ACTIONS ARISING FROM THE ALUMNI CONSULTATIVE GROUP (ACG)
MEETING ON Friday 20 June 2014
Present: Mr Ian Forster, Mrs Pamela Stephens, Mr Antony Jones, Dr David Moffatt, Ms Sue Bevan, Dr
Lorna Rozner, Mrs Helen Miland, Dr Savvas Papagiannidis.
In Attendance: Mrs Melanie Reed; Ms Abi Kelly, Miss Tania Angelopoulos, Miss Anna Warren,
Dr John Hogan, Professor Ella Ritchie, Mr David-John Mather, Mr Calum MacKenzie,
Miss Claire Boothman (Students’ Union President – Elect).
Apologies: Mrs Lesley Braiden, Professor Chris Brink, Professor Patrick Lavery, Mr Mark Scrimshaw, Dr
Carolyn Teasdale.
ITEM
To receive a presentation, ‘Alumni
Communications at Newcastle
University’, delivered by Mrs
Melanie Reed, Senior PR & Events
Manager, Miss Tania
Angelopoulos, Alumni Relations
Manager and Mr David-John
Mather, Communications Officer.
ACTIONS/DECISIONS
Noted:
 Melanie Reed commented upon why the University
communicates with alumni. Highlighting that the department
supports alumni by promoting benefits, providing career and
networking opportunities, raising awareness of the University’s
work, assisting in the development of the University, including
strengthening links between University communities and
former students and philanthropic donors.
 Tania’s presentation included the following:
o The Alumni Relations team reaches its audience through an in
house database which holds 185,000 records.
o DARO’s NUGrad service, an online portal for alumni to update
details and preferences, regain contact with friends, view ‘lost’
lists and event photographs.
o The Alumni Association is promoted to new graduates through
a welcome email, a bespoke edition of AlumNews, social
networks, an advertorial in The Courier’s graduation edition
and LinkedIn.
o Examples of events held locally, nationally and internationally.
o Cross-departmental communications, highlighting the Careers
Service ‘Rise Up’ scheme which is available to all alumni via
the team’s communications.
 David-John Mather talked about how the alumni team
communicate with alumni, highlighting the annual alumni
magazine, Arches which has a readership of 96,000 and is
available in hardcopy and an online edition, the monthly
electronic newsletter AlumNews, the website which showcases
local, national and international events and a variety of
benefits.
 Melanie Reed commented upon the future plans, developing
new features for Arches, mobile apps, continuing to develop
the use of social media platforms, development of the website,
developing the alumni brand and developing the quality of the
service provided to alumni.
 Ian Forster asked about the response DARO receive from our
efforts.
 Lorna Rozner commented upon how we should bring the
alumni community together globally.

Minutes of last meeting
Antony Jones asked about how we could sum up the Alumni
Association in a 15 second elevator pitch.
 Melanie Reed commented that our aim is to ensure that
graduates are reminded of the value of having a Newcastle
University degree. Communicating messages and social
responsibilities.
 Ian Forster asked about whether we are doing enough to
publicise our work and providing examples of how current
students and graduates have benefited from interaction with
DARO.
 Ian Forster asked Claire Boothman about her awareness of the
Alumni Association. Savvas commented that this is a primary
failure in strategy that current students are unaware about
benefits of being a graduate of Newcastle University apart from
the services.
 Melanie Reed commented that our aim is to make people
aware that there is a network.
 Savvas commented that we should be measuring impact of
communications and this will give insights into what approach
we should have.
 Antony Jones commented that students have a strong
emotional attachment to the city. How do you capitalise on
this?
Actions:
 Discussion to be taken forward to the next meeting of the ACG
including evaluation of communications impact.
The minutes of the meeting held on 26th April 2014 were approved.
Noted:
 David Moffatt met with the International Development Society
(IDS) and discussed improving the presence of the
International Development Alumni Association (IDAA) and IDS
online.
 Marc Lintern, Director of the Careers Service to present at the
next meet of the ACG in September.
Noted:
Composition of the new ACG group
Discussion to be led by the chair,
 ACG election results were made public and are available
Ian Forster.
online.
 The vacant positions of the Chair and Deputy-Chair of ACG to
be discussed at the first meeting of the new group in
September. This was agreed by all members present at this
meeting.
 Antony Jones proposed that if an ACG member would like to
step down before the five year period is completed then the
position will be replaced by the candidate with the next highest
number of votes. This was agreed by all present at the
meeting.
Noted:
Students’ Union President Update
To receive a verbal report from
 Calum Mackenzie updated the group on:
Calum Mackenzie, President
o The History Room project work to catalogue archived
Students’ Union.
material. A curator is in post, she has decorated the room
and plans to complete the Honours boards which are being
commissioned.
o General update to the Students’ Union- National Student
Survey 16th nationally, 5th in Russell Group, Clubs and
societies in top 5 in participations rates, 1million unique
visitors to the Union this year.
Matters arising from the minutes
o
Update on digitalization of the Courier and the redesign of
Students’ Union website.
o The Students’ Union have noticed change in student
trends. The Students’ Union has responded by refurbishing
the top floor of the Union into a study space with computer
facilities and soft furnishings. This demonstrates the way in
which the Students’ Union is shifting and its future
direction.
o The national trend in day time drinking amongst students
has seen a decline and thus a loss in revenue. Therefore
there will be a change in space allocation and the Mens
Bar will undergo repurposing over the summer turning the
bar into a more relaxed coffee shop style to give the space
a dual use.
o The campus is expanding and students do not necessarily
have to come through the building. The Students’ Union
has reacted by increasing digital communications; however
recognise the need to remain in physical contact with its
members.
o A new IT project has begun after receiving a grant from the
University. The Students’ Union are scoping requirements
and selecting a provider. A new website has been
launched which is integrated with a new database which
can carry out targeted communications. Students’ Union
Societies can also organise their society payments through
this new database system.
o Student Community Action Newcastle (SCAN) was
awarded a grant via NUS to undergo a range of green
projects. SCAN organised the reception at the House of
Lords, all 25 projects attended.
o The strength of SCAN in engaging students and in
particular strong engagement with international students
(30%-40% of international student population engaging).
 Ella Ritchie commented upon previous discussions regarding
digitizing historic copies of the Courier. Previously discussed
that a worthwhile project however digitizing would require
funds/fundraising. The Editor of The Courier is unaware of the
proposition to digitize archived copies of The Courier.
 John Hogan commented upon the importance of digitizing
historic copies of the Courier as an important alumni resource.
 Antony Jones commented upon the shifting number of
students living on campus and how to engage with Students’
Union. Calum Mackenzie commented upon behaviour forming
and developing a range of programmes such as quiz nights,
coffee house sessions identified to a particular night of the
week.
Actions:
 The Alumni Relations team to follow up with Ian Johnson,
University archivist with regards to archiving The Courier.
Members’ Update
Noted:
 Savvas Papagiannidis- He has been involved in the following:
o Vice-Chairman of the Business School’s Alumni Branch until
February 2014 and involved in organising the Business
School’s Convocation event.
o Benefactors fund and working on a number of activities with
Careers Service.
o




