1. MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION SESSION: PLA OUTREACH IN TENNESSEE

2. Messaging: Standards  General statement of clarity and transparency  Clear policies, guidelines, fees/costs, and rules  Explanations, appeals, and fairness  Location of information  Periodic updates

3. Messaging: External – Potential Students  PLA attracts new students  75% of Americans indicated “they would be more likely to enroll” in a higher education program if they could receive PLA credits – Lumina/Gallup Survey 2013  67% of Kentucky Residents said that PLA would give them “much more interest” in returning to school, more so than any other support service, including accelerated programs, online programs, childcare, flexible course scheduling, and financial aid. – Kentucky 2006-2008  State and Institution Websites  Policy information  Comparative information  TV advertisements and posters  Institution-directed outreach

4. Messaging: Internal – Faculty and Staff  Concepts:  Role-specific and role-centric messaging  Knowing who to contact Faculty and Staff TrainingsPresentations Documents/ materials Webinars

5. Messaging: Internal – Students Enrolled Students Default messaging to all adult students Specific orientation messaging Advising State-provided technical assistance and materials

6. Messaging: External – Business and Workforce Community State/ systems/ institutions Regional employer summits Partnerships with Workforce Investment Boards and Career Onestops Institutional partnerships Employer Toolkit

7. Follow Up Surveys: Key Findings  Faculty and staff mostly positive about effects of PLA on students and institutions  Faculty and staff mostly unsure of how PLA will affect them (but not negative)  Better awareness tended to equate to more positive views  Knowledge of specific types of PLA varied  Knowledge by institution varied considerably, depending on internal efforts

8. Messaging: Stakeholder Interaction PLA Champion Executive Leadership AdmissionsAdvisorsFacultyStudentsIndustry Local Ed Initiatives Media

9. Contact us Wilson Finch Assistant Director, Post Secondary Completion Initiatives, Tennessee Higher Education Commission wilson.finch@tn.gov Richard Irwin Associate Dean, University College, University of Memphis rirwin@memphis.edu