Four key takeaways from the 2023 Morehead-Cain Alumni Survey and next steps

In February 2023, more than 600 alumni responded to the Morehead-Cain Alumni Survey, administered in partnership with, and through the generosity of, Mike Deimler ’86 and his pro bono team at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The survey was a follow-up to a 2017 BCG survey, which made the case for deeper investment in alumni activities. The survey highlights a diverse, engaged community of alumni—and many opportunities for continued advancement of our work.

Alumni responses in the survey showed the impact of the Foundation’s efforts since 2017—trending positive despite the interruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are four key takeaways from the survey and steps the Foundation plans to take to continue to improve alumni engagement and experience. 

1. More than 80 percent of alumni engage with Morehead-Cain each year to express appreciation for the scholarship, program, and community.

Alumni value Morehead-Cain, as seen through their engagement and through the leading words that they associate with the Foundation. Morehead-Cain Alumni feel an implicit commitment to support those who follow in their footsteps in the same way they were supported. Alumni expressed an aspiration for deeper engagement, and seek to learn of new ways to contribute to the journey of scholars in the program, and to connect with each other.

2. Morehead-Cain can drive further engagement by creating and raising awareness of more ways to contribute, improving communications with the community, and highlighting the various pathways alumni take post-Carolina.

Alumni want to stay engaged with Morehead-Cain and are eager to participate in more opportunities—from supporting scholar selection and scholar development to program strategy. The alumni community is dynamic and spans various industries and life journeys, and alumni are interested in learning more about the various paths their peers have taken and lessons learned, including those who aren’t celebrated in news headlines. Lastly, alumni shared that the Foundation can improve at some of the basics: closing the feedback loop after alumni participation in various activities, and keeping the community informed of key updates. 

3. Morehead-Cain’s alumni effort should be anchored by four postulates that permeate everything we do.

Alumni and scholars alike share qualities and characteristics that make this community truly unique and impactful. Alumni responses to the 2017 and the most recent survey reinforce a common thread within the community, and BCG synthesized the feedback into four postulates that will be used for future alumni efforts and initiatives:

• Morehead-Cains all benefit tremendously from the intergenerational connections within our community;
• Morehead-Cains are lifelong learners;
• Morehead-Cain values a plurality of opinions, perspectives, and experiences; and
• Morehead-Cains as a community are motivated to make an impact on the broader world. 

4. Alumni aspire to expand the impact of Morehead-Cain, and to participate in conversations about the future. 

Alumni show enthusiasm for efforts to expand Morehead-Cain’s impact on scholars, the University, and the world. When asked how the Foundation should expand its impact, alumni focused their responses on (1) creating more Morehead-Cain opportunities by expanding the class size; (2) strengthening the leadership development offering for current scholars; (3) improving the diversity of the Morehead-Cain cohort, including efforts to reach new communities in the state, nation, and world; and (4) strengthening offerings for alumni. Over 240 survey participants signaled a willingness to participate in conversations about our future strategy, and 90 percent of participants would like to stay informed as this strategy evolves. 

What’s next?

Learn more and continue the conversation.

Alumni feedback has been invaluable in planning the work ahead. In June, Chris wrote a brief letter to all alumni that captured some of his perspectives after reviewing the survey. You can read that letter here. 

To continue the conversation, alumni are invited to participate in virtual roundtable discussions in the month of September to learn more about strategic direction coming out of the survey, and to share their feedback and ideas.

• Alumni Roundtable Discussion I: Friday, September 15, at noon ET RSVP here >
• Alumni Roundtable Discussion II: Friday, September 22, at noon ET RSVP here >
• Alumni Roundtable Discussion III: Friday, September 29, at noon ET RSVP here >

Increased investment in alumni engagement through a new staff position.

In 2023, the Foundation will hire a new executive who will craft the future with alumni as vice president of community. This leader will connect alumni across fields, backgrounds, and geographies to the magic of Morehead-Cain, and will foster the community’s collective impact on the University and the world. More information about this new position can be found in the job listing on the Morehead-Cain Network (MCN). Alumni interested in this position are encouraged to contact Megan Mazzocchi or Chris Bradford with any questions or to discuss.

And finally, congratulations to the survey drawing winners!*

As a small token of Morehead-Cain’s appreciation for completing the survey, alumni respondents were entered into a drawing to receive a pair of tickets to any 2023–2024 UNC football or basketball game of their choosing. Congratulations to David von Storch ’80, Wendy Sarratt ’95, and Shalanda Macon-Jaliwa Miller ’99 . . . GO TAR HEELS!

*Winners were drawn at random by BCG.