Page 8 - UWI Quality Circle FlipBook

Remarks – UWI Quality Policy Launch
A s Director of Alumni Relations (AR) for The UWI, I consider the implementation of a UWI Quality Policy a significant step which will assist UWI Alum Relations professionals as they seek to increase alumni engagement
across the regional institution.
The main mission of Alumni Relations is
the engagement of alumni in the life of the University. There are new graduates every
year, as well as alumni at various stages of maturation along their lifecycles, who are a
valuable resource and need to be continually engaged.
Research shows that student experience directly impacts alumni loyalty. Students are future alumni and my Alumni Relations team and I support Quality as we know that if the student experience is negative, they will not want to keep connected to UWI when they graduate. The ENTIRE student experience (academic learning/administrative interaction and co-curricular activities) cultivates a graduate, therefore all members of The UWI community impact both Quality and Alumni Relations.
If AR professionals have to do remedial work to re- engage with the graduate, based on their student experience, it makes our job all the more challenging, so you can understand that we welcome The UWI Quality Policy, which will keep any student dissatisfaction at a minimum.
When QUALITY is implemented to continuously improve the student experience - from their letter of acceptance all the way through to graduation - it also makes the mandate of the regional UWI STAT Corps – that of imparting the importance of AR and graduate engagement– much more understandable to their peer students.
CeliaDavidsonFrancis BA,MA Director of Alumni Relations - UWI Director and Coordinator of the Vice-Chancellor’s UWI STAT Ambassadorial Corps
Now - why is Quality important to AR?
(4 quick examples)
1. Quality is “value added” – if students perceive improved expertise and knowledge, as a result of their UWI education, they will continue to be engaged with their Alma Mater as graduates.
2. Quality affects UWI’s accreditation and Ranking - which affects current students, but also alumni who feel the value of their degree is diminished if scores are not high; thus they do not proudly promote or defend their Alma Mater.
3. The Quality of the reputation of UWI has a direct correlation to the value of a graduate’s degree. The more prestigious the reputation of The University, the more a graduate can leverage in terms of employability and salary level. Graduates will identify, engage with and advocate for a University with a stellar reputation.
4. Alumni also recognize a unique aspect of UWI: the way we centre our students in their Caribbean identity and culture and give them a strong sense of self, of self-reliance and pride which is an aspect of Quality that they treasure.
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