1. ALUMNI ADMISSION PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Case Western Reserve University's alumni have been
actively involved in student recruitment for many years. In 1989, the
Alumni Admission Program was formally established both to provide alumni
a more rewarding avenue for service to their alma mater and to use the
alumni's talents and enthusiasm more effectively to attract the best students
to Case. Alumni can play a vital role in drawing prospective students
to the undergraduate programs at Case. We pride ourselves on the openness
and accessibility of our faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and innumerable
research opportunities for students. Alumni promote these qualities as
they talk with high school students and their families in individual interviews,
at college fairs, at receptions, and as part of our contact effort. The
total time commitment for an AAP representative is usually less than ten
hours per year. Interviews are scheduled May through January and college fairs occur during fall and spring semesters.
Alumni Admission Program Highlights
Structure
The Alumni Admission Program is structured so that each
admission officer has direct responsibility for interaction with the
AAP Reps in his/her geographic territory. We encourage you to use your
admission counselor as your initial and primary contact for AAP events
and initiatives. If you are unsure about who your counselor is, please
see the appendices.
Who are AAP representatives?
The Alumni Admission Program welcomes alumni
from any graduating class and from any of Case's undergraduate programs
and professional schools. We do require, however, that graduates of the
professional or graduate programs who did not attend Case as undergraduates
take extra time to learn about the Case undergraduate experience. All
AAPs must be able to properly advise prospective students and their families
on Case's academic programs, faculty interaction, residence life, student
activities, and educational support services. As this manual illustrates,
training is a vital component of the Alumni Admission Program.
2. REPRESENTING CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
As an Alumni Admission Program representative, your
contact with a high school student may be an influential factor in helping
him/her select Case. You have chosen to participate in the AAP because
you are enthusiastic about your University and its offerings. Your personal
initiative and resourcefulness in carrying out your responsibilities are
very much encouraged.
At the same time, as a representative of Case, you
are expected to uphold certain professional standards. It is essential
that you are familiar with the National
Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Statement of
Principles of Good Practice (Appendix A). As you perform your responsibilities
in the AAP, you must adhere to this statement. Failure to do so can result
in sanctions against the University.
Remember that, at all times, you are representing Case Western Reserve
University, a comprehensive university with strengths in fields spanning
the liberal arts and technical disciplines. Case is distinctly able to
provide students with a broad-based, interdisciplinary education, and
our curriculum is one of our strongest selling points. Research shows
that this feature is most appealing to prospective students: Therefore,
we position ourselves as a comprehensive institution within the "marketplace"
of colleges and universities.
We appreciate that you may have strong allegiances
to the specific college or professional school from which you graduated.
However, you must keep in mind that students enroll at Case Western Reserve
University through a single admission process, and we do not have separate
applications or standards for different intended majors. (Exception: nursing
students enroll jointly in Case and the Bolton School of Nursing.)
The role of the AAP representative is not necessarily
to know the details of every academic program but to transmit a general
sense of excitement and a positive attitude about Case Western Reserve
University and his/her own experiences here. Outdated and/or inaccurate
information can be very damaging. Do not hesitate to refer a student to
the admission office if you are unable to answer specific questions.
Highlights of the NACAC Statement of Principles
of Good Practice
- Admission representatives agree that they "will
speak forthrightly, accurately, and comprehensively in presenting their
institutions to counseling personnel, prospective students, and their
families...will not use disparaging comparisons of secondary or postsecondary
institutions...will not use unprofessional promotional tactics by admission
counselors and other institutional representatives. (I.A.4.a-e, 5, October,
1997.)
- College and University members agree that they...will
receive information about candidates in confidence and respect completely,
consistent with applicable laws and regulations, the confidential nature
of such data. (II.A.2, October, 1997.)
