By Rhiannon Saegert/managing editor

TCC’s newly formed alumni steering group met recently to discuss ways to expand the alumni association’s membership and increase its visibility.

The steering group consists of faculty and staff from all five campuses, most of whom were alumni themselves.

Alumna and communication specialist Gloria Fisher said students who transfer out tend to stay involved with their universities but don’t consider themselves TCC alumni.

“It’s a matter of locating them,” she said.

To start, Fisher asked the steering group to think of ways to locate alumni, engage them and bring them back.

Executive director of development Joe McIntosh said higher membership would allow TCC to provide more scholarships to current students.

“Forming and launching an alumni effort has been a goal, a dream, a wish for many within the college family for many, many years,” McIntosh said.

Anyone who has ever taken a class at TCC is considered an alumnus. However, many people don’t even know TCC’s alumni association exists.  

“It’s not just a challenge for TCC,” he said. “It’s really a challenge for community colleges across the country. It’s something we all really scratched our heads on how to wrap our arms around.”

Nursing associate professor Nancy Kupper said the nursing program may be a good place to start reaching out.

“They’re certainly proud of the fact that they began their career at TCC and then, of course, went on and got more education,” Kupper said. ”There’s definitely a group out there.”