AG J Capstone PresentationAG J Capstone Presentation

Jessica Petzel, Kyle Spradley,

Drew Stewart, Jena Thompson

Jessica Petzel, Kyle Spradley,

Drew Stewart, Jena Thompson

PurposePurpose

Class composed of four Agricultural Journalism students

Aid from instructor Sharon Wood-Turley Survey the current status of communication within

the college and with alumni Find solutions on improving communication All students passed the IRB test to be certified to

work on research projects by the University of Missouri

Class composed of four Agricultural Journalism students

Aid from instructor Sharon Wood-Turley Survey the current status of communication within

the college and with alumni Find solutions on improving communication All students passed the IRB test to be certified to

work on research projects by the University of Missouri

OutlineOutline

Faculty Interviews Focus Group Survey Results Newsletter CAFNR Alumni Web Site New Media Tools New Class Ties to Recruitment

Faculty Interviews Focus Group Survey Results Newsletter CAFNR Alumni Web Site New Media Tools New Class Ties to Recruitment

Faculty InterviewsFaculty Interviews

Each student was given the task to interview at least four CAFNR faculty members

Purpose: Find out what they are currently doing as

means of communication Their opinion on what problems exist Find solutions to these problems

Each student was given the task to interview at least four CAFNR faculty members

Purpose: Find out what they are currently doing as

means of communication Their opinion on what problems exist Find solutions to these problems

Faculty InterviewsFaculty Interviews

Kyle Spradley George Jesse Mark Ryan Bryan Garton Ingolf Gruen

Jessica Petzel: Mike Monson Ken Schneeberger Stephanie Chipman Anna Ball Leon Schumacher

Kyle Spradley George Jesse Mark Ryan Bryan Garton Ingolf Gruen

Jessica Petzel: Mike Monson Ken Schneeberger Stephanie Chipman Anna Ball Leon Schumacher

Drew Stewart Bruce Cutter Roy Robinson James Groves David Vaught

Jena Thompson CeCe Leslie Mary Ann Gowdy Tony Lupo Dana Brown-Hayes

Drew Stewart Bruce Cutter Roy Robinson James Groves David Vaught

Jena Thompson CeCe Leslie Mary Ann Gowdy Tony Lupo Dana Brown-Hayes

Faculty Interview summaryFaculty Interview summary

Each department has been handling its own forms of communication in-house and with alumni

Problem with varied approaches to communication, no uniformity

No centralized groups or information pieces out to alumni and hardly to faculty

Want to see some sort of newsletter out to alumni Some discrepancies between SNR and CAFNR

alumni

Each department has been handling its own forms of communication in-house and with alumni

Problem with varied approaches to communication, no uniformity

No centralized groups or information pieces out to alumni and hardly to faculty

Want to see some sort of newsletter out to alumni Some discrepancies between SNR and CAFNR

alumni

Focus GroupsFocus Groups Five CAFNR alums from the area They felt positive about their CAFNR experience Would like better ways to keep in contact with fellow

alums All agreed they would like to see more information

coming out of the college, specifically out of their department

Interested in info about research, current students, activity of old classmates

Want something like MoMentum to come back in which the students create the content

Five CAFNR alums from the area They felt positive about their CAFNR experience Would like better ways to keep in contact with fellow

alums All agreed they would like to see more information

coming out of the college, specifically out of their department

Interested in info about research, current students, activity of old classmates

Want something like MoMentum to come back in which the students create the content

Focus Group - New MediaFocus Group - New Media

Most were on Facebook Mainly preferred to receive electronic

media and get news online Not really aware of all the new multimedia

tools made available

Most were on Facebook Mainly preferred to receive electronic

media and get news online Not really aware of all the new multimedia

tools made available

Focus Group SummaryFocus Group Summary

Don’t feel really connected to college Occasionally check in with departments or

college Would like to see some communication not

related to financial donations All agreed they would rather donate to

CAFNR than specifically to their department or to all of MU

Don’t feel really connected to college Occasionally check in with departments or

college Would like to see some communication not

related to financial donations All agreed they would rather donate to

CAFNR than specifically to their department or to all of MU

SurveySurvey

Electronic survey sent out to 472 CAFNR alums from 1990-Present

122 replied (had 15 undeliverable addresses) Topics investigated:

