Are We Still Connected? Alumni Loyalty Drivers in Higher Education

• In Event: Interventions Influencing Student Sucess
  In Roundtable Session: Reaching Graduation and Beyond

Abstract

Strong alumni relations can be of enormous value to universities. As a result, in most countries alumni giving is essential to the funding of public higher education institutions because of decreasing governmental support. However, to establish future enduring relationships with alumni and their former university, alumni involvement in the form of non-monetary 'membership', e.g., giving guest lectures, seems of importance as well. The purpose of this study was to explore possible drivers of alumni loyalty. Partial Least Squares-Structural equation modeling was used to analyze survey data of 152 alumni. Findings indicate that 40% of the variance in alumni loyalty is explained by student engagement, and in turn 29% of the variance in student engagement is explained by relationship quality.

Authors

• Ingrid Snijders, HZ University of Applied Sciences

• Remigius M. Rikers, University College Roosevelt

• Lisette Wijnia, Roosevelt Center for Excellence in Education. HZ University of Applied Sciences

• Sofie Loyens, University College Roosevelt