Throughout my work in University Advancement, I have learned about tax laws and how integral these laws are in forming policies surrounding donor stewardship and involvement. For example, when assisting with the Alumni Laureate Scholars interviews this year, I learned that we needed to invite more campus partners (non-donors) into the interview room as to conform with the IRS policies about donor/non-donor ratios in a scholarship decision making process. This experience helped me learn how policy is implemented in my department (ACPA & NASPA, 2010).
In my two years with the division, I have gained an understanding of how internal and external special interest groups influence policy makers at the departmental level (ACPA & NASPA, 2010). Part of my role as the Student Alumni Connection advisor is to provide an orientation for newly elected Executive Board members at the end of the spring semester. In the two orientation sessions I have planned, I included a 15-minute session on understanding the “politics” of University Advancement. In this session, I explain to the students how our alumni, donors, and high-level administrators influence the direction of student alumni and student philanthropy programs.
In my two years with the division, I have gained an understanding of how internal and external special interest groups influence policy makers at the departmental level (ACPA & NASPA, 2010). Part of my role as the Student Alumni Connection advisor is to provide an orientation for newly elected Executive Board members at the end of the spring semester. In the two orientation sessions I have planned, I included a 15-minute session on understanding the “politics” of University Advancement. In this session, I explain to the students how our alumni, donors, and high-level administrators influence the direction of student alumni and student philanthropy programs.