Goal #9: Carleton will build on its strong tradition of alumni connection to create more opportunities for alumni intellectual, professional, and civic engagement
Many members of the Carleton community still remember President Larry Gould’s opening remarks to new students each year, which have echoed across generations: “From this day forward, you are a part of Carleton, and Carleton is a part of you.” This sense of reciprocal commitment is deeply embedded in Carleton’s culture.
As prospective students consider whether to attend Carleton, the promise of continuing connections with and through the College can be an important part of the value proposition. Alumni connection is also an important aspect of the ongoing cycle of renewal that underpins the entire structural model of the College: we bring in talented students — supporting them with financial resources as needed — and as they go out into the world, they in turn support the College with their time, advocacy, or resources, making a Carleton education possible for the next generation of students.
Action 27
We will expand the successful Carleton Connects program to provide alumni with continued learning opportunities.
Lifelong engagement with Carleton should, perhaps most of all, imply lifelong curiosity and learning. The strategic plan envisions making the Carleton Connects programming a more organized and purposeful collection of online mini-courses for alumni, parents, and friends of the College.
There could be no better way to present and promote the advantages of a Carleton education than providing continuing access to some of the ideas filling current Carleton classrooms, and opportunities for alumni to hear about one another’s professional and civic activities and accomplishments.
Goal 9 Metrics:
- Number of alumni participating in Carleton Connects or Carleton Alumni Adventures (increase)