maximizing multicultural college students in underrepresented student recruitment and outreach

MAXIMIZING MULTICULTURAL COLLEGE STUDENTS IN UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENT RECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH

Amanda Parada-Villatoro, DePaul UniversityAshley McKnight-Phillips, DePaul University Sparkle Hunt, DePaul University

Our Goal To recruit an academically talented and

diverse student body that reflects DePaul’s mission- Accessibility - Diversity- Educational Excellence

Three approaches:- Ambassadors - Peer Guides- Interns

AmbassadorsEnhance prospective student experienceReward volunteers

Male Overnight Host Coordinator

Female Overnight Host Coordinator

Panel & Visit Day Coordinator

Secretary Fundraising & Special

Events Coordinator

60 members 30 Active

Members Gold Members Ambie of the

month Annual Ambie

awards

5 Paid E-Board Positions Membership

Ambassadors Unpaid volunteers Work with all prospective students

Host students overnight on campus Student panels Calling campaigns High school visits/college fairs Housing tours

Special on-campus programs Class of Excellence College Insight Visit days

Peer Guides Paid student employees

Serve as tour guides, panelists, activity leaders Assist with admission activities and events

Focus on outreach to students of color (SOC) Special groups: MIP, GLAD, College Connect, STEP

UP… Represent backgrounds similar to students we

serve SOC Chicago- area grads 1st Generation

Interns Paid, Para-professional student employees

6 Individual Positions

Shared Common Responsibilities Quarterly Group Projects Special Group Presentations Out of State and Local Recruitment Assistance

Fully Supported by Professional Staff Report to direct supervisor regarding position-specific office

needs Assist various counselors at college fairs, hometown visits,

panels, etc. Work with Intern Coordinator to tailor experience in accordance

with professional goals

Campus Tour CoordinatorCommunications SpecialistCustomized Visit Coordinator

Territory and Travel ManagementTransfer and Adult SpecialistScholar Volunteer Coordinator

How We Collaborate: Events

Recruitment

Events

Communication•Ambie Callers•Peer Guide Callers•Comm Intern•Scholarship Intern

Housing Tours•Tour Coordinator•Panel/Visit Coordinator

•Ambie Volunteers

Student Panels•Panel/Visit Coordinator

•Available Interns•Ambie Volunteers

Campus Tours•Tour Coordinator•Panel/Visit Coordinator

•Tour Guides

How We Collaborate: Overnights

SOC Overnight

s

Scheduling• CV Intern• Overnight

Coords

General Hosting

• Ambassador Hosts

• Peer Guides

Campus Tours• Tour

Coordinator• Tour Guides• Peer Guides

Training/RB • Overnight

Coords• Available

Interns

How We Collaborate: Travel

Targeted Travel

Communication• Ambie

Callers• Peer Guide

Callers• Comm Intern

College Fairs•Peer Guides•Available Interns•E-Board Members

Panels•Panel/Visit Coord

•Ambie Panelists•Available Interns

HSV’s•Peer Guides•Available Interns•Ambie Volunteers

Outcomes Ambassadors

Customized Visit – 135 customized visits September through April 2012 Class of Excellence

2011 – 18% of attendees deposited prior to event 2011 – 85% of attendees deposited 2012 – 19% of attendees deposited prior to event

College InSight 32% of attendees have applied for admission…and counting

Calling Campaign 2012 – 28% successful calls made to SOC

Peer Guides 1200 students reached in 25 unique events (approx. 48 students per

event) Interns

1440 students reached through special group visits and over 400 students reached through fairs, panels, and visits

Our Recruitment Started with:

Student Organizations and Greek Life Involvement Fair booth Current student employees/ office assistants Referrals from TRiO, multicultural student support offices Campus job board

Pay/ Incentives Ambassador E-Board- $3,000 Yearly Stipend

Point-based rewards redeemable for prizes Special Events

Peer Guides- $10/hr Interns- $11/hr

Professional Development Networking Recommendations for special programs Retreats Professional Development Workshops

Your Turn! Steps to Implementation First things first

Assess your needs Second: Budget, budget, budget!

No budget- Volunteer Approach Small/medium budget- Peer Guide

Approach Larger budget- Intern Approach

No Budget Volunteer

Fundraise for incentives (Finals kits, bake sales, etc.) Pays for itself!

Connect students to paid opportunities as an incentive for involvement

In-house workshops/training Attach students to pre-existing initiatives that won’t add

to your budget Overnight hosts Visit days High school visits/college fairs Calling campaigns Housing tours

Small/ Medium Budget Do not require consistent weekly

schedules Offer competitive wages to students

Targeted initiatives Partner with programs/ schools for specialized visits Adopt a school

Invest in Leadership Workshop brainstorming - Let students put their skills to use! Leadership conferences

Larger Budget

20 hour per week expectation Consistent weekly schedule each term 4-5 days per week commitment

Maximize recruitment through paid efforts Paid out-of-state travel outside of

hometown visits Incentive to assist in SOC events

Invest in professional development Development = Meaningful Experience =

Referrals!

Steps to Recruitment Start with known leaders

Multicultural student orgs, Greeks, ministry groups, etc.

May already share your same goals! Reach out to university departments that work

with diverse students Scholarship recipients/ Honors students

May need to meet service hours Pull from current student workers Post on campus job board… and don’t forget

to advertise!

How We Keep Students Engaged Provide consistent opportunities to get involved

Keeps things fresh and interesting Cater to the students’ interests and passions

Ask what they want to get out of their experience, then follow through

Empowerment through leadership Let students create ways to engage Creates buy-in and commitment

Make sure we give them what we promised them!

How to Engage Remind importance of work

Provide updates on accomplishments and “numbers” Allow them to stay connected with students they work with

Professional Development: Prep them for success! Conferences Special workshops Networking Recommendations

Praise, praise and more praise! Parties & Awards Thank you letters Celebrate milestones as a group

Social Media

Connecting the Dots… Tour guides Shared experience Mentors/ Role Models Email/ Facebook buddies Create and lead workshops/activities

Q&ACurrent DePaul Students

Dion Meggs, Ambassador Priscilla Esparza, Intern

Amanda Parada-Villatoro, DePaul Universityaparada@depaul.edu

Ashley McKnight-Phillips, DePaul Universityaphilli5@depaul.edu

Sparkle Hunt, DePaul Universityshunt6@depaul.edu

THANK YOU