Connecting with Students

Build e-mail lists for e-mail blasts

Get access to your campus reporting system for class lists, permits, etc. Download student lists by major, and build your email lists from there.

Suggestions:

Email students right before registration begins for the following semester.
You’ll get a better response to emails that say “Dear Computer Science Students” than to “Dear Student.” They’ll feel like you’re specifically talking to them.
Use the campus email list-serve to distribute your emails. Otherwise, if you send messages to 5,000 students in one day, OIT will think you’ve been hacked and may deactivate your email account. You’ll have to plan ahead, as list-serves usually require approval by a human being.

Reach out to Student Organizations

Look at your campus’ listing for registered student organizations. Send personalized emails to clubs in related disciplines and to minority serving organizations. Specifically ask them to forward the email on to their members. If you personalize the greeting for each organization by name (like Dear ASCE Officers), they’ll likely read and forward the messages. You may also want to cc additional officers, to ensure you get the right student.

Freshman Experience and Transfer Student Courses

Campus 1st year experience and transfer experience courses are always looking for ways to get students involved on campus. Find out if you can:

Visit classes.
Do a pitch for VIP at their instructor training workshop or have a VIP table at their instructor resource fair.
Send recruiting slides to instructors.
Get VIP included in an assignment (like if students are supposed to go out and do activities on campus, they could visit a VIP team).