Strategic plan
The strategic plan for UAF Alumni Association was adopted and passed by the board on April 1, 2021 and updated at the spring 2024 board meeting
OUR VISION & CORE PURPOSE
Nanook Nation: Leaders Connected
OUR MISSION
We serve the UAF community – magnifying its impact on the World by celebrating and investing in Nanook Nation.
CORE VALUES
- Engagement
- Productivity
- Fidelity
- Diversity
- Comradery
- Collaboration
OUR LONG-TERM STRATEGIC OUTCOMES
- Establish UAFAA Brand
- “Gold Standard” Governance
- Grow UAFAA Influence
- Active Global Network
- More and Engaged Members
2021-2025 OBJECTIVES AND INITIATIVES
Short Term Strategy Objectives
- Embody the “Nanook Spirit”
- Grow our Brand
- Support Campus Projects
- Improve Global Engagement
- Maximize Facility & Fiscal Resources
- Cultivate Donors
- Improve Funding
- Increase Student Support
- Improve Internal Networks
- Improve External Networks
- Improve Membership Development
- Improve Board Effectiveness
- Improve Staff Capacity
Very Short-term initiative ideas and work plan
Winter 2023-24 Initiatives & Work Priorities
- Centennial Project
- Campus naming opportunity
- Rural engagement opportunities
- Campus visits
- Board Support
- Skills/strengths assessment
- Phone trees
- New member mentors
- Professional development
- Campus volunteer project
- New strategic plan
- None at this time
- None at this time
- Totem Pole Project
- Automation
- Additional staff member
- Engage ASUAF
- Legislative Advocacy Portal
- Chapters to Networks
- Veteran's Memorial
- Nanook Network
- Communication/Marketing Plan
- Blue & Gold/Rendezvous
- Awards and Scholarships
- Updated membership levels
- Stop doing stuff
2021 UAFAA SWOT Analysis – this is our story! ☺
Our Enablers (Strengths & Opportunities)
- Diverse board, geographically well represented
- Opportunities for alumni to connect
- We are alumni willing to help
- Support positive and essential projects for students
- Recognize alumni achievements
- Love for the institution
- Independence! 501c3
- Recognized brand on campus
- Keeps me connected to UAF
- We are Alaskans! We get things done
- Dedicated board
- Active community of alumni in vlog
- Network of UAF alumni with a shared interest in the success of UAF
- Executive director's leadership
- Scholarship support
- Diversity of thought and experience on the board
- Provide financial support to UAF organizations
- Providing a way to stay connected to the university
- Grow the brand
- Grow the donor base via the Benefactor Fund
- Grow the relationship with UAF athletics
- A well-developed website
- Engage younger alums
- Free membership – Every alum is a member
- Growing membership numbers outside Alaska Nanook Network
- Classes and seminars for alumni
- Chapters or regional affiliation
- Partner with Admissions and recruitment
- Stewardship plan for Lifetime members
- Partnerships with alumni-owned businesses
- Naming campus landmarks after alums
- Connect alumni through arts and cultural events
Our Challenges (Threats & Weaknesses)
- ED duties only 15% of position description
- Lack of resources and support staff for ED
- The only times alumni are contacted are for money
- Unaware of how much we give to UAF
- Paying dues excludes many
- Alumni don’t know who we are
- Not engaging with younger alums
- Difficult to get alumni to run for the board
- Board transparency
- Ineffective at engaging current students
- Lack of meaningful outreach to alumni outside AK
- Board gets bogged down in the weeds
- Decreasing budget, brain drain
- Not finding the right people to fill board seats
- Diminished membership and relevance
- More difficult political landscape
- The struggle to be relevant to new or recent graduates
- Petty internal politics
- Us vs. them when dealing with the university
- Failure of membership to grow proportionately
- Lack of awareness on value of higher education
- Infighting amongst the three universities
- Becoming too clubby and clicky;
- Member apathy