For many graduates, the years spent at university are about much more than simply getting a degree. At its best, university is a place where we forge lifelong friendships, choose our career paths, discover new passions, and transition from adolescence to adulthood. But even with all of those reasons, many former students are reluctant to maintain a relationship with their alma mater after graduation. (Although we’d always still recommend checking out
Whether you’re a recent grad or an alum from decades back, staying connected to your school might be easier than you think. Here are a few ways to consider.
Join an alumni group
No matter what kind of school you went to or what you studied, chances are there’s an alumni group that would be eager to have you as a member. Alumni groups are a great way to stay current on campus news, network with other alumni in your area, and learn of other opportunities to connect with your alma mater.
Follow on social media
This may be an obvious one for recent grads, but anyone who earned their degree in the days before platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok became popular might be surprised at how many new ways there are to learn about what’s happening on campus. From reminiscing over frosh week highlight reels and dorm tours to keeping up with school events, social media offers a whole range of perspectives you won’t find anywhere else.
Attend events
Whether it’s a homecoming celebration, an open house or a theatre production, attending an in-person event on campus is a unique opportunity to reconnect with your university IRL. Not only will it bring back fond memories of your student days, but being back on campus might help to spark ideas for other ways you might want to contribute.
Volunteer
If you live in the same area as your alma mater, volunteering on campus is a great way to give back while taking part in campus life. You could welcome new students to campus on move-in day, serve as an usher on convocation day, or help with university outreach initiatives, to name a few examples. If you don’t live near your former school, you might consider assisting with a chapter of your local alumni association instead.
Set up a mentorship or internship
Not all learning takes place in the classroom, and mentors are a vital resource for students finding their way in the academic and professional worlds. Mentoring a student or a recent grad in your chosen field can be beneficial for them and fulfilling for you. Better still, you might just inspire your mentee to take on a mentor of their own down the line. Likewise, if you’re in the position to do so, setting up an internship at your company for current students or grads offers a direct way to help them get a foothold in the professional world.
Set up a scholarship
For those who have the means or the connections, setting up an annual scholarship (either funded by you or your company) is a direct way to support the next generation along their academic journey. Whether you offer it to students studying in a specific field, students from specific background or simply those in financial need, helping to pay for a standout student’s education is a way to make a substantial positive impact on campus.
Fundraising
No matter the school, fundraising is always an important aspect of alumni outreach, and can be an easy way for grads to stay connected. Fundraising commitments can also be as involved as you want them to be, ranging from setting up a regular donation to a department of your choice to leading fundraising initiatives in your community.
Recruit the next generation
Countless university stories start with a trusted relative or family friend talking up their alma mater to a prospective student. If you had a great university experience and want to share that with the next generation, the most direct way to do it is to encourage a would-be student to study there.
Jeremy Freed is a freelance writer and editor based in Toronto. His writing about fashion, travel, food and design appears in Sharp, Harry and re:Porter magazines, among many others.