University Business
To receive a verbal report from
John Hogan, Registrar.
DARO Update
To receive a verbal report from Abi
Kelly, Director of Public Relations
and Interim Director of DARO.
AOB
Informally with the Business School’s Athens branch.
Helen Miland commented upon how she would like to continue
involvement where needed and has been involved in widening
student participation.
David Moffatt met with the new president of IDS who is keen to
work with the Alumni Association and met with Anna Warren
and David-John Mather to discuss development of the IDAA
website.
Sue Bevan is continuing her connection with University of
Newcastle upon Tyne Graduates Society (North of England).
Pamela Stephens is involved in the Student Initiative Fund,
unfortunately a drop in applications due to the exam period.
Lorna Rozner attended the funeral of Donald Gascoigne.

Noted:
 John Hogan gave an update on the recent incident involving
two Russian students that required evacuation of the INTO
Building. One student has been charged with possession of
bladed weapons and making explosives.
 Communication was a challenge but messages, predominantly
on social media, aimed at reassuring people this was an
isolated and unusual incident.
 The Bedson Teaching Centre is to be renamed the Barbara
Strang Teaching Centre, after the University’s first female
professor who began her time here in 1964.
 Emerging plans for INTO partnership in London. Students will
be able to study a foundation programme through to a degree
programme in London. It is part of the international strategy
that students can study for a Newcastle degree in a number of
locations. Student experience key as it will be different from
that in Newcastle. INTO building close to Liverpool Street
Station which provides a useful location for future corporate
activity and holding alumni events. This will be a centre for
students who wanted to live in London primarily but want a
Newcastle University taught degree.
Noted:
 Abi announced that the new Director of Fundraising is Teri
Wishart- to join us on 8th September. Current Head of
Campaigns at Edinburgh Napier. 14 years of experience in
fundraising. Teri will be invited to the next ACG meeting.
 The Hatton Gallery Campaign was shortlisted for a THELMA
award however did not win.
 US board annual phonathon aimed at supporting one student
to study at Newcastle University for one year/two students for
one semester. Five applications submitted and board in
process of choosing recipient.
 Future Fund to feature in The Journal- £5.5 million to be raised
to build a centre for childhood cancer at the University. The
Journal is the media partner in this fundraising project and will
promote it as a public campaign.
 Vice Chancellor’s Singapore trip on Monday 23rd June- high
level alumni dinner at British High Commission, 20 alumni from
Singapore.
 Ella Ritchie and Vice Chancellor to attend graduations of first
cohort of medical graduates from NUMed.
Noted:
 Tania Angelopoulos distributed a list of books that we would
like ACG members to review.

Date and venue of forthcoming
meeting
Anna Warren
Alumni Relations Secretary
Development and Alumni Relations
10th July 2014
Tania Angelopoulos commented upon Convocation Weekend282 graduates attending, 11 different countries represented.
 John Hogan thanked Ella for her contribution to the Alumni
Consultative Group and commented upon Ella’s length of
service and depth of understanding of the alumni community.
 Ian Forster said his farewell as chair and thanked the group for
their support.
Actions:
 ACG members interested in book reviewing should express
interest to the Alumni Relations team.
TBC