Collegiate Information & Visitor Services Association


On behalf of the Annual Conference Planning Committee, we’re so glad you could meet us in St. Louis for the 29th CIVSA Annual Conference!
The huSTLe and buSTLe of Annual Conference will take place over four days. Our schedule is packed with opportunities to develop professionally, including educational sessions, plenary sessions, group discussions and informal programming events They’re designed to help you learn new ideas, discover best practices, share your experiences, and make connections with colleagues from across the country and around the world.
Our planning was guided by four goals that we hope will enhance your experience: to inspire authentic and honest conversations, to facilitate connections and a sense of belonging, to offer diverse programming and practical takeaways for all attendees, and to highlight the vibrant city of St Louis
Chairing this conference is a personal and professional dream, but I couldn’t have done it alone. First, a huge thank you to the planning committee who volunteered countless hours to make every aspect of conference come to life Second, sincere gratitude to Betty Spengler, conference and events manager and Jen McGowan, association manager for their guidance, organization and hard work every step of the way. And last but not least, our association president Mel Baxter for always providing me with mentorship, support and laughs.
We hope that you’ll make the most of your experience, but we know conferences can be overwhelming! If you have questions or need advice, please visit us at the information desk (or “reg desk,” as I like to call it!) to speak to our committee, volunteers, board members and CIVSA staff about anything and everything conference-related and getting involved!
In keeping with the theme of our host hotel, a former railway station built in 1894, we hope you enjoy this four-day ride and depart back to your institution as a conductor of innovation and growth
With CIVSA pride, Nicole
LevyAnnual Conference Chair
Nicole Levy Adelphi University
Local Arrangements & Transportation
Shari Foglesong |
CHAIR
Truman State University
Sydney Jones
University of Central Arkansas
Katie Piedmont
Washington University in St. Louis
Publicity & Promotion
Owen Posey |
CHAIR
Western Kentucky University
Kristen Sauer
Randolph-Macon College
Emily Stanley
Lasell University
Spirit & Traditions
Paul Campbell |
CHAIR
James Madison University
Ricci Emmons
Anderson University (IN)
April Gonzalez
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Tiffany King
Rice University
Jacqueline Rush
Western Colorado University
Programming & Education
CHAIR
Kristin Robbio | University of Southern California
Chrissy Findlay
Bucknell University
Sophie Deutsch
Texas Christian University
Neelam Savla
University of Southern California
Brandon McDonald
Penn State University
Amy Vachon
Emerson College
Welcome & Volunteers
Stella Santos | Champlain College
CHAIR
Winston Franscini
University of North Texas
Tammy Ruebusch
Hanover College
CIVSA Association Manager
Jen McGowan
CIVSA Conference & Events Manager
Betty Spengler
Welcome to St Louis! On behalf of the executive board and the conference planning committee, I am beyond excited to welcome you and your institution to the 29th CIVSA Annual Conference
This week wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of an incredible group of people. They have been dedicated to making this year’s conference a success by creating ample opportunities to learn and connect
I am fortunate to have spent the past 18 months working with our conference chair Nicole Levy (Adelphi University) and her committee as they have built a robust program for this week Thank you to programming and education chair Kristin Robbio (University of
Southern California), publicity and promotion chair Owen Posey (Western Kentucky University), local arrangements and transportation chair Shari Foglesong (Truman State University), welcome and volunteers chair Stella Santos (Champlain College) and spirit and traditions chair Paul Campbell (James Madison University) Without their hard work and the countless hours of support and guidance from our conference and events manager Betty Spengler and association manager Jen McGowan, we wouldn’t be here this week
And what a conference we have planned! Maryville University, Saint Louis University and Washington University in St Louis have graciously opened their campuses to our attendees We will hear from unparalleled speakers in Kim Becking and Eboné Bell In addition, our opening session panel features Peter Colombatto (Lindenwood University), Trish Gomez (Washington University in St Louis), Danielle MillerSchuster (Illinois State University), Nicci Roach (Saint Louis University) and moderated by Stephen Barnett (Emeritus). After a busy week full of learning and networking opportunities, we’ll gather at the brand new CITYPARK Stadium for our closing dinner and awards. Between our opening session and our closing dinner, dozens of professionals in our industry will lead educational sessions covering topics across a brilliant assortment of tracks I believe these educational sessions are the foundation of our programming
I am so proud to be a CIVSA member If you are attending conference as a non-member, I hope you’ll see me or any member of the association to hear why a membership can benefit you and your institution And if you are a member: thank you for being here! Your investment in CIVSA has provided all of us the opportunity to gather here this week I look forward to meeting you and learning from you throughout the week Welcome again to St Louis and the 2023 Annual Conference!