3. KEY ALUMNI ADMISSION PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
As an AAP representative, you may be encouraged to:
- Interview prospective students in your area in person or by telephone
- Represent Case at local college fairs
- Send congratulatory letters or e-mails to admitted students with similar degree interests through the alumni contact program
- Visit a high school with an admission counselor
- Attend or host a reception for students and parents
- Inform the admission office of events or changes
in local educational institutions that may impact recruitment
- Attend training sessions on campus, locally, and/or on the web
to keep current on Case happenings and the admission process.
Training
Formal introduction to the AAP by the admission staff is offered on a
yearly basis, at the annual AAP meeting in June. Meeting with alumni
when traveling for recruitment is a staff priority. Ample notice of staff
schedule is provided, and AAP representatives are expected to join in
formal and informal gatherings to stay up to date with and motivated
about the program.
The Alumni Admission Program Annual Meeting welcomes
all representatives for training, discussion, and camaraderie. This event
occurs during Case Reunion. Travel expenses are assumed by the alumni.
4. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT
A. HIGH SCHOOL VISITS
The admission staff has dramatically decreased the number of visits we
make each year to individual high schools. Data indicates that the high
school visit is the least effective recruitment tool. Guidance counselors are frequently
too busy to spend quality time with a recruiter, and the best students
(those of Case caliber) are reluctant to miss their classes to talk with
us. In key areas and at "feeder" schools, these visits continue. The decision
to visit or not visit rests with the admission office. If an AAP representative
feels that particular schools should be visited in his/her area and is
willing to make that visit, it is imperative that this be scheduled in
conjunction with the admission office and that the representative is thoroughly
trained. Your guidance counselor is responsible for facilitating any direct contact
between the school and the representative. Please do not visit a high
school without coordinating your visit through our office.
If you do undertake the task of visiting high schools,
be prepared for anything! Generally, you may expect to meet with a few
students who know something about the University and have specific questions.
They are missing either class or lunch to talk with you, so it is a good
idea to take their questions before beginning your comments. If the students
are hesitant or have no direct questions, keep your "presentation" informal
and brief (10-15 minutes), hitting the high spots (see "Fast Facts" and
"Key Selling Points").
It is very important to document high school visits.
The Admission Office will supply you with the proper form to complete
at the close of your visit to a high school. A sample high school visit
report form is included at the end of this section.
B. OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS FOR PROSPECTIVE & ADMITTED STUDENTS
Student/Parent Receptions
Alumni have the opportunity interact with prospective or admitted students in their
hometowns by hosting or assisting with student/parent receptions for students
and families. Informal by design, an AAP member
opens his/her home to local students who have expressed interest in Case.
Receptions are usually scheduled for a weekday evening or a Sunday afternoon
and last approximately two hours. The admission office is willing to finance
student-parent receptions. Standard fare includes coffee, soft drinks,
and cookies - no alcohol, please.
Case Previews
The Office of Undergraduate Admission hosts Case Preview receptions for
prospective students and families that are also attended by AAP representatives,
Chapter members, and current Case students home for vacation. The admission
office will organize the reception and sends invitations. AAPs are strongly
encouraged to attend.
Summer Send-off Programs
The Office of Alumni Relations, Programs, and Events sponsors Summer Send-off programs for students who are entering freshmen at Case. Typically held in August, these programs
are strictly social and not attended by admission staff members. AAPs are strongly encouraged to attend.
C. ON-CAMPUS EVENTS FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
CONNECT with
Case
The admission office holds two open house programs in the Fall for prospective
students and families. These programs include general sessions on admission
and financial aid, academic department open houses, and/or special lectures
and presentations. Campus tours and University Circle tours are also available.
Typically, the programs occur on the fourth Sunday in October and the
second Saturday in November.
Case Views and
Saturday Sampler
In April, we host a series of campus visit days during the week and Saturday
Sampler, an open house for all admitted students. These programs are intended
to encourage students to enroll and to answer more specific questions
about life on campus and educational opportunities and feature visits
with faculty members, financial aid officers, and administrators, social
activities, overnight stays, and panel discussions. AAP representatives,
especially those in Northeast Ohio, are encouraged to attend these programs
to help with registration, answer informal questions, and, of course,
brush up on your current store of Case knowledge!
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