100 Community Conversations
"What does it mean by "comprehensive" university?"
-"Doctural" universities = UW, WSU
-"Liberal Colleges" = Evergreen
-"Comprehensive" = Central, Eastern, Western
We are NOT like Central and Eastern. We have students vying for positions to be apart
of this university.
What Makes Us Different? (In a nutshell)
-Quality of the undergraduate academic experience; hands on
-Engagement within the community; making a difference
-Location (Mt. Baker, Bellingham, outdoors/earthy)
-Innovative
Perception of the WWU
-Need to showcase how much students who leave are PLEASED with their experience,
unlike other universities. High satisfaction rate.
-There is a high correlation between application rates and perception of quality.
-It's your second or third degree that defines your future career. It is the experience that
matters, not the degree.
-General perception of WWU viewed as #2 to the UW.
-Western is a more of a "green/granola" school.
-Majority of in state students, don't do a whole lot of marketing to out of state students
-Western is the "learning institution of the state." No TA's, just teachers. Actual
teachers posses the excitement and passion, which is infectious.
-Need to create a sense of public ownership. The state's future is connected to the
university. You must earn ownership.
-Lack of athletics in choice when choosing a college. Keep in mind for the future, but
shows that we have a hole that needs filling.
Analogy-Everyone you meet is from UW. You think of it as a great school because you're
around people from there all the time, little did you know there is a better value at
Western.
How do we leverage our small-ness? Find a way to tell the story.
Alumni within Seattle Community / Presence of WWU in King County
-GOAL: Whitman has a reputation for having a strong alumni connection. Big
attraction. They look out for one another.
-Is there a place for Alumni in Seattle? A pub? Safeco field? :)
-Showcase what Alumni have done; just because you get a degree doesn't mean you'll
become successful. What do WWU alumni do?
-Generate an area to have summer school locations in King County. Connect this with
alumni in King County with Internships. Integrate hands on with the classroom.
-You always find the "happy" alums. How do you reach the unhappy ones? Learn from
them, what to change?
View from Parents
"Away, but not too far away"
"Not a commuter campus, so we there is a safe feeling."
"If you could message to parents that you could get a $50,000 education for $5,000$15,000, you'd be successful."
-Is there a correlation between students who get accepted to WWU, but reject it for UW
and the parent being a Husky alum?
Relationship with the Legislature
-Local tuition setting ability. People fear if trustees set the out of state tuition. When in
reality, our board did not mark up the out of state tuition at all.
-Not just higher education is being handled poorly by the legislature. (Ex:
Transportation, Employment.)
Branch Campuses
-One of our strengths is our quality and smallness, branch campus not in that picture
-Already working with community colleges on offering degrees there
-Maybe look at moving master programs together at a different location
Marketing
Showcase your strengths:
-Student to professor ratios
-Being "Green"
-What is that ONE THING you can rally behind?
-Caliber of faculty and equipment
-Are we 50% research 50% educational institute? Emphasize that we're the best of
BOTH.
-If you're finding jobs for your graduates, then you need to showcase that.
Our Students are Problem Solvers
EX: Green Energy Fee/ Transportation Fee, go out and solve our own problems, then
we come to your company with the motivation to fix challenges.
Answer: Have companies tell the public for you, if it is true. They will build the image for
you.
Diversity & the Importance with International Experience
-Every student should study abroad.
-Future employees become a capable traveler.
-Look for clusters for bilateral universities abroad, instead of grabbing ideas from here
and there.
-Lack of euntrepuners; create a partnership with Scandinavian countries that need
euntrepuners.
-Create a stronger sense of alumni of color to reach out and give back to future
generations.
-Connections between having diverse students means having a diverse staff, which can
be a challenge.
Goals & Future
-Need to be sensitive to affordable tuition rates
-There is a natural connection between the environment/business/policy. Need social
permission for us to carry on with what we do. THAT is what the waterfront could and
should become, the partnership of environment/business/policy. Huge potential, must
get it right.
-Instead of sending people towards master degrees, look at alumni's offering that
knowledge for other alumni so they can grow.
-Renewable Energy Education would be superb.
-Outreach to international students, or have more international education programs