Building community and a sense of belonging through Eagle Connections

By Laura Kahn March 30, 2023

For many prospective students, the college admissions process can be daunting. In addition to finishing their final year of high school, they are making decisions about the next chapter of their lives. To help newly admitted Emory and Oxford College students navigate these decisions, Advancement and Alumni Engagement and the Office of Undergraduate Admission partnered to create the Eagle Connections program.

In the program’s previous iteration, the Alumni Interview Program, alumni talked to and evaluated applicants from around the world and provided feedback that served as a tool in the admissions decision process. Recognizing that the interview model could create roadblocks for some students, the university shifted the approach to connect newly admitted students with alumni, highlighting the welcoming and supportive community at Emory.

“Prospective Emory students today have a clear vision of how they want to leave a lasting impact on our world. We are confident they will reap more benefits from a conversation focused on building relationships rather than one focused on evaluation,” says Jennifer Crabb Kyles 98Ox 00C, assistant vice president of alumni and constituent engagement and the Emory Alumni Association.

Students admitted to the Class of 2027 will be the first to experience the reimagined Eagle Connections program. This spring, interested alumni can register online to be paired with students based on commonalities such as location and intended courses of study. Alumni and students will then connect virtually for informal conversations. While alumni share their Emory experiences, students can ask about academics and campus life.

By building meaningful, supportive relationships from admission to enrollment, incoming first-year students will feel a sense of belonging before classes start. “Through Eagle Connections, we hope to show students that when they join the Emory community, there will always be people and opportunities that can further their goals,” says Crabb Kyles.

For alumni, Eagle Connections is a chance to give back to their alma mater and help guide the next class of Emory students through an exciting time in their lives.

“The Emory Alumni Association, in partnership with the Office of Undergraduate Admission, is facilitating unique, personalized connections between our alumni and admitted students,” says Mark Butt, director of admissions. “By connecting alumni with admitted students, we, as a university, are able to simultaneously elevate alumni narratives while also supporting admitted students on their college admission journey. We hope our admitted students learn about the power of an Emory undergraduate experience through the individual stories of our alumni worldwide.”

While Eagle Connections is initially focused on undergraduate admission, Advancement and Alumni Engagement plans to collaborate with graduate schools to develop customized programs that not only meet schools’ needs but also build bridges between alumni and students.

For additional information about Eagle Connections, please contact Allyson Michael, senior associate director of alumni engagement, at aap@emory.edu.

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