[civsa] Hosting Programs

Thu Jul 25 10:09:47 CDT 2013

Hi Nicole,

Thank you so much, this is helpful!

Blessings,

Kristen Nielsen | Visit Counselor
Roberts Wesleyan College
2301 Westside Dr | Rochester, NY | 14624
(p) 585-594-6481 | (txt) 585-250-0550
(f) 585-594-6371 | www.roberts.edu

[cid:image001.png at 01CE8927.7965D610]<https://www.facebook.com/RobertsWesleyanCollege>   [cid:image002.png at 01CE8927.7965D610] <https://twitter.com/robertswesleyan>    [cid:image003.png at 01CE8927.7965D610] <http://www.youtube.com/user/RobertsWesleyan>    [cid:image004.png at 01CE8927.7965D610] <http://instagram.com/robertswesleyan/>

From: listserv [mailto:listserv-bounces at civsa.org] On Behalf Of Nicole Graham
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2013 11:00 AM
To: listserv at civsa.org
Subject: Re: [civsa] Hosting Programs

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<mailto:Nicole.Graham at valpo.edu>
Facebook: Nicole at Valpo
[http://www.valpo.edu/brand/downloads/2011/files/logos/png/Valpo_PrimarySignature_Vert_Full.png]

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

Blessings,

Kristen Nielsen | Visit Counselor
Roberts Wesleyan College
2301 Westside Dr | Rochester, NY | 14624
(p) 585-594-6481<tel:585-594-6481> | (txt) 585-250-0550<tel:585-250-0550>
(f) 585-594-6371<tel:585-594-6371> | www.roberts.edu<http://www.roberts.edu>

[cid:image001.png at 01CE8927.7965D610]<https://www.facebook.com/RobertsWesleyanCollege>   [cid:image002.png at 01CE8927.7965D610] <https://twitter.com/robertswesleyan>    [cid:image003.png at 01CE8927.7965D610] <http://www.youtube.com/user/RobertsWesleyan>    [cid:image004.png at 01CE8927.7965D610] <http://instagram.com/robertswesleyan/>

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