The University of California, San Diego has launched a new alumni social networking Web site. The UC San Diego Alumni Association, working with Heavybag Media, has designed the “AlumnIDea” site to encourage interactive feedback on alumni programs such as reunions, career services and social events.  UC San Diego is the first university to use this type of “crowdsourcing” platform for alumni feedback.

Alumni can submit their ideas to the Alumni Affairs office via the site; each idea can then be voted on by other UC San Diego alumni. The most popular ideas will be aggregated into a top ten section which are then considered for implementation by alumni leadership.  The site offers a creative way for graduates to connect with their alma mater in an interactive environment, utilizing web 2.0 technology to help build a stronger alumni network.

“UC San Diego recognizes the importance of leveraging social networks to hear from our more than 125,000 alumni,” said Armin Afsahi, assistant vice chancellor of UC San Diego Alumni Affairs and executive director of the UC San Diego Alumni Association. “Our mission is to help engage alumni with the university.  AlumnIDea offers a fantastic new way for UCSD graduates to give feedback and help shape future alumni programming.”

“AlumnIDea is a great example of an interactive communication platform for alumni to voice their opinions and share their ideas. Other universities could benefit from using social media to crowd-source ideas through their students and alumni,” said Becky Carroll, director of social media at Brickfish and author of the blog, Customers Rock.

For more information, visit UCSD AlumnIDea or call the UC San Diego Alumni Association at (858) 534-3900.