Campus Partner Resources
Communications
Communicating with alumni is important for not only your department/college, but for the entire University as a whole. There are many great vehicles available for communicating with alumni. These vehicles are ways to promote an upcoming event/program or highlight a particular faculty member, alumnus, or student. Don't forget to include a giving message in all communications.
Learn about communication options
Alumni Awards Program
Each year the Illinois State University’s Alumni Association honors a select group of individuals who personify the University’s tradition of excellence. The alumni awards program is an excellent opportunity for colleges, departments, and other units on campus to recognize their deserving alumni. Through outstanding achievements and contributions, these individuals bring honor to Illinois State and the Alumni Association. Established in 1971 with one award, the program has grown to six award categories to better recognize alumni at different stages of their careers.
For additional details on the six award categories and/or to submit a nomination, please visit: Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/awards Please note that the deadline for nominations is late July and awards are presented at a ceremony during in the spring. Questions? Please contact Jamie Sennett at jrsenne@IllinoisState.edu.
Homecoming
As you are making plans for department/unit-specific events for Homecoming, please visit the Homecoming website for an up-to-date list of all the festivities taking place during the week: Homecoming.IllinoisState.edu. Also, the Homecoming resource webpage, specifically created for our campus partners, may be a huge help in providing assistance/suggestions for promotions and planning: http://Homecoming.Illinoisstate.edu/resources.
Alumni Day
Alumni Day, which traditionally takes place on the Friday of Homecoming week, is an opportunity to showcase your alums and their achievements, reinforce their Redbird pride, and share their experience and expertise with your current students. In addition to participating in the luncheon hosted by the Alumni Association for Alumni Day honorees, departments are encouraged to engage their alumni guests in experiences such as classroom discussions, tours of their facilities, and/or meetings with students or faculty groups.
Information regarding Alumni Day 2026, including the online participation form, is available through the faculty and staff Homecoming resource webpage. Any questions about the program should be directed to Jamie Sennett at jrsenne@IllinoisState.edu.
Alumni Database Updates
Individual Engagement
In the event that your college/department engages with particular alumni (i.e. speaking in a class, met for coffee, the alum provided new contact information, etc), the department contact is encouraged to submit an update online. This will be added to the alum's record and engagement score.
Submitting Event Attendance/Group List Form
As your college/department completes events, remember to submit your attendee list. Please remember to collect as much information as possible, including name, graduation year, address, email, phone, etc. Once on the Sharepoint Homepage, go to the right-hand side menu, select "Forms and Templates," and download the General Data Collection Template. When using the form, please enter in What type of data are you submitting? field, “Event Attendance” and give a description of the event, including name and date it took place, or "Group List" with the description indicating what group and the code if one has already been created. Go to data tab and put in information. Once done, save template with College/Department name and short description of list, and go to "Data Update Dropbox" in Sharepoint. Here you can drop the list for uploading.
Regional/Local Alumni Events and Reunions
Each year, the Alumni Association and affiliated alumni networks host more than 100 alumni events and programs across the country. Although they are certainly not the only way to communicate and connect with alumni, if planned and marketed properly, events may provide an avenue for meaningful engagement with your alumni.
Alumni Engagement staff are happy to provide coaching and guidance regarding the steps needed to host a successful alumni event. It’s important to note that no two departments or colleges are the same. Although there are some helpful rules of thumb, what works for one group may not be a successful fit for another. For assistance, contact Jamie Sennett at jrsenne@IllinoisState.edu.
Advocacy and Civic Engagement
Alumni Engagement partners with Government Relations and Student Government Association to provide opportunities for alumni and students to advocate for higher education and Illinois State University. Campus units that have alumni who are interested in advocacy and civic engagement work can reach out to Stephanie Duquenne at sadque@IllinoisState.edu for more information. Our staff is also able to present to any advisory board or student group/class on the impact of advocacy work at Illinois State University and how to get involved with campus initiatives.
Requesting Alumni Lists
Alumni lists can be requested through Illinois State's Advancement Operations (Donor Information Services). Requests will take a minimum of ten days to fulfill.
Event Registrations
Alumni Engagement has the tools available to set up an online registration webpage, with a shortened and customizable URL to make promotions easier. The online registration can process complimentary events or those requiring payment. Any new contact information submitted through the registration process is also updated automatically in the alumni database. Regular reservation updates can be provided to the designated college or department contact.