Check out the College’s updated website: http://alumni.dartmouth.edu/

The College updated its website last year and finding a classmate has never been easier. I’ve summarized some of the features below, but you’ll really need to click on the website and conduct your own exploration.

The directory access features are substantially improved. When you get to the website there is a block with a pull-down in the left hand column that says “Find it Fast”. The entries are tabulated below.

Click on any selection and the link takes you directly to that site. The first column lists items requiring a log-in. One of the system improvements is that a single log-in will provide access to all the online community: directory, career, and inCircle. The third column includes access to graduate programs and the middle column is everything else.

In case you’ve never signed in to the Dartmouth system, you should be able to follow the prompts and links on the “Help in VON Email” page to get your password reset if you had one earlier or can get one for the first time.

The directory function can be a useful tool for looking up information on classmates. I recommend this as a first step in locating an address or phone number before you contact me. If you used the old system, the search is similar. While the old limited you to detailed information on no more than 25 alums per day, I did not find that limitation in the new version. A particularly interesting feature is the ability to send email to alums even when they have asked the college to suppress their email address. The email is sent without the sender learning what the address is. This system is also supposed to prevent the Crawler Search engines that Spammers use from being able to find your email address as well.

Tom Conger has pointed out that the alumni lookup doesn’t do well with too much information. He couldn’t find my information when he plugged in “Harris Bonar McKee”. Using the Advanced Search that lets you enter such detail as class does find me with just “McKee” and “1961” in the class line.

Basically the search is the same as before except a better format and different update feature.  Using the Advanced Search you can look up by name, class, by regional club, city, state, country, degree major and school - you can also add a photo.  To search by anything other than name, you will need to click on the Advanced Search. You can edit your own profile and then see how others would view your information, and hide information that you don't want visible.  All updates go back to the Alumni Records Office.  

Do check it out!   http://alumni.dartmouth.edu/

Harris B. McKee