The Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network (CAAAN)

CAAAN Overview:An Introduction for

New VolunteersSeptember 2012

Using This Document

It is intended for new CAAAN volunteers and those needing a refresher.

It is available as .pps (PowerPoint slideshow) file containing clickable links.

It can be used as a self-training file or used by chairs in broadcast mode.

It can be edited by changing the file extension from .pps to .ppt.

Please direct questions and comments to your CAAAN chair.

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This Overview Covers…

What is CAAAN?

Roles of CAAAN volunteers

CAAAN contact meetings

Undergraduate admissions

Financial aid

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What Is CAAAN?

CAAAN is the “Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network”

9,500 alumni volunteers worldwide #1 Cornell alumni activity!

Organized into about 350 active committees

Acts as an extension of the Undergraduate Admissions Office (UAO) to help with recruiting and yield efforts

Ambassadors for Cornell first, but also a resource for students and parents

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CAAAN Mission

Assist Cornell Admissions community with freshman recruitment and enrollment

Promote Cornell University by serving as ambassadors throughout the world

Personalize the admissions process for freshman applicants

Engage CU alumni with future alumni

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CAAAN Volunteers

Conduct informational contact meetings with applicants (not evaluative interviews)

Typically contact 50-60% of the total applicant pool Submit informational contact reports that add

depth/perspective to students’ applications Conduct admitted student receptions, entering

student events Represent Cornell at college fairs Hold receptions for admitted applicants and

sendoffs for entering freshmen

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The CAAAN Structure

CAAAN Advisory Committee (‘C’AC)

350 committees led by experienced CAAAN volunteers

9,500 alumni ambassadors worldwide

CAAAN Coordinator and CAAAN Assistant(Kyle Downey) (Colleen Chaffee)

*The CAAAN Coordinator and CAAAN Assistant are employees of Cornell; all other positions listed above are held by volunteers.

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Your CAAAN Chair

Is an experienced volunteer

Assigns and tracks applicant referrals

Is your first contact for questions and suggestions

Areas vary, but the average chair receives 100 referrals per year

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CAAAN and Cornell Clubs

A CAAAN committee is often closely linked to a local Cornell Club

CAAAN chairs are frequently club officers

Cornell Clubs generously co-host and provide funding for many local CAAAN events each year

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CAAAN Contact Meetings: Overview (1 of 3)

Meetings are the core role of CAAAN volunteers

Contact Meetings help personalize the admissions process for Cornell applicants

Should be positive, informal, and informative meetings Not evaluative interviews to assess

worthiness of candidates for admission Opportunities for applicants to learn more

about the Cornell Experience and for Cornell to learn a bit more about its applicants, too

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CAAAN Contact Meetings: Overview (2 of 3)

Provide info about Cornell Answer applicant’s questions - research

and follow-up after meeting, if necessary

Put a positive face on Cornell - bring in your own relevant CU experiences

Submit a report with info about the applicant Focus on info not in the application Reports are read by admissions

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CAAAN Contact Meetings: Overview (3 of 3)

CAAAN volunteers meet with freshman applicants to the following divisions: Fine Arts; Urban and Regional Studies majors in

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning College of Agriculture and Life Sciences College of Arts and Sciences College of Engineering College of Human Ecology School of Industrial and Labor Relations

The following programs require a formal interview instead Architecture major School of Hotel Administration

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Your CAAAN chair emails you an applicant referral Contact the applicant ASAP by email* and/or phone

to arrange the meeting (not on the spot) Identify yourself as a Cornell alumni admissions

ambassador Explain the purpose of the meeting:

informational, not evaluative Select a mutually convenient time and location Exchange cell phone numbers

If applicant declines or doesn’t respond after two attempts, indicate so in the contact report

Contact meetings are optional for applicants* Use your Cornell email address if possible

CAAAN Contact Meetings: Arranging the Meeting

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Applicant Name: Ezra Cornell Applicant Number: 1234567 Mailing Address: 1 Cornell Place, Ithaca, NY 14853 Mailing Phone: 607/123-4567 Email address: ezrac@ithaca.orgHigh School: Ithaca HS in Ithaca (CEEB: 123456) Gender: Male Ethnicity (Self-Reported): N/A College: A&LS Intended Major: Applied Economics and Mgmt Special Characteristics: Legacy

CAAAN Contact Meetings: The Applicant Referral Email

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CAAAN Contact Meetings: Where to Meet

Face-to-face meetings are strongly preferred, but alternate approaches exist

Meet in a neutral, public place, e.g., coffee shop, library, local school

Do NOT meet in your home

Do NOT meet in the applicant’s home unless the applicant suggests that

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CAAAN Contact Meetings: When to Hold Meetings

Meet as soon as you can, typically within two weeks from referral

File a narrative report online ASAP after the meeting

Be aware of the CAAAN calendar Early decision reports usually due November

30 Regular decision reports usually due March 1

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CAAAN Contacts – Alternate Approaches

Sometimes geography or applicant volume makes a face-to-face meeting unrealistic.