Mel Baxter CIVSA President, University of North TexasThe CIVSA vision is to partner with higher education professionals to set standards of excellence in the field of information and visitor services.
Our mission is to provide knowledge exchange, research and connections in an inviting arena that builds professional and personal relationships.
Education: “The act or process of imparting or acquiring particular knowledge or skills, as for a profession ”
Connection: “Developing sound working relationships in an organization.”
Involvement: “A personal investment in the success of an organization.”
CIVSA is committed to providing an inclusive environment for all members, member institutions, and students Our Association is proud of its diverse membership from institutions throughout the United States and multiple countries from around the world. We commit to treating all members respectfully, equitably, and with dignity. Upholding the Association’s commitment to being an inclusive organization means that all cultures, races, ethnicities, genders, ages, religions, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, abilities, and countries of origin are embraced and valued
CIVSA stands in solidarity with advocates calling for greater diversity and enhanced inclusion. The world faces many challenges that divide us, but what unites us together in this Association is a steadfast commitment to providing knowledge exchange, research and connections in an inviting arena that builds professional and personal relationships.
(Pre-Purchased Ticket Required)
All listed meals, tours, transportation, and conference experiences are included in the registration fee unless specified. Schedule is subject to change. All times Central.
The CIVSA Lounge will be open throughout conference in Pegram
CIVSA would like to recognize and thank our conference sponsors for their generous support. We invite you to visit them to learn about their products and services. After learning about our wonderful sponsors and their products and services, you will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of two Kindle Paperwhites that will be given away during the closing session on Friday.
A long-standing CIVSA tradition is to give back to the Annual Conference host city by encouraging attendees to donate to an organization selected by the Conference committee.
The mission of Stomp the World is to provide educational and life experiences outside the classroom Including, but not limited to: tutoring, dance/movement, traveling, after school program, character education and more Through these initiatives, and experiences outside the classroom, Stomp the World has been able to serve and impact almost 700 children in the greater St. Louis area. The tutoring services are staffed by volunteers, allowing children to take advantage of these tutors for minimal fees. Summer camps and after school programs help keep kids involved in their own educations, and to provide a fun environment in a safe manner Our donations will be used to provide items ranging from simple hygiene products to games and activities to keep kids active and engaged
MBA, is a strategic marketer and brand manager with over a decade of experience in higher education, serving as assistant vice president of marketing for Lindenwood University in St Charles, Missouri
In addition to his formal role, Peter is a member of the university’s committee on accreditation He also prioritizes community engagement as a member of the St Charles City Digital Media Commission and the city’s Special Events and Promotions Task Force Peter also serves on the Council for Advancement and Support of Education Cabinet for District VI
(she/her/hers) leads the operative functions for the Academy for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and its charge to be a vehicle for culture change at WashU. Trish also serves as the primary contact for university affinity groups and supports the infrastructure for their continued development Prior to joining the Academy, Trish served as the co-founder of the Asian Pacific Islander and Desi American (APIDA) faculty and staff affinity group, identity literacy course instructor, and advisor to multiple student groups at WashU Previously, Trish served as an assistant director supporting the Residential Colleges in the Office of Residential Life She is a proud Filipina identifying administrator that strives for coalition building and invites others to strategically align across all business units
is diversifying rooms with equipped leaders through interactive lectures, consulting, and media programming
Nicci currently serves as special assistant to the president at Saint Louis University where she is responsible for partnering with institutional leadership and community partners to realize institutional priorities. She formerly served as Webster University’s inaugural associate vice president for diversity and inclusion, senior director for community engagement and adjunct professor
Nicci holds a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degree from Webster University; Diversity Management certificate from Cornell University; Women in Educational Leadership certificate from Harvard University She is currently completing doctoral studies at Missouri Baptist University
