Moderator Highlights 

• In many cases, the hybrid model (although logistically complicated) has allowed universities to access companies that in the past they have never been able to access before and from a timing/travel cost standpoint this has been a great thing for students 
• The virtual model has allowed us greater outreach to alumni, employers, partners and opened the door with a new way of interacting creatively 
• Students still want the high touch in person relationship building model that comes from employer interactions. The future of ER will depend on being able to maintain both an in person and virtual presence.

Engaging alumni virtually or in-person is a win for colleges in its own right. But engaging alumni to build recruiting opportunities and empower student success is an even bigger victory.

Here at Endicott, we focus on building relationships with alumni to scale delivery of career education and networking opportunities for students as well as to create education and networking opportunities for students, as well as to create recruiting relationships with organizations that may not have considered us as a source for talent. After implementing a successful mentoring program, we wanted to increase the number of alumni who partnered with career services, as well as increase student to alumni connections.

Initiatives include: Industry Exploration Nights featuring an alumni panel highlighting a specific industry or topic (examples: Future of Work, Companies with a Cause, Industry Disruptors); Career Labs, featuring alumni to teach career-related skills in an interactive manner (ex: Storytelling, Interviewing); Career Treks with alumni in NY/CT hosting visits to their companies. In addition, we are currently scaling our mentoring program to include flash mentoring. When selecting panelists or speakers, we are strategic in targeting alumni at companies we want to engage with.

This has resulted in premiere companies opening internship, co-op and full-time opportunities for our students. Learn about and strategize creative ways to leverage alumni virtually or in-person on your campuses to deliver quality career education as well as to open the doors to recruiting relationships.