[civsa] Best Practices for Campus Tours

[Lambert, Dee]

Good morning,
Here are the answers for UT Dallas. :)
Dee Lambert


From: listserv [mailto:listserv-bounces at civsa.org] On Behalf Of Andrea Rose Santi
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 9:13 AM
To: listserv at civsa.org
Subject: [civsa] Best Practices for Campus Tours

Hi everyone,

I'm putting together a working group here at Waterloo with various stakeholders in recruitment, the faculties, and residence. We are looking at a re-imagined campus tour to launch next year and I'm just starting to do some preliminary research. I was wondering if you would be able to share best practices you currently use for your campus tours? I've seen various articles, blogs, etc. and would be great to pull some of that information together as well as see what other universities are doing.

Some specific things to consider could include (but not limited to):
- length of tour --  1 hour tour offered weekdays at 10am and 2pm, once a month on Saturdays (except during the summer)
- content (i.e. academic focused vs student services, student life)-campus tour focuses more on the student perspective, info session goes more into academics
- facilities you show on your tour - classroom buildings, student union, student services building, activity center and visitor center
- residence (is this included or separate?) - separate tour hosted by Residence Life weekdays at 12pm and 12:30pm
- how do faculty tours play in? - we don't typically have faculty members participating in the tours... but sometimes, if the faculty members are hosting an event and they're in the hallway, they may stop and talk to the group
- introduction-welcome, introduction of tour guides, provide overview of visit options, introduction of student guests (name, hometown, year, major), quick icebreaker... out for the tour
- conclusion-provide evaluation and have optional information session if they'd like to stay. (tour at 10, info session at 11, housing tour at 12 if they want to do everything).
- booking process - online form
- communication prior to and after tour -confirmation email sends directions and parking information upon submission of form
- parking (is it free?) - parking is free, but they have to show their drivers license to get a visitor permit
- "swag" / giveaways - what do visitors receive? -bag of brochures, bumper sticker, mini pennant, and if they turn in their evaluation, they get a cup and coupon to the bookstore
- options to customize their visit? - we don't do custom tours, but we will call the department to see if someone is available if they want to stop by after they are finished with us.

I really appreciate any information you can provide! Thanks in advance for your responses :)

Andrea

Andrea Santi
Manager, Visitors Centre
Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment
University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 35732
uwaterloo.ca/find-out-more<https://uwaterloo.ca/find-out-more/>
[university-of-waterloo-logo-esig]

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