1. The Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network (CAAAN)
CAAAN Overview: An Introduction for New Volunteers
September 2012

2. Please direct questions and comments to your CAAAN chair.
Using This Document
It is intended for new CAAAN volunteers and those needing a refresher.
It is available as .pps (PowerPoint slideshow) file containing clickable links.
It can be used as a self-training file or used by chairs in broadcast mode.
It can be edited by changing the file extension from .pps to .ppt.
Please direct questions and comments to your CAAAN chair.

3. This Overview Covers… What is CAAAN? Roles of CAAAN volunteers
CAAAN contact meetings
Undergraduate admissions
Financial aid

4. What Is CAAAN?
CAAAN is the “Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network”
9,500 alumni volunteers worldwide
#1 Cornell alumni activity!
Organized into about 350 active committees
Acts as an extension of the Undergraduate Admissions Office (UAO) to help with recruiting and yield efforts
Ambassadors for Cornell first, but also a resource for students and parents 4

5. CAAAN Mission
Assist Cornell Admissions community with freshman recruitment and enrollment
Promote Cornell University by serving as ambassadors throughout the world
Personalize the admissions process for freshman applicants
Engage CU alumni with future alumni

6. CAAAN Volunteers
Conduct informational contact meetings with applicants (not evaluative interviews)
Typically contact 50-60% of the total applicant pool
Submit informational contact reports that add depth/perspective to students’ applications
Conduct admitted student receptions, entering student events
Represent Cornell at college fairs
Hold receptions for admitted applicants and sendoffs for entering freshmen

7. The CAAAN Structure CAAAN Coordinator and CAAAN Assistant
(Kyle Downey) (Colleen Chaffee)
CAAAN Advisory Committee (‘C’AC)
350 committees led by experienced CAAAN volunteers
9,500 alumni ambassadors worldwide
*The CAAAN Coordinator and CAAAN Assistant are employees of Cornell; all other positions listed above are held by volunteers. 7

8. Your CAAAN Chair Is an experienced volunteer
Assigns and tracks applicant referrals
Is your first contact for questions and suggestions
Areas vary, but the average chair receives 100 referrals per year 8

9. CAAAN and Cornell Clubs
A CAAAN committee is often closely linked to a local Cornell Club
CAAAN chairs are frequently club officers
Cornell Clubs generously co-host and provide funding for many local CAAAN events each year

10. CAAAN Contact Meetings: Overview (1 of 3)
Meetings are the core role of CAAAN volunteers
Contact Meetings help personalize the admissions process for Cornell applicants
Should be positive, informal, and informative meetings
Not evaluative interviews to assess worthiness of candidates for admission
Opportunities for applicants to learn more about the Cornell Experience and for Cornell to learn a bit more about its applicants, too

11. CAAAN Contact Meetings: Overview (2 of 3)
Provide info about Cornell
Answer applicant’s questions - research and follow-up after meeting, if necessary
Put a positive face on Cornell - bring in your own relevant CU experiences
Submit a report with info about the applicant
Focus on info not in the application
Reports are read by admissions

12. CAAAN Contact Meetings: Overview (3 of 3)
CAAAN volunteers meet with freshman applicants to the following divisions:
Fine Arts; Urban and Regional Studies majors in College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Engineering
College of Human Ecology
School of Industrial and Labor Relations
The following programs require a formal interview instead
Architecture major
School of Hotel Administration

13. CAAAN Contact Meetings: Arranging the Meeting
Your CAAAN chair s you an applicant referral
Contact the applicant ASAP by * and/or phone to arrange the meeting (not on the spot)
Identify yourself as a Cornell alumni admissions ambassador
Explain the purpose of the meeting: informational, not evaluative
Select a mutually convenient time and location
Exchange cell phone numbers
If applicant declines or doesn’t respond after two attempts, indicate so in the contact report
Contact meetings are optional for applicants
* Use your Cornell address if possible

14. CAAAN Contact Meetings: The Applicant Referral Email
Applicant Name: Ezra Cornell Applicant Number: Mailing Address: 1 Cornell Place, Ithaca, NY Mailing Phone: 607/ address: High School: Ithaca HS in Ithaca (CEEB: ) Gender: Male Ethnicity (Self-Reported): N/A College: A&LS Intended Major: Applied Economics and Mgmt Special Characteristics: Legacy

15. CAAAN Contact Meetings: Where to Meet
Face-to-face meetings are strongly preferred, but alternate approaches exist
Meet in a neutral, public place, e.g., coffee shop, library, local school
Do NOT meet in your home
Do NOT meet in the applicant’s home unless the applicant suggests that

16. CAAAN Contact Meetings: When to Hold Meetings
Meet as soon as you can, typically within two weeks from referral
File a narrative report online ASAP after the meeting
Be aware of the CAAAN calendar
Early decision reports usually due November 30
Regular decision reports usually due March 1

