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Presentation on engaging alumni as advocates for public funding of higher education.
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Alumni as Advocates
Mike Dean
Tipping Point Strategies
Agenda for Today
• Why Advocacy?
• Key Principles of Success• Case Study at the University of Illinois• Q & A
Challenges Facing Higher Education
• Increased pressure for limited state resources• Cost of Higher Education continues to rise
(health care and energy costs put a strain on budgets)
• Can’t continue to raise tuition to make up for funding cuts
How do we Respond?
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
How do we Respond?
Engage Advocates
Not This Advocate These Advocates
Why is Grassroots Advocacy?
• Legislators listen to their constituents• Achieve a balanced approach• Distribute messages to the community more
effectively• Create a human face• Build a sense of community• Avoid having messages filtered through the
media or campus interest groups
Principles for Success
1. Think about the structure and staffing– Where should the program be housed– Staff/consultant– Grasstops vs. Grassroots
2. How to create buy-in– Campus leadership must be supportive– Demonstrate success– Engage campus leadership to interact with
advocates
Principles for Success
3. Use technology to cast a wide net– E-mail is an easy way to generate a lot of contacts
with elected officials– Begin communicating regularly
4. Conduct targeted outreach to alumni with influence– These contacts are harder to get
Website is your hub
Principles for Success
5. Develop a plan– Necessary to keep all the actors in sync– Develop a message arc
6. Message matters– Must be compelling– Develop a theme that people will understand
Create a Theme
Principles for Success
7. Create a grassroots committee– Engage all stakeholders– Will help create buy-in and ownership
8. Evaluate your program regularly– Survey supporters– Visit with key stakeholders