Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/918382
Subscribe at careercollegecentral.com 34 What would it look like to combine graduates and prospective students in an event? We targeted one program and we called our event an expo. We sent invitations to all graduates from that program, much like a typical alumni event, inviting them to connect with former classmates and instructors. But we also asked them to "promote their profession" by bringing along a family member or friend who may be interested in hearing more about their program. We obtained a list of prospective students from our admissions department and sent them a separate invitation. In it, we invited them to the expo to hear more about their program of interest from our graduates and to have a tour of the classrooms. Both invitations had the same landing page and RSVP guest list and, of course, both invitations communicated that there would be free food—always a draw! Event Details Both invitations highlighted the fact that the expo would only last one hour, which is appealing in our busy culture. As graduates, their guests, and prospective students arrived, they received name tags and small gis and were encouraged to get a plate of food. ere was music, festive decorations and balloons, an array of alumni success story posters on display, and lots of staff members to initiate conversations. Once most everyone had arrived, we had a brief meeting with a welcome from the campus director, stories from two graduates, a brief update on the program from an instructor, and a final "thank you for coming," providing direction for classroom tours and the admissions area. Aerwards, our admissions representatives and financial aid advisors were available for questions and their tables were full. e following day, several of the guests and prospective students came back to enroll in the program. is is what we did. Be creative and come up with your own event to bring together your alumni and your prospective students. When we gather our graduates and give them an opportunity to share their stories with prospective students, they point the way like stepping stones providing direction and purpose. ey are far better at promoting our programs than we are. JUNE GUDEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER June Gudeman is the alumni coordinator at Pima Medical Institute. She began more than a decade ago creating PMI's alumni program from the ground up. She focuses much of her effort on gathering alumni success stories and creatively sharing them with prospective and current students, as well as the PMI staff and community at large. You can contact her at jgudeman@pmi.edu.