August News from Hope Column
Each summer, I read a book by David McCullough, one of my favorite authors. Working on this column has reminded me of a McCullough book I first read a few years ago.
In John Adams, the author includes excerpts from letters written by Abigail Adams to her husband. One written in 1774 includes the piece of Abigail’s wisdom that entered my mind as I thought about this column, written to accompany the alumni survey article on page 22. In her letter she wrote that, “we have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.”
While there have been many high sounding words in articles, presentations and conversations since the largest Hope alumni survey in two decades was completed, I would like to take this opportunity to communicate a few of the many actions taking place because of the valuable feedback Hope has received.
• The Career Center at www.hope.edu/alumni/career will be improved and promoted.
• At Commencement, all graduating seniors now receive information on the benefits and services of the Alumni Association.
• We have improved our international alumni database and will be working to make more connections between alumni abroad and Hope students and faculty.
• Beginning with students and continuing with recent graduates, we will explore new ways to serve and engage Hope’s young alumni.
• Homecoming (October 22-24) will include more student-alumni interaction.
• The Alumni Association is partnering with Admissions to develop improved ways to involve alumni as ambassadors for Hope.
• Alumni priorities and interests identified in the survey will help to shape future articles in this publication and fundraising solicitations.
In addition to the survey, there are other ways we collect alumni feedback, all of which are valuable as the college furthers its mission. Letters, phone calls, event surveys and Alumni Board meetings continually direct the Alumni Association. This cycle of alumni involvement does keep us busy. This, according to Abigail Adams, is just fine as she also wrote, “that a calm is not desirable in any situation in life. Man was made for action and for bustle too, I believe.”
You can read the full issue and the Alumni survey article this column refers to at: http://www.hope.edu/pr/nfhc/current/nfhc0810.pdf
