Amanda Parada-Villatoro, DePaul University
Ashley McKnight-Phillips, DePaul University
Sparkle Hunt, DePaul University

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To recruit an academically talented and diverse student body that reflects DePaul’s mission
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Accessibility
Diversity
Educational Excellence
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Three approaches:
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Ambassadors
Peer Guides
Interns

Enhance prospective student experience
Reward volunteers
5 Paid E-Board Positions
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Male Overnight Host
Coordinator
Female Overnight Host
Coordinator
Panel & Visit Day
Coordinator
Secretary
Fundraising & Special
Events Coordinator
Membership
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60 members
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30 Active Members
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Gold Members
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Ambie of the month
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Annual Ambie awards

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Unpaid volunteers
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Work with all prospective students
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Host students overnight on campus
Student panels
Calling campaigns
High school visits/college fairs
Housing tours
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Special on-campus programs
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Class of Excellence
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College Insight
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Visit days

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Paid student employees
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Serve as tour guides, panelists, activity leaders
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Assist with admission activities and events
Focus on outreach to students of color (SOC)
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Special groups: MIP, GLAD, College Connect, STEP
UP…
Represent backgrounds similar to students we serve
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SOC
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Chicago- area grads
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1 st Generation

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Paid, Para-professional student employees
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6 Individual Positions
 Campus Tour Coordinator  Territory and Travel Management
 Communications Specialist  Transfer and Adult Specialist
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 Customized Visit Coordinator 
Shared Common Responsibilities
Scholar Volunteer Coordinator
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Quarterly Group Projects
Special Group Presentations
Out of State and Local Recruitment Assistance
Fully Supported by Professional Staff
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Report to direct supervisor regarding position-specific office needs
Assist various counselors at college fairs, hometown visits, panels, etc.
Work with Intern Coordinator to tailor experience in accordance with professional goals

Communication
• Ambie Callers
• Peer Guide Callers
• Comm Intern
• Scholarship Intern
Campus Tours
• Tour Coordinator
• Panel/Visit
Coordinator
• Tour Guides
Recruitment
Events
Housing Tours
• Tour Coordinator
• Panel/Visit
Coordinator
• Ambie Volunteers
Student Panels
• Panel/Visit
Coordinator
• Available Interns
• Ambie Volunteers

Scheduling
• CV Intern
• Overnight
Coords
Training/RB
•Overnight Coords
•Available Interns
SOC
Overnights
General Hosting
•Ambassador
Hosts
•Peer Guides
Campus Tours
•Tour Coordinator
•Tour Guides
•Peer Guides

Communication
•Ambie Callers
•Peer Guide
Callers
•Comm Intern
HSV’s
•Peer Guides
•Available Interns
•Ambie
Volunteers
Targeted
Travel
College Fairs
•Peer Guides
•Available Interns
•E-Board
Members
Panels
•Panel/Visit
Coord
•Ambie Panelists
•Available Interns

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Ambassadors
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Customized Visit – 135 customized visits September through April 2012
Class of Excellence
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2011 – 18% of attendees deposited prior to event
2011 – 85% of attendees deposited
2012 – 19% of attendees deposited prior to event
College InSight
 32% of attendees have applied for admission…and counting
Calling Campaign
 2012 – 28% successful calls made to SOC
Peer Guides
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1200 students reached in 25 unique events (approx. 48 students per event)
Interns
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1440 students reached through special group visits and over 400 students reached through fairs, panels, and visits

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Started with:
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Student Organizations and Greek Life
Involvement Fair booth
Current student employees/ office assistants
Referrals from TRiO, multicultural student support offices
Campus job board
Pay/ Incentives
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Ambassador E-Board- $3,000 Yearly Stipend
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Point-based rewards redeemable for prizes
Special Events
Peer Guides- $10/hr
Interns- $11/hr
Professional Development
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Networking
Recommendations for special programs
Retreats
Professional Development Workshops

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First things first
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Assess your needs
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Second: Budget, budget, budget!
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No budget- Volunteer Approach
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Small/medium budget- Peer Guide Approach
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Larger budget- Intern Approach

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Volunteer
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Fundraise for incentives (Finals kits, bake sales, etc.)
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Pays for itself!
Connect students to paid opportunities as an incentive for involvement
In-house workshops/training
Attach students to pre-existing initiatives that won’t add to your budget
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Overnight hosts
Visit days
High school visits/college fairs
Calling campaigns
Housing tours

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Do not require consistent weekly schedules
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Offer competitive wages to students
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Targeted initiatives
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Partner with programs/ schools for specialized visits
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Adopt a school
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Invest in Leadership
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Workshop brainstorming
- Let students put their skills to use!
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Leadership conferences

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20 hour per week expectation
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Consistent weekly schedule each term
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4-5 days per week commitment
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Maximize recruitment through paid efforts
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Paid out-of-state travel outside of hometown visits
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Incentive to assist in SOC events
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Invest in professional development
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Development = Meaningful Experience = Referrals!

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Start with known leaders
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Multicultural student orgs, Greeks, ministry groups, etc.
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May already share your same goals!
Reach out to university departments that work with diverse students
Scholarship recipients/ Honors students
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May need to meet service hours
Pull from current student workers
Post on campus job board… and don’t forget to advertise!

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Provide consistent opportunities to get involved
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Keeps things fresh and interesting
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Cater to the students’ interests and passions
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Ask what they want to get out of their experience, then follow through
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Empowerment through leadership
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Let students create ways to engage
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Creates buy-in and commitment
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Make sure we give them what we promised them!

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Remind importance of work
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Provide updates on accomplishments and “numbers”
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Allow them to stay connected with students they work with
Professional Development: Prep them for success!
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Conferences
Special workshops
Networking
Recommendations
Praise, praise and more praise!
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Parties & Awards
Thank you letters
Celebrate milestones as a group
Social Media

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Tour guides
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Shared experience
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Mentors/ Role Models
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Email/ Facebook buddies
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Create and lead workshops/activities

Current DePaul Students
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Dion Meggs, Ambassador
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Priscilla Esparza, Intern

Amanda Parada-Villatoro, DePaul University aparada@depaul.edu
Ashley McKnight-Phillips, DePaul University aphilli5@depaul.edu
Sparkle Hunt, DePaul University shunt6@depaul.edu