[civsa] Hosting Programs

[Nicole Graham]

Kristen,

I have been managing our overnight host team for two years now. It has been
a work in progress to improve the program. We do pay our hosts a small
stipend per student they host, plus a dinner and breakfast coupon to use on
campus. I have been able to retain more hosts each year.

For me, it has been building up the morale among the team. I start the year
out with recruiting for new/more hosts at our freshman orientation and our
welcome week activities fair. I have my small leadership team (5 students)
help with this recruitment effort. Students are better at recruiting other
students. We simply have a half sheet of info about the team with the link
to our online application. I also capture their name and email address at
the table by them signing up for my email list. This ensures I actually get
applications. I follow-up with those who signed up at my table with an
email inviting them to check out our web page with the job description and
apply online.

The interviews are conducted very professionally, so we attract the right
students and so they know this is a real job. I also have my student
leadership team help with these interviews. I have also had admission
counselors help with these. It helps to get others' input about students.

At training, we make it informative, but fun. My student leadership team
helps with this as well. Again, students learn best from each other. We
have team building activities, we go through various overnight hosting
scenarios to teach them how to handle challenging situations...we make it
very interactive, rather than me simply going through the rules and
policies. Establishing the sense of a team at training has been key in the
retention of our overnight hosts. I share with them that they are
ambassadors for the university and this is a great way to give back and
share their story with prospective students. Our student hosts are special
in that most of them are not doing this job for the money, but for the
experience and to help future students. I make sure to set the tone of the
team that way, because I want them to enjoy this job.

I try to check in with each host throughout the year as well, whether it's
via my Nicole at Valpo facebook, email or in person. I think this really
makes a difference when you manage a large group of people - you want to
make each person feel important and appreciated.

We also have an end of the year celebration to thank them all for their
hard work. This is when I bring in big sheets of bulletin board paper for
them all to share their ideas to help improve the next year. They really
appreciate the opportunity to have their voice heard, and this has really
helped me make the program better.

Our students host individual overnights throughout the academic year, as
well as at our admitted student day programs (these are larger groups of
prospective admitted seniors and transfers).

In 2011-2012, we had 89 total hosts. 46 returned the next year to host.

In 2012-2013 we had 123 overnight hosts. 66 hosts will be returning this
academic year.

The one thing I have learned over the years in managing college students is
that you have to make every year different and keep it exciting (i.e.
training). You can't put on the same training orientation every year if you
want them to return each year (I require all students, new and returning,
to attend training every year).

I hope this helps. I am always thinking of new ways of doing things. Please
feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions.

- Nicole

Nicole Graham, M.A.L.S.
Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission
219.464.6124 | Nicole.Graham at valpo.edu
Facebook: Nicole at Valpo

On Thu, Jul 25, 2013 at 9:19 AM, Nielsen_Kristen <
Nielsen_Kristen at roberts.edu> wrote:

> Hello!****
>
> I am working to beef up my student hosts group. How do you keep your hosts
> interested in and committed to hosting perspective students? Do you pay
> them or offer incentives? Do you have a large host group? Thanks!****
>
> ** **
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>
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