Alumni programming is an essential duty of every AVC. Whether you are looking to raise money, recruit volunteers or cultivate a rich alumni experience, it is important to provide opportunities for alumni to remain connected with their chapter.

For nearly a decade, our Ohio Eta AVC at Miami of Ohio has organized an annual alumni reunion that has reintroduced hundreds of alumni to their chapter. Their story can give you some insight into planning your own alumni event.<

Ohio Eta’s Event in the Tent
After the chapter fell on hard times and lost their house in the early 1990s, there were several false starts at rebuilding. The alumni, anxious to reconnect and build momentum for their capital campaign, rented a small tent during the June 2002 Miami University Alumni Weekend. The event became known as Ohio Eta’s Event in the Tent.

Only a year later, the chapter was able to break ground on a new facility, which would open the following fall. As a reminder of how far they have come and how much work it took to rebuild the chapter and house, the AVC continues to rent a small tent each year.

Speaking to the growth and success of their alumni engagement, VP of Alumni Relations Brant Smith, Miami (Ohio) ’01, noted, “There was initially a very large level of interest and financial commitment made to the chapter. The Event in the Tent has allowed us to sustain that interest and commitment.”

Smith feels strongly that their Alumni and Volunteer Corporation continues to grow as a result of the annual event. “People come back and talk to the AVC or chapter about a project, and then you see them start to commit financially and as volunteers.”

Here’s a look behind the scenes of the Event in the Tent:


Plan ahead
Planning goes on throughout the year. The AVC makes announcements in newsletters, and on the website and listserv. The further out you plan your own event, the better. If you can combine your alumni event with an existing university alumni-focused event, you are more likely to attract attendees. Alumni weekends, Homecoming, and other important events work well.

Focus on who is coming
Universities and AVCs alike know that alumni are interested in connecting with their classmates. Miami University’s Alumni Weekend focuses on five year anniversaries of each class, and Ohio Eta recruits an alumnus for each class to take the lead in organizing his peers. Consider posting a list of attendees, as more people will come if they see some of their old friends will be there.

Mix business with pleasure
The annual reunion kicks off with an AVC meeting in the morning. Combining the annual meeting and reunion allows visiting alumni to participate in AVC discussions, elect new officers, and see the progress both the AVC and chapter are making.

Keep it simple
Following the AVC meeting, the chapter and AVC man the grills and open the house for tours. There isn’t anything too fancy or extravagant about the event, but there is still a line item for a small red tent, a focal point that has become a piece of nostalgia for this chapter.

As you can see, planning an alumni event doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant. Following some of these simple tips from Ohio Eta can help you cultivate an engaged alumni base.

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