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Hello, We're People: The Tao of Engagement

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Hello, We're People: The Tao of Engagement

There is no word I use so often and dislike so much as I do the word “engagement.” It is overused, it sounds like it was lifted from an 80s business seminar, and—its worst crime of all—it is vague.

Because the word is already ubiquitous, we can’t get away from using it. So we try and try again to redefine it instead.

At Switchboard, we begin our weekly team meetings with a segment called “Hello, we’re people.” It’s a chance for us to be light-hearted and share something about ourselves. For example, what our favorite kind of pie is, or what sort of crime we’d most like to adjudicate as jurors (high-level white collar crime, across the board).

In that spirit, today I’m writing about how my understanding of Daoist philosophy informs my relationship with that terrible word—engagement.

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How The Ohio State University's College of Engineering is Breaking Down Silos in Advancement

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How The Ohio State University's College of Engineering is Breaking Down Silos in Advancement

High turnover and a lack of collaboration between units are the norm in higher education, but they aren't conditions we have to accept.

When Patrick Lynch started in his role as Director of Strategic Engagement and Alumni Relations at The Ohio State University's College of Engineering, he felt called to act after a number of his colleagues left within six months. He shared his experience working to create a culture of collaboration at the CASE District V Conference in December.

We asked Patrick to revisit that presentation and talk about his work for this extensive Q&A. In it, he touches on how he and his team are fostering collaboration, creating a share sense of purpose, and making changes internally that are improving their relationships with other teams.

"Retain—Don't Re-engage": How Northwestern University Builds Relationships with Young Alumni

The largest determinant of alumni giving—the student experience—has traditionally not been alumni relations/advancement's responsibility. But with so much hinging on a single variable, some institutions are taking a different approach.

Northwestern University's Senior Associate Director of Alumni Engagement Bobby Dunlap presented on Northwestern's approach at the recent CASE District 5 Conference. We asked him to share some of his advice.

When Alma Mater is Missing: The Problem with Alumni Network Platforms

When Alma Mater is Missing: The Problem with Alumni Network Platforms

Last week, in “The Problem with Alumni Network Platforms,” Ryan Catherwood shared a long overdue critique of alumni networking platforms. He questioned their efficacy and impact, and made public the private thoughts that many in higher education share.

As the co-founder of one of the vendors listed in passing, I’m responding not to refute or defend Ryan’s assertions, but to agree with and validate his sentiments. I’d argue Ryan’s take was charitable, and that the broader situation is more dire and disorganized than presented.

Higher Education Innovation Fellows First Workshop Recap

Higher Education Innovation Fellows First Workshop Recap

Our Higher Education Innovation Fellows had their first onsite workshop here at Switchboard HQ in Portland, Oregon last week. I have never seen an audience that engaged, so I thought I'd share some of the insights from the five HEIF faculty members who presented to the fellows across those two-and-a-half days.

These faculty will be returning in June to lead the first workshop for our summer cohort of fellows.

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Want to Engage Alumni? Ditch the Funnel. Embrace the Web.

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Want to Engage Alumni? Ditch the Funnel. Embrace the Web.

The funnel is a strategy that informs much of what we do in alumni relations, advancement, and alumni career services. We use it to move people from where they are to where we want them to be—engaged alumna to volunteer, engaged alumna to donor, engaged aluma to mentor.

I will explain how it is flawed by way of comparison. I invite you to consider an alternative metaphor: the engagement web. 

"It is not from ourselves that we learn to be better than we are." —Wendell Berry