Send Your Seniors Off Right

Xi Psi (Grand Valley State) Past President Halie Black with her father at graduation on April 26, 2014

This time of year Delta Zeta’s newsfeeds are filled with images of members in caps and gowns proudly clasping hard earned diplomas. We are so proud of the over 3,000 members who will transition from collegiate to alumnae members this spring. We also know that our chapters, both collegiate and alumnae, can help these women successfully make the transition beyond the college campus. It is our goal to help every Delta Zeta graduate stay engaged and connected to the sisterhood she joined for life.

What can we do to make sure Delta Zeta’s seniors are sent off right?

Update their Contact Information. Before those graduates receive their diploma, make sure they have updated their contact information. They can do it on www.deltazeta.org/member, or their collegiate chapter may make the update on Chapter Inc. Membership Menu – Actions- Edit Member Information. Please update their email addresses to their personal email addresses vs. their university email addresses.

Connect with Area and Local Alumnae Contacts. Be sure to provide your graduating members the contact information for the local alumnae group for where they will be living. You can find information on Delta Zeta’s Alumnae Areas and State Alumnae Chairmen on our website.

Keep them Updated on Chapter Happenings. The first few months after leaving campus can be hard. Make sure you keep your newly graduated alumnae connected to chapter happenings by including them on your alumnae communications from the start. Don’t let months, or years, go by before including them on official chapter communications to alumnae. Consider having your Alumnae Relations Chairman send a special message to them a few months after they graduate. This leads back to number 1 - making sure you have updated contact information!

Show Members How to Stay Engaged. Alumnae advisors and nearby alumnae chapter members are examples of women whose lives have continued to be enriched by staying involved within Delta Zeta. Consider asking these women to talk to your chapter members, especially your graduating seniors, about the many ways to stay involved with Delta Zeta.

Network Online. Encourage members to stay abreast of all the DZ happenings by following our national and local newsfeeds. It is easy to stay engaged via social media (Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn/Pinterest) and finding connections to sisters is as simple as a click away!

What other ways do you connect recent graduates with Delta Zeta to make sure they stay engaged as alumnae?