Experiences at CAFNR If they are connected to CAFNR at all Communication How they receive news

Electronic survey sent out to 472 CAFNR alums from 1990-Present

122 replied (had 15 undeliverable addresses) Topics investigated:

Experiences at CAFNR If they are connected to CAFNR at all Communication How they receive news

Survey ResultsSurvey Results

Almost all alums agreed they had a good experience while at school in CAFNR

Seeing problems with event attendance within the college

The Web site is rarely visited by alumni Alumni would like to have increased

communication from the college

Almost all alums agreed they had a good experience while at school in CAFNR

Seeing problems with event attendance within the college

The Web site is rarely visited by alumni Alumni would like to have increased

communication from the college

I feel satisfied with my experience at CAFNRI feel satisfied with my experience at CAFNR

Current SituationCurrent Situation

People enjoyed their time here, but we don’t have alums coming to events

Just over 3% said the CAFNR homecoming tailgate is important to them

Around 16% said they had attended a CAFNR event in the past year

People enjoyed their time here, but we don’t have alums coming to events

Just over 3% said the CAFNR homecoming tailgate is important to them

Around 16% said they had attended a CAFNR event in the past year

Possible SolutionPossible Solution

Use Facebook to advertise and invite alums Over 60% said they believe Facebook is a

positive way to connect to people 70% said RSVP lists to events could

possibly prompt more attendance at events With Facebook events you now have an

RSVP list

Use Facebook to advertise and invite alums Over 60% said they believe Facebook is a

positive way to connect to people 70% said RSVP lists to events could

possibly prompt more attendance at events With Facebook events you now have an

RSVP list

FacebookFacebook

Let’s encourage our alums to get on Facebook and connect with all different generations of alums

Need to have a managed Alumni group Fan pages could also be made Can easily upload photos and post recent

happenings in people’s lives

Let’s encourage our alums to get on Facebook and connect with all different generations of alums

Need to have a managed Alumni group Fan pages could also be made Can easily upload photos and post recent

happenings in people’s lives

I enjoy receiving info from the University I enjoy receiving info from the University

I look forward to receiving Mizzou MagazineI look forward to receiving Mizzou Magazine

I have no interest in receiving a newsletter from CAFNRI have no interest in receiving a newsletter from CAFNR

eNewslettereNewsletter

From our research and findings from the survey, it is apparent people want news and stories from us

People subscribe to several eNewsletters, so why not one from CAFNR?

eNewsletters are fairly cheap and can draw more traffic to site with links

Archive all old issues along with all old stories on Web site

From our research and findings from the survey, it is apparent people want news and stories from us

People subscribe to several eNewsletters, so why not one from CAFNR?

eNewsletters are fairly cheap and can draw more traffic to site with links

Archive all old issues along with all old stories on Web site

Content of eNewsletterContent of eNewsletter

Stories linked to the CAFNR Web site Reader gets top bar story based on what

department they belong to or graduated from HTML based document sent to email so you can

click stories to lead into web address of story Decided to use MoMentum as the name due to

recognition by other alumni of the now dead print newsletter

Sent out three times a semester

Stories linked to the CAFNR Web site Reader gets top bar story based on what

department they belong to or graduated from HTML based document sent to email so you can

click stories to lead into web address of story Decided to use MoMentum as the name due to

recognition by other alumni of the now dead print newsletter

Sent out three times a semester

Content PreferencesContent Preferences

Research - 70% CAFNR events - 68% Students - 67% Classmate Updates - 65% Career Opportunities - 62% Faculty - 61% Club Activities - 30% Study Abroad - 23%

Research - 70% CAFNR events - 68% Students - 67% Classmate Updates - 65% Career Opportunities - 62% Faculty - 61% Club Activities - 30% Study Abroad - 23%

I get most of my news onlineI get most of my news online

Email is my primary means of communication

Email is my primary means of communication

I subscribe to an eNewsletter I subscribe to an eNewsletter

CAFNR Alumni Web SiteCAFNR Alumni Web Site

The connector of all the “big ideas.” eNewsletter, blog, social media tools. Create more traffic to the Web site.

