Alumni
Alumni Directory Project Update
Dear Friend of Bethel,
By now, most of you have received a postcard
and/or email from a company contracted by Bethel University called
Harris Connect. As requested, many of you have then called in to
confirm your address and family information for inclusion in a new
alumni directory. Thank you for taking those steps. However, a number
of you have reported that your experience with Harris Connect has not
been consistent with the “Royal Care” Bethel strives to practice. We
take your complaints very seriously, and this email addresses the valid
concerns you have raised.
As background, current addresses are crucial
to being wise stewards of Bethel’s resources, and many of you also
appreciate having current contact information for fellow alumni. (Our
last directory is eight years old.) But the task of updating our
database is too large and time-intensive for the small staff in our
office. Bethel contracted with Harris Connect because they are the
nation’s leading expert in producing alumni directories, and were
highly recommended in our thorough reference checks. We have been
disappointed, though, in several aspects of their work for Bethel:
First, we were not given review of
phone scripts as agreed. Although we were assured our alumni would not
be pressured to make a purchase, we’re distressed to learn this has not
been the case.
| We want you to clearly understand your options: When you phone Harris Connect to confirm your address, they will offer you a hard-cover alumni directory, a soft-cover edition, or a CD version. No purchase is required. If you are not interested in purchasing the directory, you should know that we are developing a free, secure online directory that will be available in the coming months. Bethel does not profit monetarily from the services of Harris Connect. |
Second, we intended to notify you in
advance to expect a contact from Harris Connect. With concerns about
identify theft and privacy, you needed assurance that this project is
legitimate. However, project delays led to schedule changes that were
not relayed to Bethel, and as a result, communication went out to
alumni from Harris Connect without any advance warning to us – or to
you. We deeply regret this. We have had numerous conversations with
Harris Connect and their management to resolve these issues, and to
establish a better pattern of service.
Please accept our deepest apologies and our
assurance that Bethel University appreciates and values you as a member
of our community. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions
about the alumni directory project or any other matter of concern to
you as an alumnus or alumna of Bethel University.
Serving Together,
Ralph Gustafson
Vice President for Constituent Relations
Kara Swanson
Director of Alumni and Parent Services
651.638.6462