alumni_lookup

Phase 12 — Source-Alignment Review — Summary

Full review: README.md

Date: 2025-07-14 (review) · 2026-02-16 (implemented & wrapped)
Status: ✅ Complete
Scope: Champion Portal user-facing text vs. 20 canonical source documents
Surfaces audited: 38 controllers · 37 view directories · 10 mailers · 9 helpers · 4 config files

Executive Summary

The Champion Portal is well-built and friendly — but it reads like a well-executed alumni product, not the Christ-centered, formation-grounded community the source documents envision. The distinctive voice exists comprehensively in the source docs but has not yet been translated into the user-facing codebase.

Inclusivity Framing (Added 2026-02-16)

All Phase 12 implementation applies an additional lens: this portal is for all Belmont alumni, not exclusively self-identified “Champions.” By showing up, every alum is already a Champion. External-facing surfaces (landing, registration, emails) lead with “alumni” and “Bruins.” Internal surfaces (dashboard, communities) celebrate members as Champions — recognition, not a title to earn. See the full framing in README.md § Inclusivity & Identity Framing.

Critical gaps:

Christ-centered identity not expressed through portal voice (hospitality, dignity, belonging)
Onboarding is feature-first at every touchpoint (emails, landing, wizard)
Champion roles confined to quiz — not woven into ongoing experience
20+ bare empty states with no warmth or invitation
Corporate vocabulary (“system”, “user”, “platform”, “network”) scattered throughout

Top 10 Changes — Ranked by Impact / Effort

Rank	ID	Change	Impact	Effort	Source Doc
1	L-02	Replace “Sign Up — It’s Free” with invitational CTA	High — primary conversion touchpoint	Low — string replacement	`VERBAL`, `INVITATIONS`
2	L-04	Replace “recruitment district” with “your local community”	High — violates core “never recruiters” principle	Low — string replacement	`VERBAL`
3	O-02	Rewrite confirmation email: belonging-first, not task list	High — first email every champion receives	Low — template rewrite	`ONBOARDING`, `NARRATIVE`
4	O-03	Rewrite verification email: affirm identity at peak moment	High — highest-emotion touchpoint	Low — template rewrite	`ONBOARDING`, `NARRATIVE`
5	L-03	Replace “Become a Champion” with welcoming heading	High — registration page heading	Low — string replacement	`VERBAL`
6	L-05	Replace “You don’t qualify” with warm explanation	High — gatekeeping language	Low — string replacement	`VERBAL`, `IMPLICATIONS`
7	O-01	Add identity grounding to landing page	Critical — first impression for every visitor	Medium — copy + layout	`IDENTITY`, `IMPLICATIONS`, `ONBOARDING`
8	L-01	Express Christ-centered identity through hospitality, dignity, and belonging — not overt labels	Critical — defines portal identity	Medium — woven through other findings	`IDENTITY`, `IMPLICATIONS`
9	F-02	Rewrite 20+ empty states with warmth + CTAs	High — every content area affected	Medium — 20+ locations	`VERBAL`, `INVITATIONS`
10	F-01	Weave champion roles into ongoing experience	High — transforms role from badge to identity	High — dashboard, notifications, empty states	`ROLES`, `ECOSYSTEM`

Finding Counts by Category

Category	Count	CRITICAL	HIGH	MEDIUM	LOW	STRUCTURAL
Language (L-)	14	1	4	7	1	1
Onboarding (O-)	5	0	4	1	0	0
Functionality (F-)	6	0	2	3	0	1
Total	25	1	10	11	1	2

Quick Wins (< 2 hours total)

These 9 changes are simple string replacements that immediately improve source alignment:

ID	Current Text	Recommended Text	File(s)
L-02	“Sign Up — It’s Free”	“You’re Invited” / “Join Your Fellow Bruins”	landing, careers views
L-03	“Become a Champion”	“Welcome Home, Bruin”	registrations/new
L-04	“recruitment district”	“your local Bruin community”	profile/complete
L-05	“You don’t currently qualify”	Warm, explanatory alternative	communities_controller
L-06	“the … system”	“your … community”	4 support_thread_mailer templates
L-07	“User” → “Champion/person”	“Champion”, “person”, “member”	feedback_mailer, boards, moderation
L-10	“New to Champion Portal?”	“New to Belmont Alumni Champions?”	sessions/new
L-11	“Welcome to the Champion Portal!”	“Welcome Home, Bruin! 💙”	notification_mailer subject
L-12	“alumni network” in welcome packs	“alumni community”	config/welcome_packs.yml

Source Coverage Summary

Coverage Level	Source Documents
ABSENT (zero presence)	`IDENTITY_STATEMENT` (hospitality/dignity posture), `PORTAL_IMPLICATIONS` (guardrail phrases), `GIVING_PHILOSOPHY`
WEAK (partially addressed)	`ONBOARDING_PHILOSHOPY`, `CORE_ALUMNI_NARRATIVE`, `INVITATIONS_AND_CTAS`
PARTIAL (some presence)	`VERBAL_STYLE_GUIDE`, `ROLES_FRAMEWORK`, `PORTAL_PURPOSE_AND_POSTURE`, `ENGAGEMENT_ECOSYSTEM_MODEL`
Background (not expected in UI)	`CREATION_FALL_REDEMPTION_RECREATION_ARC`, `MEASUREMENT`, `HT_OVERVIEW`, `HT_FUNDING`

Implementation Results

All 3 tiers implemented across 7 waves. 20 of 25 findings addressed; 5 explicitly deferred.

Wave	Scope	Files	Test Fixes
Tier 1	9 quick-win string replacements	15 app + 3 test	8
Tier 2	3 email template rewrites	6 templates + 1 test	1
Wave A	Vocabulary + gatekeeping softening	6 app + 2 test	2
Wave B	15 empty states rewritten	8 app + 2 test	2
Wave C	8 flash messages warmed	3 app + 2 test	3
Wave D	Landing pillars → Belong / Gather / Inspire	1 app + 1 test	1
Wave E	Wizard copy refinement	2 app	0

Key Decisions

Inclusivity framing: External = “alumni” / “Bruins”; Internal = “Champion” as celebration. Never a gated title.
No platform name: “Alumni Champions” = the people. Use “your community” in UI.
Landing pillars: Belong → Gather → Inspire (identity arc, not feature list)
L-08 kept: “Careers & Networking” label works as-is.