Four Ways to Support Your Alma Mater After Graduation (2024)

It’s spring, which means graduation season is officially upon us. The transition from student to alumni can be jarring. You may find yourself looking for a way to stay involved with your college post-graduation; after all, years of your life were spent there.

Luckily, as an alumnus, there are many ways you can stay involved and support your alma mater after you graduate. Here are four things you can do as an alumnus to support your alma mater.

Volunteer

More often than not, colleges will always be looking for volunteers to help with various activities. Whether it be helping out at campus-wide events or helping out in the community, volunteering with your college is a great way to support your alma mater.

By volunteering, you potentially get to work beside those who helped you during your college career, while simultaneously meeting new people. Even if you are no longer near your college campus, oftentimes alumni will get together in different locations for an event or service. Volunteering is fun and a great way to stay connected to your alma mater!

Speak to Current or Prospective Students

Hearing alumni experiences is a large factor in many people’s process when choosing a college to attend. If you meet someone considering attending your college or are speaking at a college event, tell them about your experience and opportunities you were given thanks to your college. Sharing your experience with prospective students is a great way to support your alma mater while making someone’s college decision process easier.

As an alumnus, you may get the chance to speak to current students about life after graduation. Helping students by providing your personal experiences after graduation can help prepare current students at your college while allowing you to still be there to support your school.

Keep in Touch

Colleges love hearing from their alumni. During your college years, you form connections with the faculty and staff as they help you on your educational and professional journey. Keeping in touch with them post-graduation is not only gratifying for them when they see that you are succeeding, but it also lets them know that they are doing well in preparing their students for professional careers.

Besides, you never know what opportunities lay in store by upholding your network. You may find yourself being offered more opportunities to stay directly involved with your alma mater–with a job or volunteer opportunities, for example.

Donate if Possible

This is perhaps the most obvious way you can continue to support your alma mater, but alumni donations are extremely valuable for colleges. The number of donations received influences a college’s ranking while funding new opportunities for current and future students.

Understandably, not everyone has the means to donate to their alma mater, but I encourage you to do so if you have the means. Every amount helps and is valuable to your college. Your alma mater will thank you for any donation, no matter the size.

Finding ways to support your alma mater is beneficial to you and your alma mater. These are just a few ways you can help your alma mater out as an alumnus. I encourage you to support your alma mater in any way possible; after all, they supported you as a student. Why not give back?

Four Ways to Support Your Alma Mater After Graduation (2024)

FAQs

Four Ways to Support Your Alma Mater After Graduation? ›

You can volunteer at local schools or nonprofits, or you can intern with organizations that focus on social change. You can also donate your time and expertise to pro bono projects. Whatever way you choose to give back, you will be making a positive impact on the world around you.

How can I contribute to my alma mater? ›

The term alma mater is reason enough, but if you need further motivation to give back to your school or college, read on:
  1. Speaking at a class. ...
  2. Promote the college on social media. ...
  3. Attend homecoming activities. ...
  4. Give money: Big or small. ...
  5. Organize an alumni event. ...
  6. About the Author.

How I plan to give back to the community after graduation? ›

You can volunteer at local schools or nonprofits, or you can intern with organizations that focus on social change. You can also donate your time and expertise to pro bono projects. Whatever way you choose to give back, you will be making a positive impact on the world around you.

Why should I give back to my alma mater? ›

Supporting the Students

Alumni donations fund these scholarships to make the cost of college easier for current and future students. This ensures that more people have access to the same quality of education you had. Also, alumni donations go toward funding new programs, classes, and on-campus renovations.

Why do people donate to their alma maters? ›

Alumni express the feeling of giving back to their alma mater as one of the personal benefits, including having a sense of duty or responsibility, feeling a sense of home, and a feeling of pride.

How do you contribute as an alumni? ›

Here are four things you can do as an alumnus to support your alma mater.
  1. Volunteer. More often than not, colleges will always be looking for volunteers to help with various activities. ...
  2. Speak to Current or Prospective Students. ...
  3. Keep in Touch. ...
  4. Donate if Possible.
Apr 15, 2022

What can you contribute to the university as a graduate student? ›

How will you contribute to our program? The institution would want to know the benefits you'd bring to their program. Academic success, awards, achievements and publications can all contribute to the success of a graduate program.

How can I contribute to my college community? ›

12 Ways to Get Involved at College
  1. Join (or start) a club. ...
  2. Work for the school paper or social media sites. ...
  3. Participate in student government. ...
  4. Become a tutor or teaching assistant. ...
  5. Participate in intramural or club sports. ...
  6. Look for opportunities to serve your campus and community. ...
  7. Join a sorority or fraternity.

How do you give back to the community examples? ›

10 Helpful Ways For Giving Back to the Community
  • Donate. Sometimes giving back to the community is as simple as giving. ...
  • Philanthropy. ...
  • Fundraising. ...
  • Drives. ...
  • Volunteer. ...
  • Recognize Those Who Serve. ...
  • Disaster Relief. ...
  • Step Up and Ask.

How do I give back to my university? ›

7 Almost-Free Ways to Give Back to Your College
  1. Lead. ...
  2. Lend a Helping Hand. ...
  3. Hire Other Alumni for Internships or Jobs. ...
  4. Share Your Expertise. ...
  5. Refer Prospective Students. ...
  6. Communicate. ...
  7. Give What You Can.

What is alma mater vs alumni? ›

What is the difference between 'alumni' and 'alma mater'? Alumni refers to people who have graduated from an institution (most commonly a university) while alma mater is the institution from which a person has graduated.

Why is it important for alumni to donate? ›

Often, alumni gifts are used specifically to help current students. These alumni-funded scholarships help more students get access to a high-quality education. Unique and meaningful programs. Alumni often recall student programs that had a major impact on their college career.

Why should I give back to my college? ›

Spreading your passion: Whether you contribute time, money or expertise; giving back is an opportunity to channel your passion and allow it to thrive on campus long after you have gone. It is a way to invest back in areas you wish to see the institute thrive.

What are the benefits of donating to a university? ›

Your contributions can support academic programs and research initiatives that have the potential to make a significant positive impact. Additionally, your donations can provide scholarships to deserving students, allowing them to pursue their educational and professional goals.

What is the biggest donation ever to a university? ›

In 2018, Johns Hopkins University received what is believed to be the largest donation to a college: $1.8 billion. Historically Black college and university (HBCU) Spelman College received the largest donation in HBCU history of $100 million for its 100th naming anniversary.

Why is it important for alumni to stay connected to the university? ›

By staying in touch with your network, you can build professional connections, organize and take part in reunion activities, give back to your school, or simply maintain a connection with people who have successfully completed the same educational process that you have.

How would I contribute to a school? ›

As you think about the question, picture yourself living in the residence halls, participating in extracurricular activities, volunteering your services, and interacting with the students, staff, and faculty who make up your community. How do you fit in, and how will you make the campus a better place for everyone?

What should you contribute to your school? ›

  • Donate supplies.
  • Volunteer in the classroom.
  • Nominate schools for grants.
  • Think outside the classroom.
  • Attend meetings.
  • Encourage participation.
  • The importance of STEM education.
Mar 29, 2019

In what ways do you see yourself giving back to the community while in college? ›

There are all sorts of activities you can do in your community. You can work with children at school, work with the elderly, or help people that are less fortunate and make their day very special. Community Service is very important because it gives you a chance to bond with the people in your neighborhood.

Can you have more than one alma mater? ›

If you mean by more than one alma mater that you work on different degrees then the advantage is that you learn new ideas from different people with different perspectives from different disciplines.

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