Upnotch says alumni engagement is shifting toward mentorship and networking

Upnotch says universities are moving away from event-driven alumni outreach and toward relationship-based communities that emphasize mentorship and professional networking. The company points to Metropolitan State University of Denver as an example, where its platform has supported more than 1,250 mentorship conversations and helped drive a 200% adoption increase.

Why it matters: - Universities are under pressure to show measurable student outcomes and alumni impact. - Alumni engagement is shifting toward programs that create ongoing value, not just attendance at events or one-time donations. - Mentorship and networking can connect students with career guidance while giving alumni a clearer way to contribute.

What happened: - Upnotch said colleges and universities are rethinking traditional engagement strategies built around events, newsletters and fundraising campaigns. - The Seattle-based community engagement platform said alumni increasingly want professional relationships, peer-to-peer support and communities that stay useful over time. - Upnotch highlighted Metropolitan State University of Denver as an example of the shift. - The university uses Upnotch in its first-year business student Career Conversation assignment.

The details: - Upnotch said its alumni engagement initiative with Metropolitan State University of Denver has grown adoption by 200% since launch. - The partnership has facilitated more than 1,250 mentorship conversations between students, alumni and professionals. - Dr. Clay Daughtrey, professor of marketing at Metropolitan State University of Denver, said the platform has become one of the most impactful parts of the first-year business student experience. - Daughtrey said students report the assignment was the most meaningful part of their freshman year. - Daughtrey said guided one-on-one conversations help students build professional networks early, gain clarity, confidence and direction during a key transition. - Daughtrey said Upnotch also gives MSU Denver alumni an accessible way to give back. - Upnotch CEO Tatia Zuloaga said institutions now recognize that engagement is about more than attendance or donations. - Zuloaga said mentorship creates value for students and alumni while strengthening the broader community.

Between the lines: - The core argument is that relationship-driven communities can produce both engagement and measurable outcomes. - That shift reflects a broader push in higher education to connect alumni activity with career readiness, belonging and retention. - Upnotch is positioning mentorship as a practical substitute for older engagement tactics that may be easier to track but less durable.

What's next: - Institutions are likely to keep expanding mentorship and networking programs as they look for ways to prove impact. - Upnotch is steering organizations toward its Alumni Engagement Assessment to identify gaps in member connection, engagement and retention. - The company said communities built on human connection are more likely to drive participation and long-term retention.

The bottom line: - Alumni engagement is moving from transactional outreach to ongoing relationships, and universities are using mentorship to make that shift measurable and scalable.