17. CAAAN Contacts – Alternate Approaches
Sometimes geography or applicant volume makes a face-to-face meeting unrealistic. Consider:
phone or video (e.g., Skype) contacts
small group meetings
a personal introducing yourself and offering to answer any questions and/or share some information about your CU experience

18. CAAAN Contact Meetings: Conducting the Meeting (1 of 4)
Arrive on time (or call on time if a phone meeting)
Set the applicant at ease
Remind the applicant that this is an informational meeting, not an interview
Ask open-ended questions to promote conversation
Share a favorite Cornell memory with the applicant
Don’t take notes during the meeting, but do write up a few words soon after

19. CAAAN Contact Meetings: Conducting the Meeting (2 of 4)
Ask the applicant…
Open-ended questions, such as
What’s important to you in a college?
What questions do you have about Cornell?
What would you like to know about my Cornell experience?
Is there is anything that you did not share in your application that you would like to share now?
Give the applicant ample time to think, respond, and expand

20. CAAAN Contact Meetings: Conducting the Meeting (3 of 4)
Do NOT…
Take notes during the meeting
Ask about GPA, SATs, rank in class
Compare Cornell with other universities
Attempt to estimate the candidate’s chances of admission

21. CAAAN Contact Meetings: Conducting the Meeting (4 of 4)
Cornell topics to discuss, based on the applicant’s interests…
“Any person, any study”
Diverse, talented student body
4,000 courses!
Beauty of the campus
Traditions and service/outreach
World-renowned, accessible faculty
Freshman experience
Loyal alumni – Cornellian for life

22. The CAAAN Contact Report (1 of 2)
Intended to add information and perspective to the application, not to recommend for or against admission
File your report within a few days of your meeting and before the CAAAN deadline
Include examples of what was discussed during your meeting
Report facts and observations, not judgments or conclusions
Admissions committees report that timely, well-written reports can aid in their decision-making process

23. The CAAAN Contact Report (2 of 2)
File report online at CAAAN website
Report unusual circumstances, e.g., time-consuming responsibilities at home
Include any new information that the applicant asked you to share with the admissions committee
Don’t report physical characteristics (height, weight, level of attractiveness)
The length of the report is limited; don’t use space to repeat information that is already in the application

24. The CAAAN Website Primary site for CAAAN volunteers
At caaan.admissions.cornell.edu
Primary site for CAAAN volunteers
CAAAN overview and training
Contact report submission
Loads of links to important resources
Key links on Members page
No login required
Revised for
Easier to navigate
Updates to many of the training materials

25. The CAAAN Advisory Committee (‘C’AC) (1 of 2)
Helps guide and manage CAAAN
Assists in defining CAAAN strategy, processes and organization
Trains and mentors Chairs
Helps UAO troubleshoot areas with leadership gaps or other issues
Trusted advisors to UAO on matters such as communication with alumni and students

26. The CAAAN Advisory Committee (‘C’AC) (2 of 2)
Volunteers appointed by Coordinator of Volunteer Programs to actively assist in guiding/managing/training CAAAN
Experienced CAAAN leaders and one or two current students/young alumni
Averages about members
An intentionally diverse group
Geography
Culture
Graduation Year
Meets twice per year, plus conference calls as needed to work on projects

27. The CAAAN Calendar*
October – February: contact meetings with applicants
Reports on contact meetings due
Early decision: late November
Regular decision: early March
Admissions decisions available
Early decision: mid-December
Regular decision: early April
Rolling notification: early March (ILR and Hotel only)
*Dates vary slightly each year

28. Undergraduate Admissions
Cornell applicants…
select early decision or regular decision
submit both the Common Application and Cornell Supplement
apply to one* of seven undergraduate colleges/schools
Separate, optional application for financial aid
*May also indicate an alternate college/school
See Updates from Campus slideshow on CAAAN website and Undergraduate Admissions website for additional details 28

29. Financial Aid
Goals: Make Cornell as affordable as possible for students who demonstrate financial need and be as competitive as possible in recruiting and enrolling undergraduate students
Admission decisions are 100% need-blind
All Financial Aid is need-based (no merit or athletic scholarships)
Initiatives in place to increase access to Cornell and improve competitiveness of financial aid awards
Online financial aid calculator
See Financial Aid Update and other financial aid links on References page of CAAAN website 29

30. Freshman Life
Strong Cornell focus on new student support and acclimation programs
All freshmen housed together on North Campus, a living and learning community
Variety of architectures and room styles
Carol Tatkon Center – an academic and personal resource center
Fitness centers and great food
Short walk to central campus
Wonderful satisfaction and retention – 97% of first-year students return for sophomore year 30

31. Thank You For Volunteering Your Time Through CAAAN!31