The University of Central Arkansas Office of Alumni Relations and the UCA Alumni Association have begun an initiative to travel around Arkansas and the nation to connect with UCA alumni and friends.
This initiative continues to follow the futuristic vision set forth in President Tom Courtway’s “Framework for the Future,” a comprehensive strategy aimed at positioning UCA as a national leader in higher education, as well as part of the UCA Alumni Attitude Study. The survey was conducted in June 2015 in an attempt to hear members’ thoughts, as well as enact needed change in potential growth areas.
As part of the Alumni Association’s strategic planning process, the Alumni Attitude Study identified that geographic distance was one of the significant barriers to feeling connected to UCA and the Alumni Association. Nearly a quarter of alumni reside outside of Arkansas.
“It is an important realization of the Alumni Association that we have alumni everywhere, and in an effort to engage them we’re going to have to go to them,” said John David Pittman, member of the Alumni Association.
The Office of Alumni Relations is visiting both locations where there are large concentrations of alumni, but also areas with high potential for alumni involvement. Destinations this semester include Los Angeles, New York, Oklahoma City, Washington D.C., Dallas and Bentonville.
“Our alumni are doing amazing things, and we know that sometimes life can take them far from central Arkansas, hundreds and even thousands of miles away,” said Jesse Thill, director of the Office of Alumni Relations. “Through our engagement efforts, we are bringing UCA to them so that no matter where they are, they feel connected to their alma mater.”
According to Thill, the results of this effort have shown an increased membership in the Alumni Association from UCA alums as well as increased participation from out-of-state alumni.
“There’s also just a lot of excitement!” said Thill. Information about alumni events can be found online at uca.edu/alumni.