New Member
Communications Tool Kit
For Secondary Schools
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Hello!
Congratulations on becoming a member of Parchment! We want to make it easy for you to tell
your faculty, staff, students and their families, and your community. Your school has taken an
important step towards simplifying your transcript process and ensuring that credentials earned
translate into the best opportunities for your current students and alumni. Let’s shout it from the
rooftops (and announce it via a few other important channels too)!
We’ve put together this Communications Tool Kit with templates to help you easily communicate
this exciting news to a variety of audiences. These templates and tools were developed with
current member input, and have been successfully implemented in their local communities. Our
members tell us that regular reminders—through multiple channels-- about requesting transcripts
from Parchment.com is the most effective way to ensure a smooth transition to the new process.
Family Newsletter Submit this for publication within the first month.
Use this template in your school’s monthly or quarterly hard copy or electronic newsletters.
And give it to your school’s PTA/PTO representatives to distribute in their communications
too.
School Newspaper Submit this for publication within the first month.
If your school publishes a school newspaper, we have an article template to introduce
Parchment eTranscripts. You can also adapt part of the article in future editions to remind
students to request their transcripts on Parchment.com.
Social Media Announcements Do this EACH month until your program is really humming.
Does your school have a Facebook page or a Twitter account? Use these templates to
create posts to let students and families know how to request transcripts and explore
colleges on Parchment.com.
Registrar Voice Mail Message Do this the first week.
Use this quick script on your registrar’s voicemail message to remind students and families
to go to Parchment.com to request their transcripts.
Press Release Submit for publication within the first month.
A press release to local media can be a great way to let students and parents know your
school is using Parchment eTranscripts, and to encourage students to sign up. It is also a
great way to let the community know about efforts by the school to serve students better,
and to increase efficiencies. Your local and community newspapers and websites are great
outlets.
In the coming weeks, your Account Executive will be checking in with you to see how the
communication process is going, but If you have any questions at all in the meantime, please don’t
hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
The Parchment Team
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Table of Contents
Family Newsletter Template ............................................................................................................. 4
School Newspaper Template ............................................................................................................. 5
Social Media Post Templates ............................................................................................................. 6
Registrar Phone Menu or Voicemail Message Script .......................................................................... 6
Press Release Template..................................................................................................................... 7
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Family Newsletter Template
Customize the fields in red, and then your parent/family newsletter article is good to go.
“eTranscripts are here! District/School name is making the college application process
easier.
Is your child applying to college? Documents, data and deadlines… seems like there is so much to
gather and remember. But [District/school name] has teamed with Parchment to make the process
easier for you and your child.
One of the required documents you will need when applying to college is an official high school
transcript, a student’s academic record. [District/school name] has a new, online service where
you can request an official high school transcript and send it to the college of your choice with just
a few clicks.
Parchment sends your transcript securely, accurately and confidentially to any college or
university. The best part is you can request your transcript anytime from anywhere. All you need
is an internet connection and to visit Parchment.com.
Just follow these 3 easy steps to get started:
1. Register for a free account at parchment.com/register
2. Request your transcript
3. Track your transcript
[Insert cost information here]. And Parchment is fully integrated with the Common Application too.
You can also use Parchment to send additional information electronically, including letters of
recommendation.
Sending your child’s transcript electronically is easier, safe and saves money! Because it’s online,
it is processed much faster; your high school can send it instantly, and the college or university
receives it immediately. You no longer have to wonder if your transcript was sent by your high
school, or received by the college or university to which your child is applying. Now you can track
it all online at your account on Parchment.com. That’s peace of mind!
eTranscripts are great for schools too. For high school counselors, it means they spend less time
pulling files and stuffing envelopes. That’s good for students and parents, because now your
counselor has more time to spend helping students decide how and where to apply to college. It’s
also less expensive to send electronically, and requires fewer resources.
If you have questions about e-transcripts you can contact your child’s school counselor. Don’t
delay! Get your registration code from your counselor and sign up for your Parchment.com
account today at parchment.com/register.
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School Newspaper Template
This article is similar to the family newsletter article, but targeted toward the students; it’s written for
the school newspaper. Just need to customize the fields in red, and voila…
“eTranscripts are here! District/School name is making the college application process
easier.
