Alumni Relations Looks to Mentorship to Enhance Connections For Nightingale College learners, staying connected doesn’t have to end after graduation. “In many ways, Nightingale’s alumni are the College’s most valuable resource, and maintaining that connection is important for the graduate, Nightingale, and fellow alumni,” said Bernard C. Austin III, Director of Alumni Relations. To further maximize that resource, Austin said he is excited that the College has established a new partner- ship with LiveAlumni, a database system that provides colleges and universities with information that alumni post publicly on their LinkedIn pages. “If ‘Bernard Austin’ graduated five years ago and he moved and he didn’t update us, or if he’s no longer using the email [we have on file] or his number changed, there’s no way for us to connect with him,” Austin said. “This new database provides us with the latest information he posted on LinkedIn, so I can connect with him via LinkedIn and reach out directly to provide that personal touch.” Through this additional resource, alumni’s experiences in the workforce could be of use to other Nightingale graduates through LinkedIn reviews of companies. “If there’s one company that has one or two stars, we know what we need to do in reaching out if we hear alumni saying they’re interested in working there,” said Austin. Reaching out may entail the Alumni Relations department connecting with the alumni to learn if there’s a personal reason for choosing that company to determine if there might be a better fit or contacting the employer to share the alumni’s skill set and how they could best be used in that work setting. “It’s really about networking and building partnerships,” said Austin. Another avenue to aid alumni is Upnotch, a mentorship platform available through the LiveAid partnership. This free resource is available for alumni who might feel
isolated and don’t have an outlet to voice concerns, doubts, or simply need encouragement from people who have that real-world experience. “A lot of nursing students leave within the first three years,” said Austin, who envisions a different outcome for Nightingale learners. “We want to be with them from graduation all the way through retirement.” Upnotch initially will be available to 1,000 alumni, a number Austin said would expand throughout the year. There is no lottery system, as interested alumni can respond to the Alumni Relations department’s communications about the platform. Upon launching, Nightingale alumni will create an account they can tailor to their specific mentor interests and availability, such as time zones and career fields. Mentors do not have to just be in the nursing field, as alumni are able to tap into more business- minded or entrepreneur-focused advisors. Upnotch has a grading system in which both the mentor and mentee can grade each other, which Austin said would help ensure all parties are getting the most out of their involvement. While the sessions are private, Austin will be able to see grades and attendance. “If an alumnus says their mentor gets a one or two, I can reach out and ask what’s going on with the mentor,” Austin said. “If they’re missing sessions, I can ask if they’ve had a life change or if they feel they no longer need the service, or if they need to pause their account so they’re not taking up a slot that other people could be using.” Investing in programs that benefit alumni provides an opportunity for them to help future alumni. “That connection is very important,” said Austin. “The longer they stay in nursing, the more viable they become to the employer and the more viable they become to us. If we know that you are in a hiring position or a workforce development program, you can help your fellow alumni.”
Be on the lookout for various ways to connect with the Alumni Relations department and to take part in the mentorship opportunity. Brightening Our Future
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