Need to find specific ways (and reasons) for alums to come to the site. Links from the eNewsletter to site. Regular updates of useful information. Greater emphasis on career development and

reconnecting with classmates.

The connector of all the “big ideas.” eNewsletter, blog, social media tools. Create more traffic to the Web site.

Need to find specific ways (and reasons) for alums to come to the site. Links from the eNewsletter to site. Regular updates of useful information. Greater emphasis on career development and

reconnecting with classmates.

CAFNR Alumni Web SiteCAFNR Alumni Web Site

Transform “The Connecting Point” into Class Notes section. Alums can quickly submit announcements they would like

included in the site, blog or Momentum. Alumni in the Spotlight Addition

Highlight alums with major accomplishments. More user-friendly layout with emphasis placed on

important information. Suggestion: create a front door to both Ag Alumni and

SNR Alumni sites

Transform “The Connecting Point” into Class Notes section. Alums can quickly submit announcements they would like

included in the site, blog or Momentum. Alumni in the Spotlight Addition

Highlight alums with major accomplishments. More user-friendly layout with emphasis placed on

important information. Suggestion: create a front door to both Ag Alumni and

SNR Alumni sites

Redesign of CAFNR Web siteRedesign of CAFNR Web site

CAFNR Community BlogCAFNR Community Blog More of an online bulletin of content Blog managed by students Content can be uploaded by students,

faculty, alumni

More of an online bulletin of content Blog managed by students Content can be uploaded by students,

faculty, alumni

MizzouNetMizzouNet

The MU Alumni Association already has an online directory so no need to duplicate one for CAFNR

Need to encourage our alums to get on Would like to create a CAFNR sub-group Advertise MizzouNet on our CAFNR

Alumni Web site

The MU Alumni Association already has an online directory so no need to duplicate one for CAFNR

Need to encourage our alums to get on Would like to create a CAFNR sub-group Advertise MizzouNet on our CAFNR

Alumni Web site

I would feel comfortable sharing my contact information through an online alumni directory

I would feel comfortable sharing my contact information through an online alumni directory

ClassClass

Essentially the PR Team Create eNewsletter content and design Moderate the blog Manage the social networking sites Help Genevieve with the Web site Liaison with Career Services

Essentially the PR Team Create eNewsletter content and design Moderate the blog Manage the social networking sites Help Genevieve with the Web site Liaison with Career Services

Class: whoClass: who

Staff members Sophomore standing Instructor approval J2100 or writing sample

Seniors as managing editors Perhaps a year-long Ag J capstone

Co-facilitator from communications office Sharon Wood-Turley as a possible professor

Staff members Sophomore standing Instructor approval J2100 or writing sample

Seniors as managing editors Perhaps a year-long Ag J capstone

Co-facilitator from communications office Sharon Wood-Turley as a possible professor

Class: whoClass: who

2009-10: hire at least three interns 2010-11: trial class

Evaluate effectiveness

2011-12: class in full swing

2009-10: hire at least three interns 2010-11: trial class

Evaluate effectiveness

2011-12: class in full swing

Class: challengesClass: challenges

Timing Overwhelmed faculty Student awareness/interest in class Grunt work versus valuable experience

Timing Overwhelmed faculty Student awareness/interest in class Grunt work versus valuable experience

Partnership with RecruitmentPartnership with Recruitment

Use positive CAFNR alumni stories to recruit new students.

Organize an alumni directory would help us see where are alums are located, and allow us to use them for recruitment in that area.

Create ways for alumni to connect with prospective students. More emphasis on the CAFNR Connections

mentorship program to students. Expand to include prospective students?

Facilitate online connections via email, Facebook or the recruitment blog.

Use positive CAFNR alumni stories to recruit new students.

Organize an alumni directory would help us see where are alums are located, and allow us to use them for recruitment in that area.

Create ways for alumni to connect with prospective students. More emphasis on the CAFNR Connections

mentorship program to students. Expand to include prospective students?

Facilitate online connections via email, Facebook or the recruitment blog.

THE END

QUESTIONS?

THE END

QUESTIONS?

Thanks for coming!Thanks for coming!