Fellowship Program

CAAE offers fellowships for senior, mid-level and new alumni relations professionals at CAAE member institutions. CAAE provides funding, mentoring and general support to emerging leaders to accelerate a big idea through this program. Fellows select an alumni relations topic or emerging trend and create a final work product that will be presented to the membership at the CAAE Winter Institute. Candidates may select from a list of suggested topics (below) or develop a unique proposal.

The CAAE Fellowship applications are now available. The application is open year-round and the committee will convene in August to make a selection.  

There are three fellowships awarded annually:  

Robert G. Forman Fellowship

For professionals with five or more years of professional experience in alumni relations at a CAAE member institution or senior-level experience at another organization. Forman Fellows will receive up to $3,500:

  • Individual stipend of $1,000
  • Up to $2,500 to cover research-related expenses
  • Two nights of hotel expenses and complimentary registration for the CAAE Winter Institute.

Jerry F. Tardy Fellowship

For professionals with two to five years of experience in alumni relations at a CAAE member institution. Tardy Fellows will receive up to $2,500:

  • Individual stipend of $1,000
  • Up to $1,500 to cover research-related expenses
  • Two nights of hotel expenses and complimentary registration for the CAAE Winter Institute.

Lawrence S. Preo Fellowship

Applicants must be entry-level professionals with up to five years of experience in alumni relations at a CAAE member institution. Preo Fellows will receive up to $2,500:

  • Individual stipend of $1,000
  • Up to $1,500 to cover research-related expenses
  • Two nights of hotel expenses and complimentary registration for the CAAE Winter Institute.


Note: Sponsoring institutions agree to fund the travel expenses (airfare, transportation, etc.) for their fellows. 

Purpose

The purpose of the CAAE Fellowships is to:

  • Build research and knowledge to inform the profession
  • Support CAAE's desire to further professionalize the field of alumni relations through benchmarking and further developing industry standards and theory
  • Pursue CAAE's commitment to further develop priority areas of research
  • Further support a CAAE member institution to grow a specific program in a particular area
  • Provide an opportunity for emerging leaders in the profession to build a professional network of alumni executives
  • Build a pipeline of aspiring executives poised for individual growth within the profession

Benefit to the Fellow

  • Enhance the work in their current position
  • Advance their career path
  • Expand professional network
  • Fund research
  • Grow professional knowledge

List of potential topics:

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

  • Diversifying volunteer programs and Boards
  • Diversifying the profession; recruiting and engaging  
  • Commitment to social responsibility and community outreach
  • Programs that address issues of systemic racism
  • Programs that create a sense of belonging

Hybrid Models

  • Staffing models that ensure optimal levels of productivity, motivation, and innovation
  • Evaluation of alumni engagement programs through hybrid efforts
  • Survey of technology as products evolved into the digital space
  • Are we staffed appropriately? What does staffing look like going forward? Required skillsets? 
  • What is the right blend of digital / in-person?

Value of Higher Education

  • Making the case for the value of higher education
  • As country-specific politics become more polarized, what impact does that have on alumni relations?
  • Impact of alumni debt on engagement with the institution
  • Measuring the value of our institution’s degrees. Focusing on the outcome of the activities.
  • What is our responsibility to ensure the employability of our graduates?

Business Operations

  • Budgets – rainy day fund strategies
  • Corporate involvement in alumni relations
  • Predictors to the long-term viability of affinity programs and campus corporate strategies that may affect them

Marketing & Communications/Virtual Programming

  • Modern day branding of your alumni association
  • Innovative ways to illustrate and tell our alumni relations story

Campaigns/Fundraising/Philanthropy

  • The impact of integrated advancement on the alumni relations profession, its professionals and the alumni population
  • Campaign planning for alumni relations and its professionals
  • Alumni engagement campaigns in conjunction with a fundraising campaign
  • How to build an alumni engagement model coming out of a campaign (maintaining the moment)
  • Membership and annual giving: Do they cannibalize or amplify one another? 

Innovative Programs/Events

  • Leveraging crowdfunding and gaming approaches to alumni engagement
  • Cause-related/membership organizations and their ability to motivate their base to increase both loyalty and royalty
  • Alumni career services and its impact
  • Student mentor/networking programs
  • Alumni relations in the entrepreneurial space

Volunteerism

  • Motivations and innovation for active volunteer participation
  • Engaging the next generation of volunteers and alumni leaders including succession planning
  • Quantifying the impact of alumni volunteer engagement
  • Volunteer code of conduct:  How do we support and train volunteers and hold them accountable?
  • Best practices of high functioning boards and committees

How to Apply

Send completed application and materials to Brandy Cox (brandyac@uark.edu). 

Questions?

For questions or additional information regarding the CAAE Fellowship Program, please contact Brandy Cox, Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director University of Arkansas at brandyac@uark.edu.

Past Fellowship Recipients and Presentations