Alumni engagement and philanthropy



SAYING 'YES' TO HEARING FROM QUEEN'S! 

May 25 2018

It's finally here - GDPR day has arrived! The deadline date for 'opting in' has seen thousands of graduates and supporters of Queen's University Belfast ticking the box which confirms that they want to keep in touch with the Development and Alumni Relations Office by email and telephone in the future. EU changes to the rules and regulations which oversee how organisations like Queen’s contact alumni and others could still mean, however, that many may miss out.

Two pieces of legislation - the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) which sits alongside GDPR, are being described as the most important change in data privacy regulation in over 20 years.

Over recent months, the Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO) has been asking Queen’s graduates, donors and supporters to formally 'opt in' to enable the Office to keep them up-to-date with all the latest news and event details from their alma mater.

Speaking about the response to date, Ian Moore, Head of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, said: “We are delighted with the response to calls for our graduates and supporters to 'opt in' to maintain contact with the University. But while the uptake has been very encouraging - and I'd like to thank the many thousands who have already given us their permission to keep in contact with them - I am afraid many face the prospect of missing out on relevant news and opportunities if they don't tick the box.

“In compliance with GDPR requirements, we are still contacting graduates and others on our database to confirm that they want to continue receiving the latest updates from Queen’s by email, after 25 May 2018.

“The new rules have been described as a ‘cultural shift’ and certainly help strengthen citizens’ rights in the digital age, so we are very keen that members of the wider Queen’s family opt in so that they don’t miss out on any future email updates from us.”

Regular updates keep Queen’s alumni and friends informed about the latest University research (find out more below) and fundraising initiatives, graduate volunteering opportunities, achievements of alumni and current students, and the range of exclusive opportunities – such as reunions, events around the world and discount offers – which are available to them.

Even those who receive regular electronic correspondence from Queen’s – and are very happy to continue doing so – need to confirm this formally by clicking here                    .

By registering/confirming a personal email address with DARO alumni and friends of Queen's will:

  • Be kept up-to-date with all the latest news from the University
  • Receive invitations to events and class reunions
  • Find out about further courses at Queen’s
  • Discover opportunities to get involved with University life and help current students
  • Be advised of all the exclusive discount offers
  • Hear how fundraising activities impacts on current students
  • Receive a monthly copy of the eGraduate (alumni)

 

While graduates can ‘opt in’ at any time, if they decide not to sign up, they will automatically lose most of these privileges.  

Ian Moore added: “At graduation, alumni of Queen’s automatically become a lifelong part of an inspirational global network of over 190,000 former students. At any time they can amend the information we hold by emailing DARO (alumni@qub.ac.uk) or, if they have already joined Queen’s virtual community, they can going online and amend their contact information – including how they receive their news from the University.”

Graduates and supporters who have not yet signed up to Queen’s online can do so here.

Alumni are being invited to keep their experience of University alive by getting in touch, staying in contact and by being an inspiration for future generations of Queen’s students. And supporters of medical and other life-changing research at Queen's are likewise being asked for their consent to allow the Development and Alumni Relations Office to keep in touch with them. 

A summary of the key GDPR changes can be found here.

All data is held securely by the Development and Alumni Relations Office and will not be shared with third parties unless they are undertaking agreed work on behalf of the University. See our full Data Protection Promise for more information.

General enquiries to Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office, tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5321.

 

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