<p>oldman79(love your screenname) and Columbia2002, you might be interested in this article from the Spectator if you haven't yet seen it. There's no question that Columbia was late to the party in organizing its alumni, but that is changing, as evidenced by the increase in senior giving. Also, the out of town events which, just two years ago, were really aimed at parents of incoming students, now seem equally aimed at young alumni. Though this is mainly targeted at growing the endowment, I think it will eventually also translate into the kind of alumni network that some other Ivies have developed.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Senior Fund Participation Climbs
Years Donations to Date Surpass 2004-2005 Total
<p>As you say, Columbia is late to the party. Too little too late, perhaps? This isn't going to happen overnight, either -- it could take a generation or more to fix things. There's the old chicken-and-egg problem, and it is a vicious cycle in some ways.</p>
<p>I'm suspicious about whether these Senior Fund things have major long-term effects, anyway.</p>
<p>I think they do. Getting people at the point at which they are most identified with their college builds identification and, more significantly, habits. Eric Furda, who was director of admissions, is now in charge of this effort, I believe. He was very effective at admissions and I think he will be effective at this. There is really a science to this, something Harvard and other Ivies developed a long time ago. I believe that the attention to young alumni, combined with the increasing selectivity which adds to the pride of being identified with Columbia, will have long-term effects. But you are right that it will not happen overnight. Not even years really, but decades, when these newly courted alumns start to reach full earning potential.</p>