EAA: Survey Says

In 2012, the Emory Alumni Association (EAA) commissioned the Performance Enhancement Group to conduct the first of three surveys to be administered over five years to determine alumni attitudes and interests. More than 2,600 alumni of all age demographics and geographic regions responded to give us valuable insight into the alumni and student experience at Emory. In the next four issues of Emory Magazine, we will share select results of the survey and how the EAA is responding to alumni interests.

Overall, the findings reinforced our strategic priorities to enhance career services, expand educational enrichment opportunities for alumni, connect alumni no matter where they live, and increase our engagement of students while on campus to strengthen the student-to-alumni experience.

Expanding Educational Enrichment

Then: In 2010, nearly 70 percent of alumni selected educational enrichment as their top interest for expanded alumni benefits, and nearly 80 percent selected access to Emory libraries as a top interest.

Now: We have expanded library access, providing alumni editions of EBSCO’s Academic Search, Business Source, Greenfile, and LISTA free online, in addition to lifetime library privileges with an alumni account. We also enhanced our faculty and career coach chat lecture series, including webinars.

Educational Opportunities

• Faculty lectures
• Library access—EBSCO database
• Kaplan practice tests
• Transcripts
• Emory Continuing Education
• Knowledge@Emory
• EmoryWire
• Kaplan test prep $150 discount
• CDWG electronics discount

2012 Survey: The Good News

Autumn Woods Johnson 07T

Alumni continued to rate these benefits highly in terms of importance—and rated our delivery of them highly as well.

Autumn Woods Johnson 07T, a graduate of Candler School of Theology, says she looks to the Emory Alumni Association to extend her education. “The EAA provides a credible outlet to stay sharp, connected, and inspired,“ she says. Johnson, who focused on cognition and culture in her master’s program, was drawn to Emory for the wide range of research and interdisciplinary offerings across the university. Now, through the EAA faculty lecture series, Johnson values staying “tuned to current research and happenings” and the opportunity to “grow and maintain a connection to the university in this way.”

The EAA encourages alumni to take advantage of the host of enriching lectures, multidisciplinary panel discussions, and resources available to them, whether on campus, on the road, or online. EAA staff and volunteers are working hard to foster more opportunities for alumni to remain intellectually engaged with Emory no matter where they live, bringing faculty to cities across the country and expanding technological resources to increase alumni access globally.

A New Challenge

Help us raise the bar!

Based on the 2012 survey, we have a huge opportunity to help alumni better understand what the EAA does and how to get involved. Here are three steps you can take right now:

1. Visit Emory's Alumni website to learn all about what we’re up to.
2. Consider nominating a fellow alumna or alumnus for an EAA award or an Emory Alumni Board position.
3. Get to know your Alumni Board.

This is the first in a series exploring Emory’s recent survey of alumni. For more information, see Emory's Alumni website.