serves as associate vice president for the Division of Student Affairs at Illinois State University in Normal, IL She is a proud alumna of Illinois State University, earning her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and her master’s degree and Ph D in Educational Administration and Foundations Her executive portfolio includes Campus Recreation; Career Services; Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality; Health Promotion and Wellness; Professional Development and Staff Recognition; Redbird Esports; Student Affairs Advancement and External Partnerships; Student Counseling Services; and Student Health Services. Danielle provides leadership for division-wide strategic planning and assessment and assists with the direction and operations of the Division of Student Affairs in providing educationally purposeful programs, services, and facilities that foster student development, persistence, and success Danielle’s leadership approach is built on nurturing growth through coaching, connecting through collaboration, and promoting positive work environments that inspire, empower, and spark curiosity
is an Emeritus
CIVSA member who has been actively involved with the association since attending his first conference in 2005 He has served as president, secretary, treasurer, and regional director and was also involved with hosting the 2010 Annual Conference and 2015 Student Development Institute He worked at the University of Kentucky for 15 years serving as the director of orientation and outreach until 2019 Stephen now works as a director of destination sales for VisitLEX (Lexington, Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau) specifically working to recruit conferences and conventions from corporate, diversity, faith-based, fraternal, LGTBQ+, and medical markets
Kim Becking, J D inspires leaders, teams, and organizations to build a Momentum Mindset® to boost resilience, reduce stress and overwhelm, conquer change and accelerate success no matter what life or work throws at them. She is an engaging, high-energy, and impactful speaker, best-selling author, change consultant, and leadership coach who has also been featured in People, SELF, The New York Times, USA Today, Good Morning America, and Lifetime Television for her thought leadership on adapting to change and building everyday resilience Her strategic insights and practical solutions to adapting to change and boosting resilience have been utilized by hundreds of happy clients – including Fortune 100 companies, national and statewide associations, governmental entities and nonprofit organizations After hearing Kim, audiences leave ready to take her relatable lessons and strategies and put them into immediate action
Eboné Bell is a business owner, speaker, and trailblazer who shines bright in the world of entrepreneurship, LGBTQ issues, media, and activism She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Tagg Magazine and Tagg Communication LLC After seeing a lack of LGBTQ women represented in local publications, she decided to start a magazine and website to tell stories, provide resources, and create events. In 2018, Eboné founded the Tagg Scholarship Fund a scholarship created specifically for young, queer, women of color who can’t afford to attend school She was recently featured in Forbes Magazine as an Inspiring Black Entrepreneur Changing Our World As a keynote speaker, Eboné is well known for her warm energy and transparency She is not afraid to have tough conversations Her humor makes her approachable, and her commitment to connection is what makes her a dynamic and unforgettable speaker
Between open houses, admitted student days, orientation, and more, planning events for students and their support networks is no easy task. Share your tips and best practices for organizing and hosting both in-person and virtual events, including planning and assessment, utilizing campus partnerships, and day-of operations.
Arin Morse, Campus Visit, Assistant Director, University of Missouri - Kansas City
Lauren O'Halloran, Senior Assistant Director for Campus Visit Experience, Boston University
Join Boston University and University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) as we explain how we adapted existing prospective and admitted student events to meet the needs of transfer students. Boston University (large, urban, private institution) modified programming from their first-year open house and daily admitted student visits to meet their student's needs UMKC (a mid-size, urban, public institution) adapted their large prospective student event by creating a new event that engaged their transfer student and adult learner populations
In this session, learn how both universities identified the concerns and needs of their students, created strategic event objectives, and utilized existing programming to meet our objectives. During the session, we will outline how we worked with campus partners to execute our event objectives, tailored existing event programming and measured event success
Art of
Caitlin Cotter, Admissions Advisor, The University of Rhode Island
Do you sometimes get the sneaking suspicion that your events are stale, that you’ve “been there, done that” in event-land, and you’re simply maintaining the status quo with nowhere to go? Drawing on the tenets in Priya Parker’s book, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, learn how you can re-imagine your events to create more purposeful gatherings at your institution to better serve the needs of prospective students. The University of Rhode Island has even created a comprehensive event assessment to help guide you through this process!
