The Rensselaer community has a secret fundraising weapon: its own students.
Huh? Fundraising? Rensselaer students?
Yes, that’s right. Enter the door of Academy Hall Room 4404 and you will encounter a world of 18 computer terminals occupied by a large group of qualified and effective Rensselaer student callers, also known as your peers, undergraduate learners, and future leaders. These student callers are busy at work calling alumni to ask them to support the Rensselaer Annual Fund, and they’re doing a phenomenal job.
These Rensselaer students have chosen to become a part of the Rensselaer Annual Fund Student Calling Program, also referred to as RenXchange. In short, RenXchange raises philanthropic support for initiatives that directly affect student life, such as scholarships, curriculum innovations, campus renewal, and library development.
So, you ask, can one student calling program raise the necessary funds to really make a difference?
Well, how about this: Over the academic year, 70 student callers, including six supervisors and 10 senior callers, have raised $620,000 (and still increasing) for the Rensselaer Annual Fund, have attempted to contact over 34,000 alumni, and achieved the program’s highest goal ever in the five year history of the program. How’s that for making a difference?
The implementation of an automated computer calling system has allowed the student callers to contact more alumni than ever before, almost doubling the number of dollars raised for the program. This easy-to-use computer-operated system replaces the age-old system of dialing phones, increasing the speed of contacting alumni. Students view the information on the alumni they are calling on a computer screen, and the system allows the callers to record all the information they receive from the alumni right into the computer. Students not only have the opportunity to work on a more effective computer system, but the program allows for a flexible work schedule, valuable networking opportunities, and job experience, and the ability to earn $10 to $12 per hour.
So, how do student callers feel about RenXchange?
"In all of my interviews on campus this year, [the companies] have brought up my experience at RenXchange. It has been very positive," said Dana Staples ’01, a RenXchange supervisor and member of RenXchange for four years.
Matt Coleman ’03, a RenXchange senior caller added, "I love working at RenXchange. In addition to developing my communication skills in a challenging, yet rewarding environment, I am working in a fun atmosphere with constant incentives. RenXchange offers a chance to connect with Rensselaer alumni. Some of us even get job offers!"
Students interested in working for RenXchange should go to http://www.alumni.rpi.edu/difference/annfundgiving.html and scroll down to "Meet the RenXchange student callers" or contact Kate Potvin at 276-2564.
