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Holy Cross graduates are now only a mouse click away from
a campus connection. The launch of
the new Alumni On-line last June opened up a new, virtual community. You
can access the community through the Holy Cross Web site: www.holycross.edu.
From there, the online service offers lots of options.
Did you miss Reunion 2000? Look up your classmates in the online directory. Want
to rave about the Crusaders or advertise an alumni event? Go to one of several
custom bulletin boards. At the Career Center, you can post a job or hunt for
one and get career advice. Promote your business, products or services in the
Business Yellow Pages. You can also create your own Web page and have a permanent
e-mail address connected to Holy Cross.
"Alumni
On-line serves as an important link with our graduates," says Patrick McCarthy,
director of alumni relations, "It's helping us improve what we've always done:
talking to and listening to alumni."
The
staff at alumni relations had been hearing for some time-at least from computer
savvy graduates-"Why aren't we online?"
The demand for the online community was almost immediately evident. The first
hit-made by an alumnus-occurred within 15 minutes of the launch of the site.
Within the first three months, more than 2,000 alumni visited and registered;
at least 10 new visitors check out the site every day.
"We
waited to go online until we had a plan," explains Oscar L. Wallace, technology
coordinator. "We know that a site is only as good as the maintenance that's
put into it."
The College contracted with Harris Publishing, the company
that produces the alumni directories, to offer Alumni On-line.
According to McCarthy, it would have taken substantial staff and time for the
College
to have developed the site. "We weren't in the position to be able to do this
on our own," he says.
To coordinate the new online community with the existing Holy Cross Web site,
alumni affairs turned to a Holy Cross graduate, Spencer Hayman '74,
who heads the Web design and consulting company, Little Tornadoes.
"Spencer asked us to consider the audience: What do our alumni want, and how
do
we want to communicate with them?" notes Wallace.
Though
established by the College, Alumni On-line belongs
to the graduates.
"We
provide safety and security," says McCarthy, "but ownership of the online community
belongs to the graduates. Explaining that the online community is still a work
in progress, he adds, "We're hoping as more graduates find
the site, they'll join."
Registering
is quick, easy and free. From the Holy Cross Web site (www.holycross.edu)
click on Alumni & Friends, then select Online Community and click
on Alumni
On-line. Simple directions explain how to set up
a screen name and password.
What's up for the future online? Look for fast-breaking news from Holy Cross,
but don't worry about junk e-mail.
"We've taken precautions to protect the privacy and security of alumni who join
the online community," McCarthy says.
In the future, alumni will have the ability to make
reservations for events online, shop for Holy Cross merchandise,
and make an online donation to the College with
a credit card.
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