PLANNING A SUCCESSFUL PREVIEW DAY
PRESENTED BY: TODD KOCH
University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Admissions
UAFS Background
4-year, public university 1928 – 2002: Junior College 2003 Enrollment: 3,400 2012 Enrollment: 7,500 Fort Smith is 2nd largest city in
Ark with population of 90,000 High percentage of Non-Trad
students
Ask Yourself:
Who are you trying to target? HS seniors, HS juniors, HS sophomores, HS
students in general, College transfers When do you want them on your
campus? First Saturday of month, weekday,
weekend, etc. What type of information do you feel is
important? Fin Aid, Admissions requirements, Degree
programs, etc Why is this important to the prospective
students? How often do you need Preview Days?
WHO?
Are you trying to target locally or regionally?
Market your Preview Days for specific classes: seniors, juniors, sophomores, transfers
WHEN?
You want to set up your preview day around major holidays, sporting events, organizational trips to avoid conflicts of interest amongst students. For instance, avoid Fridays in the Fall semester due
to football games; avoid “Fall break”, Thanksgiving break; FBLA, etc.
UAFS selects first Tuesday or Thursday in November and April. This allows greater population to attend: it is
between holidays, after Spring Break, after EOC exams
WHAT?
Pertinent information that needs to be covered: Fin Aid: university scholarships,
FAFSA, Academic Challenge Scholarship
Admissions Req: App fee, deadlines, NSO’s
Advisors: Degree programs, Undecided
Housing: Benefits of living on-campus
WHY?
This gives students the opportunity to walk onto campus, maybe for the first time
Get a feel for the campus environment, class settings, buildings
This could be the final checkpoint in their decision-making process
HOW OFTEN?
Decide what works best for your staff and the prospective students If multiple dates throughout semester/year
seem plausible Maybe only have time for 1 or 2 dates a
year UAFS selects 1 day per semester:
Seniors in Fall, Juniors in Spring
Planning
Create a checklist of everything that needs to get done before the event Contacts for speakers Marketing publications PR and media releases Room Setup Allow catering/food
services for meals Nametags and lanyards
Day of Event
Sign-in: Stubblefield Center Welcome from
Chancellor, Admissons Informational Sessions:
Fin Aid, Advising, Admissions deadlines, Housing, decision-making process
Lunch on Campus Green
Sign-in: Stubblefield Center Separated from students,
welcome from Chancellor Information Session:
Admissions, Fin Aid, Student Services, Advising, Student Panel
Campus Tour Lunch on Campus Green
Students Parents
Measuring Success
Keep record of registration Compare to actual number that attended
Offer incentive for coming!! Lanyards, T-shirts,
Free FOOD! Attendance correlates
to Enrollment Students that show
expressed interest
Den Day Attendance
Seni
or D
D 09
Seni
or D
D 11
920
960
1000
1040
1080
Students
Students
Juni
or D
D 09
Juni
or D
D 11
0
200
400
600
800
Students
Students
Senior Den Days Junior Den Days
Making Improvements for Future
Surveys Include a survey for attendees to fill out
at end of day This will let you know what they liked,
didn’t like Word-of-mouth
Ask parents and students to spread word about information given
Include more University offices in event Input from staff/speakers is key
What they saw/heard could improve next year’s event
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