Best Practices: Scholarship and Student Support

• Ideas for Making This Happen
• How We Can Help
• How Other Clubs Have Made This Happen

Ideas for Making This Happen

• Host prospective student receptions, current student/prospective student parties, college night participation, receptions for parents of current students, etc.
• Establish and maintain a scholarship fund for students within your club area
• Contact high school guidance counselors or teachers in high schools within your club area
• Participate in the Alumni Student Recruitment program
• Maintain contact with current U-M students from your club's area

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How We Can Help

• Work with the Office of Development and the AAUM's university relations staff to create a fund-raising campaign for your club's scholarship fund
• Use your club footballs, basketballs and hockey pucks autographed by coaches as raffle prizes that benefit the scholarship fund
• Provide your club with the names of people from your area who have signed up for the Alumni Student Recruitment program, which will allow you to be in contact with prospective and admitted students
• Provide your club with lists of current students from your area each fall and each spring
• Provide club members who sign up for the Alumni Student Recruitment program with training materials, giveaways and up-to-date information via e-TrueBlue: Inside Recruitment
• Provide contact information for the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and other student services offices that could be of assistance
• Contact Phyllis Taylor, AAUM liaison to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions

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How Other Clubs Have Made This Happen

The U of M Club of Greater Lansing had a group of members call each admitted student from its area to offer congratulations and ask the students if they had any questions. The club followed up with a reception for students and their parents.

The U of M Club of Flint is endowing a $100,000 Athletic Department scholarship, with a commitment to donate $20,000 per year for the next five years. The club matches contributions donated by members. The club also raises money by selling listings in its local alumni directory.

The U of M clubs of Greater Detroit and Toledo have each created a development position on their boards to raise money for scholarship. One tool used by both clubs is a scholarship appeal designed by the Alumni Association through the supplemental mailing program.

The U of M Club of Manistee hosts a student send-off at which it presents each student a "survival kit" consisting of prepaid postcards and calling cards, email addresses of other area students at the University and a variety of Alumni Association gift items.

The U of M Club Richmond provides final exam care packages to area students.

The U of M Club of Downriver raises money for its scholarship fund by having a "Beat Ohio State Bust" fund-raiser during the Ohio State football-watching party. The club sells "M" hammers, painted yellow and blue, with decals and former players' signatures to raise money for scholarships. Participants can try out their new hammers by crushing buckeye nuts.

The U of M Club of the Triangle has an annual online auction to raise money for its scholarship.

The U of M Club of Seattle puts together a list of students from the area that it gives to each student so that they can keep in touch while on campus. It also puts together a list of parents' contact information so that parents can stay in touch, too.

The U of M Club of Grand Rapids hosts an admitted students reception and a student send-off barbecue each year. The reception provides information regarding housing, financial aid and other University programs for students who have been admitted to the next year's starting class. The barbecue is an informal gathering to which all of the area's admitted students are invited in August, just before classes resume. This is a great time for the students to ask any last-minute questions and to connect with other students from the area so that they might have a friendly face on campus.

The U of M Club of Los Angeles has created a slide-show presentation to give prospective and admitted students the chance to preview Ann Arbor and the University before they head off to begin their first year at Michigan.