International Alumni Programs
by Bill Barnhart, Member Editor, University of Utah
Welcome to NAFSA’s model program resource site featuring International Alumni Programs. We hope the information presented here will assist you in developing and expanding your own international alumni program.
Growth and expansion of this sector of international education has been extensive over the past ten years, although there are some institutions which have been engaged in this field for over 50 years. Schools such as Cornell, Stanford, Penn State, Texas A&M, Yale and Texas-Austin have from 25 to 50 active alumni chapters abroad, and a quick trip across the web reveals literally hundreds of
international alumni programs at institutions around the globe.
The importance of this field of international education is obvious to those who pursue it. Overseas alums tend to demonstrate a stronger affiliation to their U.S. alma mater than domestic graduates. They have proven to be valuable resources in fund raising, overseas program development, and new international student recruitment. Some schools can realistically expect millions of dollars from overseas alumni whenever they conduct a large capital campaign.
For this inaugural edition, funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, we are pleased to feature models from seven institutions who were generous enough to share their international alumni programs with us:
- Texas Tech University International Alumni Relations Program
- The University of Oregon International Alumni Program
- Ball State University Office of International Advancement
- Texas A&M Latin American Network
- University of Miami Intensive English Program Alumni Network
- University of Arkansas International Alumni Reunion
- Michigan State University International Alumni Academic Internship Program
