The Communication Pipeline: Reaching Students with Your FA Message Crystal Smith NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016 Session Objectives Will be focusing on “Where” and “How” Discuss tools and resources that can be used effectively to get financial aid-related information out to students Roundtable discussion to share what works at your campus NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016 Does Email Still Work? NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

Student Survey Results on Email “Too cluttered/Too many unwanted emails” (even college-related emails) Average of THREE email accounts merged into one (personal, work, and school) “Don’t have time to read” Only six minutes/day spent on reading email “I have a school email address?”  “Just don’t check email” NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

Communication Survey Results NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

Text Messages Using Remind! Office uses web portal to send/receive messages Students choose to sign-up or not and choose how to receive/send messages (cell number, app, or web) Cell numbers remain private Real-time messaging Can send messages to a group or individual students Can schedule announcements ahead of time NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

Text Messages Using Remind! One-way conversations= push announcements Two-way conversations= students can text back as part of a conversation with you Can see who is reading messages Students can unsubscribe at any time It’s FREE www.Remind.com NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016 Social Media Use video content to attract viewers Federal Student Aid YouTube videos can be found at https://www.youtube.com/user/FederalStudentAid Or create your own! Post reminders about important dates/financial aid deadlines Use instant chat features NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016 Social Media Announce scholarships Connect to the larger campus community by announcing student activities/campus events Hold contest/drawing for prizes Post fun, non-financial aid related content Post pictures of FA Staff to create connection with students NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016 Student Newsletter Can be digital or printed Collaborate with other departments or make exclusively for financial aid Text a link for digital version Hang single-page newsletters on bathroom stall doors, bulletin boards, elevators NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016 Student Newsletter Take out an ad in multi-page campus “student newspaper” Write a “Dear Abby” column for financial aid Mail Chimp (www.mailchimp.com) NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

Flyers, Posters & Signage Place flyers or posters where students congregate (dorms, dining hall, student center, canteen, bathrooms, stairwells) Use yard signs or “Burma Shave-style” signs in high traffic areas (bus station, sports fields, busy crosswalk intersections, bridges) Infographics Slide show announcements on TV screen in FA Office or locations across campus NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

Burma Shave-Style Signage Example FAFSA.GOV YOUR FAFSA! TO SUBMIT IT’S TIME NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016 Infographic Example “FA refunds come out Sept. 29. How will YOU spend your refund?” Poll students ahead of time on social media and create infographic showing results. “$22,000 in scholarship money went unclaimed last year! Applications are due by March 30!” Create an infographic of dollar signs with random ones missing to represent the “unclaimed scholarship funds”. NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

Office Voicemail Message Take advantage of low hanging fruit! What common questions can be answered? When is the deadline to apply? What’s my status? When can I buy books? When will refunds go out? What is your fax number? When are your office hours? NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016 Tips for Websites Make navigation easy on website Keep it uncluttered Use videos Integrate useful links Use images with simple text Try not to use “financial aid speak” Usually first place prospective students go for information NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016 Tips for Email Subject lines! Students may decide whether or not to open the email based on the subject line Keep it uncluttered If possible, use media rich content Integrate useful links Try not to use “financial aid speak” Include links to social media outlets Include info on how to sign-up for text messages NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016 Additional Ideas: http://emerald.tufts.edu/as/stu- org/hillel/board/marketing.htm NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

What works on your campus? NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

What Are Your Students Saying? NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016 Resources Bell, Steven. (2016). Email? Texts? Still searching for the electronic path to students. http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2016/03/opinion/steven-bell/email-texts-still-searching-for-the-electronic-path-to- students-from-the-bell-tower/ Hames, Matt. (2015). It is our fault that college students hate email. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/our-fault- college-students-hate-email-matt-hames Infosthetics. (2014). Visualising Mill Road: Informing communities by infographics in the street. http://infosthetics.com/archives/2014/02/visualising_mill_road_informing_communities_by_visualizations_in_t he_street.html Straumsheim, Carl. (2016). Read and unread. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/03/02/study- explores-impact-social-media-texting-email-use NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016

NCASFAA would like to thank our professional affiliates! NCASFAA Fall Conference – November 13-16, 2016