UNI Alumni Association Honored for Work

The University of Northern Iowa Alumni Association has been awarded two awards by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in the 2018 Circle of Excellence Awards.

The UNI Alumni Association won bronze in both advancement services-donor relations and alumni relations programs—marketing and branding for the work the organization did as part of its transition away from a dues-based membership to a more inclusive model that offers services to the more than 117,000 alumni of the university.

This international awards program honors outstanding work in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing at colleges, universities, independent schools and affiliated nonprofits.

“I am incredibly proud of our alumni team for earning two CASE Circle of Excellence Awards for our membership program transition,” said Leslie Prideaux, director of alumni relations and president of University of Northern Iowa Alumni Association. “The transition has allowed us to focus on our mission to connect all alumni and friends to this amazing university.”

Declining membership in the UNI Alumni Association prompted an evaluation of the types of programs and services alumni and friends want and need to help make the association stronger. With research, beta testing and discussions, the UNI Alumni Association chose to transition to a non-dues, all-inclusive alumni association format where all alumni have access to programs and services. The focus is on keeping alumni informed and engaged with UNI.

The awards program received 3,204 entries for consideration in nearly 100 categories from 676 higher education institutions, independent schools and affiliated organizations located worldwide. Judges gave nearly 350 awards. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is one of the largest international associations of education institutions, serving more than 3,700 universities, colleges, schools and related organizations in more than 80 countries.