In the face of limited financial resources, universities across the world are increasingly seeking new ways of cultivating the loyalties – and the donations – of their alumni. By employing social media, offering ongoing careers services, organising social events, and even selling coffins, universities hope to build a relationship with their students that will last a lifetime.
But how far are universities really prepared to go? The relationship between Dalhousie University and its alumni in the nineteenth century points to an intimate embrace that many of today’s vice-chancellors might be less than willing to countenance … read the rest of this post at guardian.co.uk
Cap and Gown 
Universities’ “alumni relations” are only after the alumni’s donations.
Alumni only become members because they hope to benefit from the network, especially in finding a job. Once they have a job or a career (or like me don’t care about either), they are not interested any longer.
Especially Anglo-American universities which saddle their alumni with debt really cannot expect any gratitude.