Role of Alumni in Delhi University

On 14th March, 2015, I visited Delhi University to attend the Panel Discussion and view the Sound and Light Show. Panel Discussion was chaired by Supreme Court Judge, Justice A K Sikri. Panelists shared their views on how to create a better relationship between DU and Alumni.

Later I thought about the whole issue and came up with following framework that DU can use to lay down the future activities in relation to her alumni. 

I understand there is already an alumni association of DU.

1. Connect: University offices have all the knowledge about the students who were enrolled and passed out from the university. But she does not know where they are at this time. It needs to create an electronic platform where people can connect with university. Provision should be for opt-in membership using your e-mail ID and a password of your choice. Very similar to LinkedIn. This facility should not be restricted to only Alumni, but extended to anyone who is and wishes to connect with University under an option "Friend of Delhi University".
2. Communicate: DU can communicate with all registered alumni on a weekly basis to begin with. An electronic magazine may be created which is sent to all the registered members.
3. Collect: The Annual Fees of Rs 100.00 may be collected from each alumnus to fund the activities of Alumni Association. This only lets you become a member of the alumni website and use the facilities of the website. There should be provision for Premium membership by paying a registration fee of Rs 500.00 one time and Rs 300 per annum. In this case your credentials are verified from University records. You get an electronic Card. This Card allows you access to University facilities by paying fee on a per use basis. There should not be any life membership. This would ensure that at least once a year, there is an member activated process. Otherwise the database soon can become full of obsolete, expired and abandoned connections.   
4. Contribute: Alumni should have channels to contribute resources (money etc.) and ideas
5. Chapter Formation: The alumni for DU are in huge numbers. Perhaps more than 50 lakhs or so. All cannot be connected at one go. Best is to form chapters and keep membership of these chapters flexible.
6. Celebrate: The chapters should celebrate birthdays, anniversaries etc. of members on contributory basis. Significant achievements of the alumni should be
7. Continue: Many old students when they grow old may like to continue further studies, particularly after retirement. Today life span of the people is longer and they may live for 20 to 30 years after retirement. Many such people would like to pursue academic learning. However, they are not interested in regular degrees. DU can provide
• access to libraries
• access to online courses and
• create special courses for senior citizens.

For example I may like to pursue a course on Philosophy, but may not like to enroll for an MA degree. I am fine with a six month course where I get to learn and also meet people of similar interest.
Such courses can be offered when regular academic activity is low. Partly in summer and in afternoons. These "participants" will require air-conditioned class rooms. Some may like to learn about law. And so on. University can earn good revenue also from these courses.  


(To be completed)