It might be a first in the world of student recruitment strategy.
Brandon University (BU) was attempting to attract new students in mid-February when deans from the five faculties at BU were making personal phone calls to upcoming high school graduates with a direct pitch to students from across Manitoba and Saskatchewan to tell them about their programs and answer questions.
“Even in a texting and social media age, a personal phone call is still the best way to reach out and connect,” said Courtney Adams, the university’s student success officer, who helped co-ordinate the two-night phone drive.
The deans were joined by student ambassadors, as well as the university’s registrar and associate vice-president of student services, Tom Brophy to tackle an interest list that was compiled from BU visits to high schools throughout the two provinces.
“We’ve gone further north than Thompson and past Winnipeg and west to Regina,” Adams said.
The phone list was collected specifically for students who had already expressed an interest in post-secondary education and in BU.
The deans and others were able to give a personal touch to the students they called, offering them a detailed look at the educational paths they could pursue at the university.
“I spoke to guitar players, trumpet players, piano players, vocalists, flute players, a violinist and students interested in a wide range of programs, from elementary music education to performance,” said Greg Gatien, acting dean for the School of Music, after the first evening of calling on Feb. 8.
“Time flew by. I spoke to at least 30 students — and left another 15 or so rambling voice mails,” he said. “It was a pleasure to talk with engaged young people about their post-secondary aspirations.”
The second round of calls occurred on Feb. 11.
The university said they had over 1,000 names on their call lists and the strategy was being deployed prior to the university’s open house event and the Brandon Career Symposium that is scheduled in March.
The open house, they said will feature an information fair, personal tours and mock lectures to give Grade 11 and 12 students a sense of the university experience.
Enrollment at BU in 2015-16 was up by 5.4 per cent.
The university was founded in 1899.
