Actual Class Year vs Preferred Class Year

Dan Kirk · November 2017

Greetings all,

I'm curious to hear how some of you record a constituent's preferred class year, when it's different then their actual class year. For example, a constituent graduated in 2005 but prefers to be associated with the class of 2004. I don't think we want to lose track of the actual graduation year in RE, but would still like for the alum to be associated with his/her preferred year for reunions, recognition, etc.

I think we can either,

(A) use the 'Class of' field in education relationships and make it match the constituent's desire when necessary, then add an attribute in for their true graduating class year in case we need to refer to it

or

(B) use the 'Class of' field to record the actual class year and in cases where there is a different preferrence, record that preference as an attribute.

or

(C) something else entirely? If so, how do you manage this situation?

I'm leaning towards option A because it seems like it would be the easiest for reporting, but I am curious to hear from others first.

Thanks,

Dan

Jessica Thrift 2 · November 2017

This is a really common scenario for us, as our alumni tend to have wandering paths. We use "Class of" on the education tab for the year that they identify as their graduation year. We use the actual date of graduation as the start date for the alumni constituency code.

Regena Weddle · November 2017

We put the actual class year in the class year field and put the preferred class year in the education attributes for the record. I pull both fields on reports and replace the actual with preferred on the output. I suppose if you put the actual year in the attribute instead it would save that step on the output. I think our logic in putting the true class year in the class year field on the School tab was for the sake of accuracy. If we look up the data in Banner, which is used by our Registrar, our School tab matches Banner. We also have had colleges change names over the years so we have an attribute for Preferred College (the original college name is on the School tab and the new college name is an attribute) so keeping the Preferred College and Preferred Class Year on the same tab makes sense for us.

Christine Cooke 2 · November 2017

Dan Kirk:

Greetings all,

I'm curious to hear how some of you record a constituent's preferred class year, when it's different then their actual class year. For example, a constituent graduated in 2005 but prefers to be associated with the class of 2004. I don't think we want to lose track of the actual graduation year in RE, but would still like for the alum to be associated with his/her preferred year for reunions, recognition, etc.

I think we can either,

(A) use the 'Class of' field in education relationships and make it match the constituent's desire when necessary, then add an attribute in for their true graduating class year in case we need to refer to it

or

(B) use the 'Class of' field to record the actual class year and in cases where there is a different preferrence, record that preference as an attribute.

or

(C) something else entirely? If so, how do you manage this situation?

I'm leaning towards option A because it seems like it would be the easiest for reporting, but I am curious to hear from others first.

Thanks,

Dan

Think down the road when you are no longer there and someone is trying to figure out what is what -- I agree with Ms. Weddle that the actual grad year should be in the class year field. And you can use an Education Attribute for the Preferred to be Identified Year (and look you can name it in a way that someone coming in after you can understand! bonus). Institutionally, the year they graduate is the one YOU as an institution identify them as. Just sayin'.

Actual Class Year vs Preferred Class Year

Comments

Categories