’s a list of advantages that alumni associations can provide to their paid members:
Unique Benefits
Alumni associations offer a range of career-defining services to their members. From networking events to job opportunities, these advantages can significantly shape the career trajectory of alumni and foster a strong bond with the alumni association, as these services are designed to maximize engagement.
Here are some of the exclusive benefits reserved only for the life members of an alumni association:
Privileged Access to Job Opportunities
Premium/life members of an alumni association enjoy a distinct advantage- exclusive access to job listings not available to the general alumni community. This privileged access is only for the paid members, other alumni miss out on this.
Some alumni associations partner with companies run by top-tier alumni, such as alumni CXOs, to bring placements to their premium members, giving them better exposure. These partnered firms also share opportunities directly to the associations making them exclusive to its privileged members. Associations also bring paid internships from alumni entrepreneurs to the relatively younger alumni.
Alumni platforms can be configured to have alumni-specific job boards accessible only to the premium/life members. Job boards feature curated job postings that are industry-specific and relevant to alumni’s experience and expertise. Alumni can browse through the openings explicitly sourced for them.
Access to Closed-Door Networking Events
Alumni Associations organize exclusive networking events for their paid members, offering opportunities to interact with experienced professionals, industry pioneers, and fellow graduates. These mixers are designed to cultivate new professional relationships, career growth, and business collaborations.
Closed-door networking sessions are often smaller where only premium members can meet top alumni employers or alumni working as CXOs and HRs in international companies. The interactions in these events are deep and focused, often resulting in favorable outcomes for the involved parties.
Associations also host industry-specific tight-knit events designed for alumni working or aspiring to work in these sectors, providing a more targeted environment to make new connections that lead to new career opportunities.
Associations organize mentorship mixers where alumni can meet potential senior alumni mentors. These events are typically exclusive to members and provide a structured environment for building mentor-mentee relationships that can offer career guidance and support. Alumni mentors can provide resume reviews, interview preparations, and current industry trends.
Exclusive Voting Rights in Alumni Elections
Premium or paid members of an alumni association often receive voting privileges in alumni elections. Alumni can vote for the roles of the association’s executive committee, such as president, vice president, board members, or committee chairs. In addition to voting, alumni associations allow paid members to file election nominations. Members can propose themselves or other alumni. Members can participate in nomination committees that endorse candidates for election.
Alumni associations occasionally hold meetings where members can vote on significant by-law amendments, policy changes, or decisions affecting the structure and operation of the association. Premium members can vote on these crucial matters, ensuring their voices are heard.
Life members of the alumni association are given the unique opportunity to lead various advisory committees, boards, and sub-organizations operated by the alma mater and the alumni association. For instance, alumni can chair committees that work on revamping the curriculum, providing valuable insights on making curriculums industry-relevant.
Exclusive Alumni Discounts on Products & Events
Alumni associations provide exclusive financial benefits to their esteemed members. Alumni can enjoy substantial discounts on a variety of products, such as university-branded items and other campus services. These perks not only add tangible value to the membership but also foster continued engagement with the association and the alma mater.
At discounted rates, paid/life members can buy university-branded merchandise such as hoodies, t-shirts, mugs, and other memorabilia. Associations sometimes release exclusive product lines, such as limited edition apparel only for the paid alumni. Members can enjoy cost-saving advantages and exclusivity at the same time.
Associations regularly organize alumni reunions, family picnics, and other events, and alumni with membership can save much on registration fees/event tickets. Associations also offer bundled discounts, allowing their members to attend multiple events throughout the year at a discounted rate. These packages cover a variety of events ranging from reunions to networking events to family picnics and sports events.
Partnership Discounts
Alumni associations partner with various businesses, such as hotels and travel agencies, to offer discounts on travel, accommodation, shopping, and many other services for paid members. Alumni can utilize these deals when needed. Associations also collaborate with educational platforms and other schools/universities to offer extended education services such as certifications, courses, and special programs. Members can avail of these courses at a minimum price.
Other Perks
Alumni associations often develop various ideas to engage their life members while connecting them to their alma mater. Alumni signing up with the association receive privileged access to all the institution’s infrastructural facilities for free or at discounted rates:
- Libraries: With continued library access, alumni can use books and research materials for their research/ongoing education.
- Gym & Sports Facilities: Alumni can access gym and sports facilities like swimming pools, soccer fields, or recreational centers at special rates. This creates opportunities for alumni to join fitness groups and sports leagues to meet new people.
- Research Labs: Alumni involved in research or pursuing PhD in specific fields can gain access to research labs on weekends. They can also collaborate with other alumni or faculty/students for shared initiatives.
- Co-working Spaces: Big universities provide co-working spaces or innovation centers to alumni at special rates, which encourages alumni to work on freelance projects, incubate startups, and network with other alumni.
- Auditoriums: Associations worldwide provide alumni access to conference rooms and auditoriums for personal and professional events.
- Student Hostels/Dormitories: Alumni flying into the city can stay in hostels or lodge in dormitories at a lower cost, offered only to the association members.
Winding It Up!
Alumni associations keep their alumni engaged by offering various useful services. By paying the membership fee, alumni can leverage all these advantages to their benefit. From networking events to job openings, associations offer many value add-ons to the alumni. The above-explained advantages are a few of the many benefits associations can provide. These benefits keep alumni satisfied and encourage them to come back and contribute to their alma mater!
Vaave helps institutions and corporate entities across the globe in realizing the power of alumni and offers strategies for engaging them. We provide a full-fledged alumni management ecosystem that helps you to leverage alumni to its fullest.
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