CTAHR College-Wide Conference: Building A Shared Vision

• Doug Vincent, HNFAS
  
• Barbara Harger, FCS
  
• Natalie Nagai, TPSS/MBBE
  
• Steve Spielman, HNFAS
  
• Merry Cris Ho, ADSC
  
• Juliana Jang, ADSC
  
• Richard Sakuoka, Seed Program
  
• Kathy Lu, CTAHR PIO
  
• Mona Chock, CTAHR Alumni Association
  
• Desmond Ogata, ADSC
  
• Kelvin Shoji, CTAHR
  

Burning Issue: CTAHR Alumni need a sense of belonging. What can CTAHR do to improve and enhance CTAHR Alumni Affairs

Highest Hopes:

1. Tangible commitment by CTAHR administration to address this issue
   
2. Student, alumni database
   
3. Permanent UH e-mail address – permits continued access to alumni as they graduate – email@ctahr.alum.hawaii.edu
   
4. Regular CTAHR publication directed toward alumni; could be via e-mail addresses
   
5. Interesting, regular events directed toward alumni; including both social and educational events – “adding value” to the degree.
   

Challenges or Barriers:

1. No coordinated long term plan with goals, objectives
   
   
2. Lack of data on alumni, former students, retirees – contact information, etc.
   
   
3. Who is to do it? Need resources, can’t always rely upon volunteers or existing staff to follow through. Takes away from their other duties.

• Need database set up with verified contact information
  
• Need quarterly publication directed toward alumni
  
• Need event coordinator to develop, plan and coordinate events
  

Events and Strategies:

Ideas and Possible Events-- events should always be coordinated to ensure that possible donors are present and identified.

• Involve alumni in student recruitment
  
• Notify Alumni and Retirees of Special Events, e.g. CTAHR Extension Conferences, other opportunities
  
• Provide continuing education opportunities for alumni e.g.
  
  • Grant writing
    
  • Fund raising
    
  • Business Plan writing
    
  • Community Development
    
• Alumni Discounts or block ticket purchases for alumni for:
  
  • Honolulu Symphony
    
  • Hawaii Opera Theatre
    
  • Restaurant Card – Discount Card
    
  • 10% Store Coupon for shopping at various stores (consider asking CTAHR Alums who own businesses to contribute)
    
  • Kama’aina Card (special discounts)
    
  • UH Press Discounts
    
  • Museum or theme park discounts
    
  • Discounts for CTAHR seeds, ADSC services
    
  • Discounts for PIO Publications
    
  • Travel Package Deals
    
• Trial or Discounted Subscriptions
  
  • Pacific Business News
    
  • Hawaii Business Magazine
    
• Omiyage Shopping On-Line
  
  • UH bookstore or UH logo items
    
  • Food Discounts – CTAHR, Hawaii specialties
    
• Library Privileges
  
• Parking Privileges or discounts – free night or weekend parking on campus
  
• Special CTAHR Alumni Events featuring:
  
  • Costume Collection Cocktail Party / Reception
    
  • Costume Collection Road Show, coordinate with UH, CTAHR mainland alumni chapters (seek funding from National Endowment for Humanities or Smithsonian)
    
  • Centennial of CTAHR and UH-Manoa
    
  • Food and Wine Events
    
  • Food of the Month Event – work with the culinary industry to highlight a local food commodity at restaurants – introduce new varieties or crops or highlight new flower varieties
    
  • Ag Alumni Tours or Open Houses (don’t forget Retirees)
    
  • Soon to be Grad party and recruitment – networking “party” for junior and senior CTAHR Students – bring in alumni working in the industry and provide students an opportunity to network with alumni.
    

Action Items:

• Develop a Plan, coordinated with UH Alumni Association, CTAHR Alumni Association, CTAHR Advisory Board, CTAHR Development Officer (Kelvin Shoji); CTAHR Department Chairs and CTAHR Administration
  
• Gather and update data – through a variety of means – devote staff to develop a comprehensive contact listing. Increase reliable contact information at least 10% a year.
  
• Start small but do something
  
• Reassign or hire staff devoted to this project both for database development and event coordination
  

Administrator(s):

CTAHR Academic Affairs Office – Marlene Hapai
CTAHR Development Officer – Kelvin Shoji