THE CUTTING EDGE OF STUDY ABROAD

RECRUITMENT & ENGAGEMENT

The challenge:

Double numbers without doubling staff

Tiny home philosophy:

Shrink square footage to cut down on chores

• Listen to students!

• Evaluate application: What do we use this information for? Are

we asking for duplicate information? Are there items we can combine?

Are there pre-accept items we can move to post-accept? Where are

we seeing the most confusion?

• Evaluate portfolio: Too much? Too little? What are participation

trends telling us? Is it worth continuing to offer programs students aren’t

going on?

• Evaluate communication: Write emails students will read. How’s

the tone? How’s the timing? Is it personal? Are the first 30 characters

strong? Easy to read from a phone?

• Evaluate availability: Are we accessible to students in the way

we need to be? Are we easy to find? Easy to contact? Is our advising

model allowing for good, efficient service?

• Let process be incentive.

Effective low touch creates opportunity for

meaningful high touch.

• Be early: With so much competing for student attention, early

awareness empowers students to be able to plan and allows for slower

onboarding. Partner with Admissions? Res halls? Innovative first-year

programming?

• Be everywhere: Create a buzz (98% students surveyed heard

about study abroad from someone they know), remote advising, mobile-

friendly resources, partnerships and thank yous.

• Be intentional: One size does not fit all. Who are you trying to do

outreach to? What are their concerns? Priorities?

Examples of high-touch at CU-Boulder: GO Scholars, Passport Caravan, fall fair passport activity,

summer bridge, class visits, MO Interns, etc.

What could the future look like when we

incorporate the best of both worlds? (Tech

and high touch)

What are some things you could implement

on your own campus/in your organization this

week, this month, this year?

What are some ways you can learn from

your students to improve your processes and

communication? What would that look like on

your campus/in your organization?

Discussion

Thank you!Sarah Kate Hartt

Program Manager & Lead Advisor

Study Abroad, University of Colorado Boulder

sarah.hartt@colorado.edu