More details about the timing of the days can be found by clicking Learn More and Register, but session descriptions of the two days are below:  
 
Defining Board Purpose and Roles
We’ll kick off this event with a conversation around how alumni boards have evolved and how they should best be utilized. We’ll review how to translate the board's purpose into meaningful responsibilities and refine how it works with institutional staff. You’ll be able to discuss your board’s purpose and roles, as well as any challenges you may experience in defining them. 
 
Setting Board Strategy
With your board’s purpose set and member responsibilities defined, the next step is to begin developing your strategy. We’ll address how to cooperatively define long- and short-term strategies that align with those of professional staff, and we’ll discuss how to ensure your board’s support for the work. We’ll then review how to move from strategy to implementation in order to position your board for maximum effectiveness. 
 
Developing an Intentional Board Culture
A healthy board culture is essential for a board to effectively execute its strategy and accomplish its goals. We’ll discuss the role of your executive committee in setting and maintaining board culture. We’ll also provide examples of effective board cultures, ways to evaluate current culture, the importance of positive leadership, team building, and professional development, active engagement, working through conflict, and continuous cultural improvement.  
 
Evaluating Board Governance and Operations
Structure should reflect a board’s purpose, roles, responsibilities, and process. Unfortunately, committees, policy, and bylaws are often created on an ad hoc basis and/or not updated regularly. We’ll discuss how to create or revise your structure to make it reflective of your mission and will also address how to most effectively implement the new framework. You’ll then have time to work in small groups to note key issues or changes you are considering related to bylaws or other policy. 
 
Identifying, Recruiting, and Developing Your Pipeline of Board Members
Identifying ideal board members from your pool of alumni leaders requires cooperation from all areas within advancement and the board. This session will focus on best practices for selecting and recruiting productive, dedicated board members, including how to convert board members from other volunteer programs. Knowing that succession planning can be tricky to navigate, we’ll talk through building a leadership pipeline, paying particular attention to board composition. You’ll also have the opportunity to discuss how to approach diversifying your board representation.  
 
Onboarding, Educating, and Training New Members
Bringing new board members up to speed as you integrate them into the existing membership is essential to managing turnover effectively. We’ll walk you through best practices for bringing new people on board and providing education to both existing leadership and new members, and we’ll give you substantive tips on training them for their roles on the board.  
 
Cultivating a Productive Board
A board that fails to accomplish its goals generates frustration for both its members and institutional staff. Here, we’ll explore how to keep your board productive and engaged. You’ll work with peers to consider different format/agenda options for board meetings, committee meeting cadence, and how to apply the best options to your meetings to make them more productive. We will also consider how to sustain momentum and incorporate technology to maintain communication between full board meetings. 
 
Conducting Board Assessment
An effective alumni board must identify clear criteria for measuring success across activity—ideally, at the mission level, the goal level, and individual level. We’ll consider how to evaluate your alumni board and its members, and how to communicate the impact of your board. We’ll also discuss strategies for addressing board members who are falling short of the established metrics for success. You’ll have time to discuss current challenges with board member assessment and accountability in a small-group activity. 
 
Leveraging the Board in a Campaign
What is the role of the alumni board in the context of a comprehensive campaign? We’ll discuss best practices for leveraging board members to support institutional goals in this environment. We will describe the relationship of the board in achieving the financial and non-financial goals associated with a campaign. You’ll also be able to engage in dialogue with peers about your current or future campaign priorities and how you might involve your board in the process. 
 
Creating a Board Strategy Roadmap
In small groups, we’ll discuss key takeaways from the conference and identify three to four actionable strategies that will enhance your board’s effectiveness and member engagement.  Discussion groups will be curated based on board type, to facilitate peer-to-peer dialogue that can help you develop your action plan.