Seems like the college application process is designed to create stress-- it’s a never-ending series
of documents, data and deadlines. But [District/school name] has teamed with Parchment to make
the process easier.
One of the required documents you will need when applying to college is an official high school
transcript, your academic record. [District/school name] has a new, online service where you can
request an official high school transcript and send it to the college of your choice with just a few
clicks.
Parchment sends your transcript securely, accurately and confidentially to any
college or university. The best part is you can request your transcript anytime from anywhere. All
you need is an internet connection and to visit Parchment.com.
Just follow these 3 easy steps to get started:
1. Register for a free account at parchment.com/register
2. Request your transcript
3. Track your transcript
[Insert cost information here].
Parchment is fully integrated with the Common Application too. And you can also use Parchment
to send additional information electronically, including letters of recommendation.
Because everything is online, it is processed much faster. Plus, you can track when your transcript
was sent and received at your account on Parchment.com. That’s peace of mind!
If you have questions about e-transcripts you can contact your school counselor. Don’t delay! Get
your registration code from your counselor and sign up for your Parchment.com account today at
parchment.com/register.
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Social Media Post Templates
Social media is great for short announcements and reminders. It’s great for all audiences, but it’s
particularly important for reaching students. Here are 3 options for social media posts on
Facebook or Twitter, with some simple fields in red that you can customize.
“Your #collegeapplication just got easier. Now live @Name of Institution: @Parchment
#eTranscripts!
Track your #transcript in the #collegeapplication process. @Name of Institution uses
@parchment. Ask your counselor for a registration link.
Peace of mind in the #collegeapplication process! @Name of Institution uses @parchment for
#eTranscripts!”
Registrar Phone Menu or Voicemail Message Script
Mention the transcript process in your Registrar or Counseling office phone menu or voicemail. Our
Members have found that a quick message such as the one below helps reduce call traffic related
to transcript requests.
“Need a transcript? Go to parchment.com to create a free account and submit a transcript request
online. Unless there is a hold on your student account, transcripts will be sent to your requested
destination within <x> business days”
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Press Release Template
Customize the fields in red, and your press release will be media-ready. If your school or district
has a Communications staff member, your best bet is to work with them. They will have media
lists and contacts, and can make sure any necessary approvals are in place. And if you have any
questions or would like a representative from Parchment to help out, please don’t hesitate to
contact pr@parchment.com.
“School District Chooses Parchment to Make Applying to College Easier and
More Accessible
Electronic transcripts deliver cost and time savings to schools and improve service to
students
CITY, STATE and SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. – (Month, Day, Year) – School students, parents and staff have a new,
online service where they can request an official high school transcript and send it to the college of their
choice with just a few clicks. With Parchment, the leader in eTranscript exchange, education credentials
are requested, sent and delivered electronically, securely and confidentially.
“QUOTE ABOUT WHY THE SCHOOL CHOSE TO DO ETRANSCRIPTS. Should include cost savings, time savings
and/or service to students,” said Name, Title, School District.
For over ten years, Parchment has proven that sending transcripts electronically is easier, safe and saves
money. Schools report saving 87% of time spent processing transcripts, so counselors can spend more time
helping students decide where and how to apply college. And schools can save $6.30/transcript − funds
that can be reallocated to learning.
Students register at Parchment.com, which is accessible anytime and anywhere and is easy to
use. Students, parents and staff can order transcripts at their convenience, and then use their account to
track when it was sent and received. This more transparent process provides peace of mind during the
stressful college application process.
“Parchment eTranscripts play an important role in simplifying and completing the college application
process,” said Jeffrey Harris, Director and Registrar at Parchment. “School has taken an important step to
help their students succeed.”
About School
<Insert boilerplate here>
About Parchment
Parchment is the leader in education credentials technology, allowing learners, educators and employers to
collect, analyze, use and share credentials in simple and secure ways. More than 3 million people and 8,300
schools and universities have used Parchment to exchange more than 10 million transcripts and other
credentials. Founded in 2003, Parchment Inc. is headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, with offices in Roseville,
CA, Denver, CO, Grand Rapids, MI and Washington, DC.
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Media Contacts:
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- District communications contact
- Tami Nealy, Parchment, pr@parchment.com, 480-719-1646 ext. 1014”
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