Tech Directions - August 2007 - (Page 22) Wall of Honor—Similar to the hardhat display, this strategy invites all alumni to post a current business card as a way of recognizing their professional accomplishments. In addition to costing alumni, for example, a minimum contribution of $25, this strategy gives them a valuable networking platform. Gifts in kind—A strategy that is no doubt familiar to many, since for years departments have secured needed resources from industry in the form of gifts in kind. Gifts typically include such things as equipstate support dwindling ment, books, computers, and software. to less than 10 percent in some Make a few calls— cases, institutions across the you’ll be surprised nation face a financial crisis. how many companies want to expose your students to their products. Gifts to CSU have ranged from $1,000 to $165,000. clude hardhats, notebooks, pens, ball caps, sweatshirts, and so forth. Annual gala—Everyone loves a party. Similar to a political The idea is to say “thank you” and fundraising dinner, this event has “we’re proud of you.” the potential to net over $30,000 in Annual newsletter—Highlight one evening. For example, our deyour department in a monthly or partment held the first annual “Ram annual newsletter. (Frequency deBuilt Gala” (named after CSU’s maspends on your available support cot) in April 2004 at the Brown Palstaff.) This strategy provides an ace in Denver. The event attracted ideal mechanism to promote faculty, over 350 alumni and industry professtudent, and alumni achievements. sionals who enjoyed dinner, dancing, It’s also a great venue for promoting and a live auction. your higher-level funding strategies. If your program has an anniversary coming up, celebrate the occaLevel 2—Gifting sion! As with the annual gala, you You need to start somewhere. can give an anniversary celebration These strategies are relatively easy a special flare (like combining black to implement and provide valuable tie and jeans). CSU celebrated it’s development experience as you begin to tackle strategies at higher 50th in this fashion and plans to levels. repeat for the 60th. policy or program that fosters pride in your department at this level. Hardhat display—Build a shelf in the hallway of your building and start asking alumni and industry recruiters to put their hardhat on it. You’ll be surprised how quickly it fills up. Graduation gifts—Give members of your graduating class a gift that reminds them of their affiliation with your program. This might in- Level 3—Continuing Education An untapped market! Many level 3 strategies capitalize on the national trend toward continuing and distance education. Certificate programs—CSU has offered nine certificate programs to date, including Construction Management, Green Building, Financial Management for Constructors, and Advanced Estimating. Gross revenue potential is high. For example, the 12-week Green Building Certificate accommodates 40 students and grosses $64,000. Distance B.S.—Currently in the final stages of approval, the Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services Administration is designed as a 2 + 2 degree completion program for fire and emergency services professionals looking to advance their careers. We expect to administer the courses entirely in distance education format (i.e., making use of lectures on VHS/DVD, texts, online interaction, e-mail, etc.). Remote M.S.—Although not currently operating, in the past CSU has offered a Master of Science in Construction Management taught at a satellite campus in Denver. Proximity to a major metropolitan area attracted career-change and practicing professionals. The program format was a two-year lock-step, with classes offered one night per week. With Level 4—Fee-Based Services This level essentially takes advantage of offering fee-based services. Capitalize on your faculty’s skills! Named classrooms—With virtually a 100 percent placement of our department’s graduates, companies must compete for the best ones. This strategy capitalizes on this demand and offers a win-winwin for the students, the department, and industry. Companies commit to classroom and other building remodeling projects in exchange for the opportunity to name the space after their company and use the walls for promotional material. To date, we have named eight classrooms with a $50,000 minimum contribution per naming Professional advisory development board—In addition to valuable insight and feedback on your academic initiatives, an active industry advisory board can assist in many of the strategies discussed below. You can charge a small fee for membership; at CSU, annual memberships are extended to five levels: Individual ($100), Corporate ($1,000), Partner ($2,500), Association ($0), and Emeritus ($0). Competition fundraising— Encourage students to undertake annual fundraising initiatives. Generally, this results in bulk and direct mailings to the industry. In addition, students raise funds with T-shirt drives, competition sponsorship promotions, and special invitational events like golf tournaments. Currently, our department averages about $20,000 per year on these events. 22 techdirections ◆ AUGUST 2007
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