GOAL 7: Instill and nurture a university-wide advancement orientation.

UAHuntsville, like most universities, operates in a highly decentralized manner, with governance, authority, and responsibility widely dispersed throughout the academic and administrative units. While University Advancement has the clearest and most direct charge to build constituent relationships, the fact is that the aggregate, on-going contact with our constituents is preponderantly carried out by the faculty and academic leadership. No amount of effort by University Advancement can match the goodwill generated by those who daily interact with our most important potential supporters, and it is University Advancement’s responsibility to work collaboratively and respectfully with the units to assist them in their vital roles as representatives of the institution.

Actions

• Raise the consciousness of faculty and staff on the importance and benefits of an advancement orientation, through internal communications, presentations, forums, and reports.
• Encourage and support deans and department heads in their Alumni relations and fundraising activities.
• Encourage faculty and staff to emphasize a customer-service attitude toward students, Alumni, industry, government, and the community.
• Hold regular meetings of deans and other key leadership to discuss advancement initiatives and agree on priorities for the use of private support.
• Conduct an ongoing effort to secure annual gifts from Alumni and staff.

Assessment

• Amount of time deans and department heads spend in direct contact with Alumni and friends of the university.
• Surveys measuring “customer satisfaction” of internal and external constituencies.
• Participation rates of faculty and staff in annual giving programs.