Career Vision and Northern Illinois University Alumni Assocation Announce Innovative Partnership

What if college alumni knew that their alma mater was committed to helping them leverage their education into a successful career path - throughout their career? And what if their alma mater also extended that support to their families?

Now, over 200,000 Northern Illinois University alumni are the lucky recipients of that depth of commitment. In July, 2008, the NIU Alumni Association launched a new membership program which includes an attractive benefit package for the two paid membership levels. According to Executive Director, Joseph Matty, benefits enhancing career and professional development were key.

"We chose Career Vision because we knew that's how we could meet our alumni constituents' needs for assistance with career change issues," said Matty. Career Vision had a strong reputation, a quality career assessment process, and was located in the heart of the highest concentration of NIU alumni. In fact, NIU alumni represent the highest number of alumni in the Chicago area of any university. Currently, there are 211,000 alumni, and each year, another 4,000 new graduates are added to the Association's ranks.

The benefits are available to alumni and friends of NIU who join the association, as well as their spouses, children and grandchildren. This offering is a true Legacy Benefit. The Association recognizes that offering a service that can not only help alumni themselves, but also help their families, is a bonus. Identifying ideal career options and college majors for their high school and college-aged children can reduce stress and save time and money. NIU alumni now have a cost-effective way to give their families an advantage in both college and career, while strengthening the bond between the university and potential future students.

Depending on the membership level, the benefits include special pricing on Career Vision Advantage Assessments and career consulting services, a subscription to the monthly e-newsletter, and a 30-minute career consultation with a professional career expert. No matter where they live, alumni can be served in the way they find most convenient. They can come in to Career Vision's office in Glen Ellyn, or take the assessment online via the internet, receiving their results and recommendations in an interactive phone conference.

"Career Vision's offer of a complimentary career consultation for our Legacy members was clearly the tipping point in our decision to partner. They were willing to offer immediate value to members considering a career change," said Matty.

"The other positive aspect is that working with Career Vision, we are able to move into an important arena at our own pace. They already have programs that are well done, but we are also free to explore how to develop the relationship further."

"I am sure that having Career Vision on board as a partner and membership benefit will spark an internal conversation for alumni about their careers," Matty continued. "When they're ready, they will know that they can turn to their Alumni Association for a trusted, competent resource for themselves and their families." The Association has received very favorable responses from alumni regarding the variety and professional quality of the new benefits, which focus on their growth and development.

One of the first ways designed to leverage the partnership occurred in September. Career Vision presented one of their Career Literacy programs, "How to Make Great Career Decisions at Any Age" at the Student-Alumni Networking Night on the main campus in DeKalb.

"We have held student-alumni networking events before, but this was the first time we introduced a formal learning component," said Matty. "We offered this as a professional development opportunity, and it was very successful." The career management topic provided over 40 students and alumni an opportunity to share their stories of career and college major decisions, generating positive interaction that carried over to the networking time which followed. Additional programs at NIU's four campuses have been proposed.

Please click here for more information about the Career Vision membership benefit for members of the NIU Alumni Association.


© Copyright 2008, Career Vision. Article may be reprinted with permission.

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