Frequently asked questions about alumni communications:


What communications are sent to alumni?

The School sends regular communications to alumni but it is important to remember that alumni often have more than one affiliation with campus and may be receiving communications from other units (Athletics, Wisconsin Union, S/C/D of a second degree, etc.).

Update Magazine

Update Magazine is an alumni magazine published twice a year (spring and fall). The magazine features alumni stories, school news, and fun features. This magazine is sent to alumni and donors and is also available in digital format on our website. If you are interested in hard copies of the magazine, please see the Alumni Relations office.

Together Forward: Report to Investors

The annual Report to Investors magazine is sent to any donor of $500 in the report year, as well as all donors with $25k+ lifetime giving to WSB. A digital version is also sent to all donors within the past 5 years. This publication focuses on donor stories, impact of funds at WSB, and stewardship of our top donors.

Business Casual

Business Casual is our alumni email newsletter that goes out every other month. The newsletter includes insider updates with news about our alumni, faculty, students, and programs in a easily digestible format.

School News Emails

Occasionally, we also send emails about school news, solicitations, or messages from leadership. These communications are typically sent to all alumni & recent donors to the school.

Event Invitations

Alumni may also receive event invitations for any events put on by Alumni Relations, such as the annual Homecoming Bash, or events in their geographic region.


LinkedIn Group

Alumni and current students are able to join our exclusive LinkedIn group to stay up to date on school news and connect with other Business Badgers.


What are important considerations when I am sending communications to alumni?

When sending emails to alumni, it is recommended that you review the alumni communications calendar with someone in Alumni Relations. By reviewing the communications schedule with Alumni Relations: staff members can reduce the risk of sending duplicate content, help the Wisconsin School of Business have a more holistic perspective on what we are sharing with our alumni, and ensure that our alumni are not receiving too many communications within a short time frame. Alumni often have more than one affiliation with campus and may be receiving communications from other units (e.g. Athletics, Wisconsin Union, S/C/D of a second degree, etc.)

Alumni Email Send Recommended Process

  1. Someone has an idea for an email to alumni.

  2. Review the current alumni communications plan with Alumni Relations.

  3. Request an email list from 4WARD.

    1.  This ensures contact information for alumni is up-to-date based on record updates and in alignment with an individual’s communication preferences which we are required, by law, to follow. Independent contact lists (old Excel files, shadow databases, etc.) should not be used for email communication at any time due to the high likelihood of information being out of date. All lists obtained from 4WARD are intended for one-time use only. Lists can typically be obtained within 20 business days. Contact the Alumni Relations team if you have questions regarding a list request.

  4. Choose a good send date based off other communications.

  5. Create the content for the email.

  6. Schedule the email send from an approved mass email marketing platform (such as Eloqua).

Can I suggest alumni for features in publications, social media, etc.?

We are always interested in hearing about what our alumni are doing and how we can share their stories. If you have ideas for a story about an alum, please contact alumni@wsb.wisc.edu with the following details and we will review. Unfortunately, we are unable to publish every lead we receive, but the more suggestions we have, the more representative our publications can be of the diverse experiences of our alumni.

  • Name of alum
  • Degree year (if known)
  • Degree type (BBA, MBA, etc)
  • Preferred contact information (if known)
  • Summary of why they would be interesting to feature