engaging students: bridging the gap from acceptance to matriculation
TRANSCRIPT
Engaging Students:Bridging the Gap from Acceptance to Matriculation
Maria LyonsBiomedical Engineering
Jennifer BradfordBiology
Rafael AlmanzarBiochemistry/Biophysics
The Identified Needs
• Need for MORE students• Need for TOP students• Need for DIVERSE students• Need for higher MATRICULATION of admitted
students• Need for improved RETENTION
Admission to Commitment
• Showcase your alumni and/or university network
• Get personal with handwritten notes• Coordinate campus visits• Offer a signing bonus• Stay in touch!
Showcase Your Network
• Where are your former students?– Where do they work?– Long-term careers?– Starting/average salaries?
• What makes your university/program great post-graduation?
• Benefits to your campus network at all stages
Handwritten Notes
• Seriously? You expect me to write a personalized note to everyone?!
• Why write a note to begin with?• What should it say?• Will this really have an impact on students?
Campus Visits• Individual visits vs. group visits
– Pros and cons• What do students expect during a visit?
– Meeting with recruiter/advisor/admissions rep– Meeting with faculty (graduate students)– Meeting with current students– Tour of departmental facilities– Information about financial aid
• Who should cover travel expenses?• Post-event communication
Signing Bonus
• Potential benefits (aside from the obvious)• Tiered pay-out structure
– External fellowships versus internal awards– Multi-year offers versus single-year offers– Ph.D. versus M.S.
Stay In Touch!
• Don’t let them forget about you (or your offer)• Involve your faculty• Involve your students• Form a relationship with them
Commitment to Matriculation
• Involve current students by assigning mentors• Help them get established in town• International student specifics• Engage in social media• Encourage proactivity & pre-training• Stay in touch!
Connecting Students
• Use current students to your advantage– Helps form early friendships & connections– Helps adjust to life in your town/state/country
• Create a mentor program– Pair students with senior students– Provide mentorship to help students adjust to
their first year of their graduate program
Introduction to Town
• Help incoming students– Decide where to live– Find roommates– Evaluate car/bus/bike options & proximity to campus– Find things to do in town
• Use University resources (eg. Guide to Aggieland publication)
• Get them excited to move!
International Students
• International Student Services• Informational from senior international
students• English Language Proficiency Exam (ELPE)
– Send out materials to help students study– Coordinate transportation to and from test site
• Assistance with transportation for document submission and test completion
Social Media
• Encourage incoming students to engage with student organization websites & social media pages
• Provide students the chance to “meet” before orientation
• Use social media to enhance other programs (like the mentor program)
• Use social media to highlight faculty, research, and other student accomplishments
Jump Right In
• How can students engage with your program before the semester starts?– Safety/lab trainings– Summer research projects– House/apartment hunting & move-in– Course selection & registration
• Engage your FACULTY
Stay In Touch!• Help them prepare• Engage with them in a relatable way (memes)• Form a relationship with them
Ways to Make Life Easier for YOU
• Email templates– Easy to create & quick to use– Perfect for use by student workers– How to create using Microsoft Office
• Prioritize• Delegate• Engage your FACULTY!
Open Forum
• What other ideas have you found successful?• What questions do you have?
Contact us with any questions… we’d love to help!
Maria Lyons979-845-2312
Rafael Almanzar979-845-1779
Jennifer Bradford979-845-7755