Integrating Your Tour Teams MOACAC Conference April 11, 2011

History Multicultural Recruitment Team –Created in early 2000’s to help increase multicultural population –Initially called Minority Student Leaders Student Ambassadors– student tour team. –Gives individual, group and open house event tours –Must be 2 nd semester freshman and have a minimum 2.5 GPA The Numbers

What worked and what didn’t MRT-only gave tours for certain events so not trained as well –Not truly multicultural –Stipend pay but no checks and balances system Student Ambassadors-good tour guides but not representative of the student body.

The Telecounseling Change Each Student Ambassador required to call 2-3 nights per semester The Good- –trained about the campus and typically “high energy” students –Did not experience burnout –Dependable MRT members were not required to telecounsel

The MRT Change Removed stipend…everyone gets paid by the hour!! More intensive training Encouraged more diverse populations to participate (athletics, greek) Pizza parties, holiday parties, teambuilding exercises-bringing the fun back! Encouraged campus community involvement

The Change Both groups had same focus-Recruit new students to the University Understood the need to retain a MRT group Segregation (negative feelings) Cohesive training Balance of time commitment How can we work together?

The Day it all Changed ! August 29, :00 Ice Breaker and Introductions 10:30 The New Program 10:45 Campus Updates -New Data (overall enrollment, etc -New Improvements on campus (housing,scully/Rhodes) 11:00 Student Ambassador/MRT updates (hiring, events scheduled, telecounseling, etc) 11:15 MRT Leaders 11:30 The “Differences” among us 12:00Lunch (Towers Café) 1:00What it means to be a Southeast Leader (Guest Speaker) 1:30Southeast Quiz and prizes 2:00The Good, The Bad and The Ugly 2:30What can I change? 2:45Break 3:00The BEST Campus Visit!

Expectations Address the “us vs. them” mentality Uniform training Accountability-not only for self but for the team as a whole –Honesty –Time management and organization

What happened… More overlap between the teams More collaboration –Leadership for each team Understanding Appreciation for Diversity Mentoring AND more mentoring…

And you thought you were just their supervisor First, Break all of the rules:What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently –Good book for first time managers Mentoring is such a powerful gift Choose words/advice wisely Take time to get to know your students –Makes you a better manager/mentor

Our Future Change names to be more unified Start “branding” our groups –Want students to understand it is an honor and privilege to be a team member Reduce team leaders

Danielle Alspaugh Associate Director of Admissions (573) Brandi Brooks Senior Admissions Counselor (573)