Center for Community Engagement

Previous program evaluation studies that assess alumni engagement are often conducted in university settings, which produce key communication strategies that optimize and enhance alumni engagement in that respective field. However, there is a discrepancy in the literature thatexamines alumni engagement in nonprofit organizations – which may contribute to the lack of alumni engagement. To address this discrepancy, a community-engaged research approach and program evaluation will be conducted in collaboration with the TELACU College Success Program to identify key communication developments and strategies to optimize alumni engagement and foster community among alumni. The next steps include developing and distributing a self-reported alumni survey that gauges their needs and interests within theorganization. The data collected from the self-reported survey will aid in the overall assessment of current communication strategies and outreach methods within the TELACU College Success Program. The results of this study will ultimately, contribute to shifting standard programevaluation methods into integrating community-engagement frameworks and practices for optimal reflection.