Alumni Association Progress Report 2018

Western Alumni works to continually demonstrate the strength of your degree, while delivering an alumni experience like no other. We aim to foster a relationship between our alumni and Western, and among fellow alumni in networks around the world.

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

Total impressions from Alumni social media accounts: 3.9 million (2017-18)
Twitter @westernuAlumni
- 51% increase in followers (from 2017 to 2018)
Instagram @westernualumni
- 143% increase in followers (from 2017 to 2018)

KIND MAIL

During the December exam season, alumni were asked to complete postcards, sending words of encouragement to students living in their old residence rooms
More than 1,330 pieces of mail were sent from alumni in 17 countries

PROJECT 140

To mark Western’s founding 140 years ago, 13 alumni-owned businesses across Canada and the U.S., distributed 140 exclusive Western Alumni hats that were redeemed at 1:40 p.m. on March 7
This initiative was a huge success both in person (lines out the door!) and on social media

IT'S ON ME

During the April exam season, alumni were encouraged to show their support for student wellness by purchasing $10 vouchers, with $5 directed toward Western’s Wellness Education Centre and $5 to cover breakfast for a student
The result? Smiles and gratitude, with students reaching out via social media to say “thanks”
523 alumni purchased 1,153 vouchers

PURPLE PERKS

In 2017-18, Western Alumni entered into six new agreements with the following companies and on-campus services to provide alumni preferred rates and benefits:
- Budweiser Gardens
- Canada’s Wonderland
- Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre
- VIA Rail
- Western Film
- Windermere Manor

ALUMNI CARDS

40,469 Alumni Cards issued as of April 30, 2018
Increase of 9,967 from April 30, 2017

AFFINITY PARTNERSHIPS

55,058 alumni took advantage of affinity partner (TD, Manulife, MBNA) preferred rates in 2017

ALUMNI LEGACY COMMITTEE

The following initiatives were just some supported by the Alumni Legacy Committee in 2017-18:
- $250,000 to name the Western Alumni Association Lounge in University College
- $250,000 to name The Western Alumni Association Engineering Gallery in the new Three C+ (Connect. Collaborate. Create.) Building
- $100,000 in support of Advanced Concussion Research and Care (Western’s Brain Injury Group)
- $100,000 to name the Western Alumni Room in the recently renovated Faculty of Education Building

COMMITMENT TO CAREER SUCCESS

404 alumni career coaching appointments (2017-18)
5,000+ members in Western’s exclusive online hub Ten Thousand Coffees, where students and alumni connect

DIGITAL LEARNING

In May 2018, we hosted our first webinar exclusively for alumni: Design Thinking - A Creative Way to Solve Problems with Sidneyeve Matrix, MA’94
It was an enormous success with 1,069 participants representing 10 provinces, 1 territory, 14 U.S. states, as well as Hong Kong and India

EVENTS SPANNING THE LIFE CYCLE

London Knights Game (January): 120 alumni and their families
Easter Egg Hunt (April): 500 alumni and 600 children participated
Little Astronauts’ Space Expedition (April): 67 people took part
"Come From Away" at the Royal Alexandra Theatre (May): 511 alumni and friends attended
Vanier Cup pre-game event (November): 450 fans
"A Christmas Carol" at The Grand Theatre (December): 100 alumni and their families
Senior Alumni Program: 541 alumni registered

EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP

ALUMNI SURVEY

91% of alumni who responded to the survey feel engaged or somewhat engaged with Western

EXTRAORDINARY NETWORK

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

Since 2011, we have more than doubled alumni engagement
In 2017 alone, we engaged more than 100,000 alumni around the world
3,751 alumni attended alumni events in 2017

Year in Review

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