New Alumni Strategic Plan to Expand Programming, Foster Inclusion, Inspire Participation 

Alumni Engagement & Services Strategic Plan (2024-27) will enhance services, programming, and communications to a growing and increasingly diverse Trent Alumni Family 

September 4, 2024

The Trent Community came together to develop a new strategic plan that will better meet the needs of the growing and increasingly diverse Alumni Family, which is now 66,000+ strong in countries across the world.  

Alumni, students, and campus partners provided thoughtful input over the past eight months to create the Alumni Engagement & Services (AES) Strategic Plan (2024-27).  

“This overarching roadmap will continue to evolve as we strive to remove barriers for alumni to participate in programming, provide more personalized offerings including more family-friendly events, and broaden the scope of our initiatives to include students – our future Trent alumni,” says Naomi Handley, AES director.  

Alumni will also gain more meaningful volunteer opportunities, enhanced platforms to connect with one another, and improved professional development. 

Embodying the principles of equity, diversity, and belonging, the plan also recommends elevating voices from underrepresented groups in communications and encouraging diverse representation in programming. 

To engage future Trent alumni, the AES team will meet current students early on in their studies to discuss which alumni services, programs, and benefits are offered after graduation. 

"Every Trent student’s alumni journey starts from the minute they open their acceptance letter,” said current student Maizie Schwets (Gzowski College), who sat on the steering committee. “As future alumni, students need to better understand alumni perks, which peer mentorship programs are available, and what life after Trent truly looks like.” 

As alumni often have a special affinity for certain aspects of their Trent Experience - such as varsity teams, Colleges, and academic departments - the plan places a greater emphasis on developing programs and services that align with those interests. There will also be more opportunities for alumni to connect with current students who have similar interests. For example, alumni who were once involved in the Trent Southeast Asian Organization will gain opportunities to engage with current students in that group.  

Trent’s Colleges will also benefit from this next chapter in alumni engagement. 

“Traditionally, the Colleges have had such a meaningful impact on the lives of Trent's alumni and this plan will only strengthen their connection to the current student experience,” said Dr. Michael Eamon, principal of Catharine Parr Traill College. “Traill is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and I am looking forward to drawing upon the new strategic plan to enhance the alumni experience, encourage alumni to reconnect, and offer great programming that will connect alumni with students, faculty, and community members." 

The plan truly reinvigorates programming for all alumni, says Dr. Alma Barranco-Mendoza ’90 (Lady Eaton College), Trent University Alumni Association president.  

“The needs and interests of Trent alumni are always evolving, and this roadmap, developed through significant consultation with multiple parties, will guide Trent in delivering forward-thinking alumni services for years to come,” Barranco-Mendoza says.

If you would like to get involved with alumni programming, have questions, or simply want to connect with your Trent Alumni Team, email alumni@trentu.ca.