Consider: phone or video (e.g., Skype) contacts small group meetings a personal email introducing yourself and

offering to answer any questions and/or share some information about your CU experience

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CAAAN Contact Meetings: Conducting the Meeting (1 of 4)

Arrive on time (or call on time if a phone meeting)

Set the applicant at ease Remind the applicant that this is an

informational meeting, not an interview Ask open-ended questions to promote

conversation Share a favorite Cornell memory with the

applicant Don’t take notes during the meeting, but

do write up a few words soon after

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Ask the applicant… Open-ended questions, such as

What’s important to you in a college? What questions do you have about Cornell? What would you like to know about my Cornell

experience? Is there is anything that you did not share

in your application that you would like to share now?

Give the applicant ample time to think, respond, and expand

CAAAN Contact Meetings: Conducting the Meeting (2 of 4)

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Do NOT… Take notes during the meeting Ask about GPA, SATs, rank in class Compare Cornell with other universities Attempt to estimate the candidate’s

chances of admission

CAAAN Contact Meetings: Conducting the Meeting (3 of 4)

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Cornell topics to discuss, based on the applicant’s interests… “Any person, any study”

Diverse, talented student body 4,000 courses!

Beauty of the campus Traditions and service/outreach World-renowned, accessible faculty Freshman experience Loyal alumni – Cornellian for life

CAAAN Contact Meetings: Conducting the Meeting (4 of 4)

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Intended to add information and perspective to the application, not to recommend for or against admission

File your report within a few days of your meeting and before the CAAAN deadline

Include examples of what was discussed during your meeting

Report facts and observations, not judgments or conclusions

Admissions committees report that timely, well-written reports can aid in their decision-making process

The CAAAN Contact Report (1 of 2)

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The CAAAN Contact Report (2 of 2)

File report online at CAAAN website Report unusual circumstances, e.g., time-

consuming responsibilities at home Include any new information that the

applicant asked you to share with the admissions committee

Don’t report physical characteristics (height, weight, level of attractiveness)

The length of the report is limited; don’t use space to repeat information that is already in the application

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The CAAAN Website

At caaan.admissions.cornell.edu Primary site for CAAAN volunteers

CAAAN overview and training Contact report submission Loads of links to important resources

Key links on Members page No login required

Revised for 2012-13 Easier to navigate Updates to many of the training materials

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The CAAAN Advisory Committee (‘C’AC) (1 of 2)

Helps guide and manage CAAAN Assists in defining CAAAN strategy,

processes and organization Trains and mentors Chairs Helps UAO troubleshoot areas with

leadership gaps or other issues Trusted advisors to UAO on matters such

as communication with alumni and students

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Volunteers appointed by Coordinator of Volunteer Programs to actively assist in guiding/managing/training CAAAN

Experienced CAAAN leaders and one or two current students/young alumni

Averages about 18-20 members An intentionally diverse group

Geography Culture Graduation Year

Meets twice per year, plus conference calls as needed to work on projects

The CAAAN Advisory Committee (‘C’AC) (2 of 2)

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The CAAAN Calendar*

October – February: contact meetings with applicants

Reports on contact meetings due Early decision: late November Regular decision: early March

Admissions decisions available Early decision: mid-December Regular decision: early April Rolling notification: early March (ILR

and Hotel only)*Dates vary slightly each year

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Undergraduate Admissions

Cornell applicants… select early decision or regular decision submit both the Common Application and

Cornell Supplement apply to one* of seven undergraduate

colleges/schools Separate, optional application for financial aid*May also indicate an alternate college/school

See Updates from Campus slideshow on CAAAN website and Undergraduate Admissions website for additional details

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Financial Aid

Goals: Make Cornell as affordable as possible for students who demonstrate financial need and be as competitive as possible in recruiting and enrolling undergraduate students

Admission decisions are 100% need-blind All Financial Aid is need-based (no merit or athletic

scholarships) Initiatives in place to increase access to Cornell and

improve competitiveness of financial aid awards Online financial aid calculator See Financial Aid Update and other financial aid links on

References page of CAAAN website

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Freshman Life

Strong Cornell focus on new student support and acclimation programs

All freshmen housed together on North Campus, a living and learning community Variety of architectures and room styles Carol Tatkon Center – an academic and personal

resource center Fitness centers and great food Short walk to central campus

Wonderful satisfaction and retention – 97% of first-year students return for sophomore year

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Thank You For Volunteering Your Time Through CAAAN!

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