VCGRADS SET TO REUNITE LONG LOST FRIENDS
Alumni Group Forms to Promote Personal and Professional Relationships Between Graduates of Tight-Knit Visual Communications Program
The University of Delaware Visual Communication Alumni Association, better known as VCgrads, is working with Mutant Media to enhance personal and professional networking between its members. While the majority of the group's members are employed in advertising or graphic design, the group includes a large number of professional photographers, illustrators, new media professionals and, believe it or not, even a couple of Alpaca farmers. The plan includes developing online and offline communication channels, organizing events, and enabling alumni in a range of fields to make use of each others' expertise.
VCgrads.org, the association's password-protected website, launched in July with an impressive 1:1 ratio of invites sent to site visitors. In addition, almost 10% of grads the program had fallen out of touch with were found and reintroduced to the community.
A team of content providers will keep the site fresh with industry intelligence, articles, a calendar of events, member news, and more on a weekly basis. The bulk of content for the site will be supplied by members themselves.
Despite the massive undertaking of developing the site, the group's founders are being cautious to recognize that the site is not the association, but only a tool to be used by its members. "The website will be our greatest tool for communicating with alumni and activating alumni goals," says VCgrads.org's content director, Terre Nichols. "This is where we will maintain contact, invite input, encourage involvement, and promote the group and the [Visual Communications] program." Event planners are being recruited for each of the association’s major epicenters. And while getting some of the top players in the advertising world together will have its professional advantages, the group is equally focused on promoting good, old-fashioned personal friendships.