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March Madness is an exciting time for college sports fans across the country, as the best teams in men's and women's college basketball compete for the championship. For advancement and alumni engagement teams at higher education institutions, March Madness is also an opportunity to engage with alumni and showcase the impact of their education on the success of college sports programs.
In this blog, we explore specific examples of what advancement, engagement, alumni relations, and prospect research teams can do during March Madness.
Host March Madness Events for Alumni
Hosting March Madness events for alumni is a great way to engage with them and build a sense of community around your college sports programs. Host watch parties on campus or at local bars and restaurants, providing opportunities for alumni to connect with each other and with current students.
You can also invite alumni to participate in bracket challenges, where they can compete against each other and show off their knowledge of college basketball.
Leverage Social Media to Build Engagement
Social media is a powerful tool for engaging with alumni during March Madness. Use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share updates on the tournament, promote events, and showcase the impact of your education on college sports success.
You can also use social media to build excitement and engagement around your college sports programs, sharing photos and videos of the games, interviews with players and coaches, and highlights from alumni who have gone on to successful careers in college sports.
Analyze Data on March Madness Teams and Players
March Madness is also an opportunity for prospect research teams to analyze data on the teams and players competing in the tournament. By examining data on the players' backgrounds, such as their majors and hometowns, and the success of the teams they play for, prospect research teams can gain insights into the impact of higher education on college sports success.
They can use this information to inform future program development and marketing efforts, as well as to identify potential donors and volunteers for the institution's college sports programs.
Showcase Alumni Who Have Gone on to Successful Careers in College Sports
Of course, March Madness is also a great time to showcase alumni who have gone on to successful careers in college sports. Alumni relations teams can highlight their accomplishments through social media, newsletters, and other communication channels.
They can also invite them to participate in events and activities related to the tournament, providing opportunities for alumni to connect with each other and with the current student body.
March Madness: More Than Just Basketball
March Madness provides a valuable opportunity for advancement, engagement, alumni relations, and prospect research teams to engage with alumni and analyze the impact of higher education on college sports success.
By hosting events, leveraging social media, analyzing data, and showcasing alumni, teams can build a strong and connected alumni network that supports college sports programs and the institution's mission. March Madness provides a playbook for advancealumni engagement teams seeking to build strong and successful college sports programs.
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Interested in implementing some of these strategies yourself? Get in touch with us and we'll be happy to share more details.