Spartacon
PROBLEM
Alumni lose interest in engaging with San José State University and are unaware of the value in reconnecting.
SOLUTION
We want to reimagine the connection between disengaged alumni and San José State University.
Download our process book for more details. Process Book
MY ROLE
Research, Branding, Event Planning
TEAM
Catherine Escoto
Marisa Hsu
Preston McPeak
SPECIAL THANKS
Intuit coach Neena Burman & Professor Nelson Wei Tan
Where do we begin?
Stakeholders
PRIMARY
Alumni
Alumni Association
SECONDARY
Faculty
Students
Sponsors
Companies
Recruiters
Organizations
Community
Career Center
AUDIENCE
Alumni who feel disengaged with SJSU due to time, relocation, or other experiences
SJSU Alumni level of engagement
22.1%
25%
14.7%
What do Alumni want?
ALUMNI PREFER PERSONAL CONTACT
“I would like to be contacted by my professors or current students.”
Gilberto Hernandez, BS Aerospace Engineering '11
ALUMNI ARE INTERESTED IN ENGAGING
82.2% said that they would engage again if an opportunity came up.
Research Methods
Interviews
Departments
- Lynne Trulio, Social Sciences
- Ron Rogers, Psychology
- Joshua Nelson, Industrial Design
- Lena Summerill, Engineering
Professors
- Charlotte Sunseri, Anthropology
- Joshua Nelson, Industrial Design
Alumni
- Gilberto Hernandez
- Leila Hakim
- Giang Lam
Alumni Association
- Brian Bates
- Clifton Gold
Alumni Survey
We received 71 responses from graduates with a background from a variety of majors.
Case Studies
We conducted case studies of three universities with reputable alumni programs.
- Stanford University
- University of South California
- Humboldt University
What did the results tell us?
Alumni drift away
After graduating from San José State University, students follow many different paths. Some relocate, switch careers, or start families, but overall they are very busy. Working alumni often lose touch with San José State University after extended periods of time.
What do we need to do?
- Make the point of contact to alumni personal
- Maintain detailed alumni information
- Market alumni opportunities
- Make communication faster and easier
- Provide alumni with relevant information they want to know about SJSU
Introducing SpartaCon!
to reconnect with their friends and the university
Our goal is to change alumni perspective of SJSU in order to encourage involvement and foster more meaningful connections with alumni.
SpartaCon is a full-day event at San José State University that gives alumni and faculty the opportunity to come together in one place for an unforgettable experience!
Come to SpartaCon to take part in the numerous activities taking place, ranging from performances to insightful talks. Don’t miss this opportunity to spend quality time and network with alumni and faculty.
You're Invited!
You can learn more about this event on our website and get your tickets through Eventbrite
Welcome back!
Follow the gold and blue signs when you arrive
OBJECTIVE
Change Alumni perspective of SJSU
Get your badge and SJSU swag
Get a badge and grab your goodie bag of everything you'll need for the day
OBJECTIVE
Promote networking
Find your way
While you're out and about, check your brochure for a map or agenda to find out what’s coming up next on the schedule and where it will take place
OBJECTIVE
Provide relevant information
Choose where to go
Pick and choose events you're interested in from a large variety!
OBJECTIVE
Deliver personal contact
Provide relevant information
Make meaningful connections
With friends
SpartaCon provides a chance for friends to reunite and spend a fun day together as well as make new friends. It's open to people of all majors and appeals to a large variety of interests.
With family
SpartaCon is also a family event! As requested from alumni we interviewed, we are having an abundance of exciting events that the entire family can enjoy. Our petting zoo, for example, is sure to make people of all ages happy!
With faculty
Our department open house event gets faculty involved and provides the opportunity to reconnect with alumni on a personal one-on-one basis. This allows alumni to learn about what's happening in their program today and encourages future engagement with professors and their program.
With students
Alumni can check out The Hub to see what students are up to and provide them with some guidance. SpartaCon opens opportunities for networking, recruiting, collaborating, partnerships, mentorships, and more!
With our community
Having a large number of alumni coming back to our university gives us the opportunity to get the entire community to come together and feel involved. Alumni can relive old memories by going back to their favorite local food establishments and getting a discounts.
With San José State University
SpartaCon gets alumni back on campus and gives us a chance to change their perspective of what it means to engage with SJSU. It allows us to advertise alumni opportunities that most alumni don’t know about and let them know we have a lot to offer them and that reconnecting can lead to great experiences.
