Alumni Survey Results Guide Poole College

With a goal to further grow as an alumni community, the NC State Poole College of Management conducted a comprehensive alumni engagement survey in late 2018. The college engaged market research firm Hanover Research to conduct the independent study.

More than 1,300 Poole College alumni participated in the research survey, the results of which are being used to guide future initiatives for alumni.

What we Learned

1. Alumni are interested in engagement opportunities –– including professional development opportunities (38 percent), networking (36 percent), attending online events (33 percent), and serving as mentors (31 percent).
2. Alumni prefer single event or activity engagements, versus long-term commitments, and location is particularly influential in determining attendance. In short, alumni desire local engagement opportunities.
3. Alumni want to receive information from Poole via email, e-newsletters and social media –– notably Facebook and LinkedIn.
4. Topically, alumni want to hear from Poole about:
   1. Professional development and lifelong learning opportunities (66 percent)
   2. Alumni events and activities (64 percent)
   3. College news and update (57 percent)
   4. Faculty research and innovation (53 percent)
   5. Stories about current students (40 percent)
5. More than half (64 percent) are moderately or very interested in Poole College’s proposed online networking platform for alumni. An additional 28 percent are slightly interested.
6. More than three-quarters of Poole College alumni (81 percent) are interested in more opportunities to stay connected with the college.

Moving Forward

The results of the statistically significant survey will guide the college’s program development and communications for alumni. The Office of Development and External Relations has begun implementing improvements, including a new monthly alumni newsletter, as well as improving communications around signature events like the Wells Fargo Executive Leadership Series and Leadership and Innovation Showcase.

Poole College will roll out some big changes as early as summer 2019, including growing relationships with the Poole College Career Center and the NC State Alumni Association to help bring more opportunities in more locations for you to engage with Poole College. Poole College also plans to introduce a new online networking platform in 2019 and will continue to build our Poole Pack community together.

More information on events occurring at Poole College this spring or services available to alumni today:

• Monthly alumni e-newsletters like this one to share various news stories and events around Poole College. If you have not received one, please email Anne Clark Hathaway.
• Continuing career support for Jenkins MBAs through the graduate programs staff in the Poole College Career Center.
• Opportunities to continue your education through NC State Executive Education, including a course in Business Essentials and Data Science which are open to all alumni to enroll.
• Poole College Signature Events, including the Wells Fargo Executive Leadership Series held 3-4 times a year on campus, the PNC Thought Leadership Series held two times a year, and the annual Homecoming Party.
• Our Leadership and Innovation Showcase where the “Think and Do” at Poole College comes alive. Join us to view student projects and participate in a reception in Reynolds Coliseum.
• Mentorship opportunities. For example, interested in fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs? Apply to join the Mentors Program as a Mentor with the Entrepreneurship Clinic today.