Lori
Eisenhour, Associate Director of Campus Visits and Events, Drury UniversityThis session will explain how to plan and execute a successful admitted student event The top takeaways from the session will include: how to market your event to get more undecided students (not just committed students) to attend, the five connections that need to happen to ensure students fully experience the day, and the importance of a concurrent parent program that emphasizes the culture of the campus. The main focus will be on how to deliver the five connections; faculty, the campus, current students, our community/city, and with each other #DruryBound, now in its eighth year, has been a game changer for our university and for our office in bringing the entire campus together to showcase the best of Drury University.
Your incoming freshmen class has taken the campus tour, been admitted, and gone to the open house, but class registration is still months away. How do you hold their interest and seal the deal of their enrollment? The University of North Texas Admissions events team proposes a radical idea: pause the information overload to properly celebrate your incoming students with a day dedicated solely to fun. With an average attend-to-enroll rate of 85%, UNT Admitted Students Day continues to be our least informative yet highest yielding First-Time-in-College (FTIC) recruitment event Join us to learn how emphasizing play and teamwork creates a signature visitor experience that transforms your institution into a first-choice community in the minds and (most importantly) hearts of your students. This session is ideal for event planners and recruiters, both new and seasoned, who seek inspiration and creative strategies to reduce FTIC melt, increase enrollment, and even improve staff morale with a novel spin on the typical recruitment event.
Nicholas Reffuge, Director of Campus Visit Experience and Enrollment Event Management, Duquesne University
While every institution dreams of the sparkling new visit center, it may not be possible for many or it may be years away This session focuses on how at Duquesne University we utilize three to four distinct spaces for admissions visitors. Our decentralized approach means that we have to pay careful attention to our communications and campus signage. We also must ensure that no matter where the visit may begin, its still an outstanding experience on campus. Join this session to learn how you can maximize whatever resources and space you have on campus to ensure an excellent visit and guest
Kate Kishbaugh, Associate Director, Penn State University
Jordan Glover, Visitation & Events Coordinator, Penn State University, University Park
In this presentation from Penn State, learn how the visit team supports a network of staff in more than 15 academic colleges and units across campus. Operating as a collaborative unit, we engage in strategic planning and long-term goal setting, as well as day-to-day operations. We’ll share teamwork strategies that work, how to create buy in, and some techniques to avoid.
Danielle Schlough, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions, Lehigh University
Danielle Luszczyk, Senior Associate Director of Admissions, Lehigh University
Does April feel like it is an entire year in itself? Does your professional staff, student staff, and campus partners feel that burnout? Join Lehigh University to hear how our visit team and and yield team came together to plan an April calendar that helps not only Admissions keep our sanity, but our students and campus partners as well While planning will never be perfect, we were able to help everyone during the wild ride that is yield season, especially in a year where we did not have any COVID restrictions. We will share our calendar, thought processes, feedback from our Colleges and Campus Partners, and open the room up for discussion.
Brandon McDonald, Tour Guide Coordinator, Penn State University
The summer season has some of the largest events for many campuses. However we have seen a decrease in interest for tour guides to stay on campus during the summer months which can make it difficult to give visitors the student perspective they are looking for Learn new ideas Penn State implemented in order create a meaningful experience for over 2500 guests using only eight tour guides.
Laura Carroll, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Visit Experience and Events Manager, University of Delaware
Sara Miller, Admissions Counselor, University of Delaware
Are you struggling with the rebuilding in this “new normal”? Are the individual Colleges at your institution also involved with planning recruitment events? Are you tasked with planning both in-person and virtual initiatives? Join the University of Delaware as we engage in discussion around streamlining events and building collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders across campus and within the community. During this session, we will focus on the why, what, and how; providing data-informed strategies and tangible action items, and to further support our holistic approach
Jordan Glover, Visitation & Events Coordinator, Penn State University
Brandon McDonald, Tour Guide Coordinator, Penn State University
In this session with Penn State learn how to incorporate student staff into your event planning process to create student-run events. Free up time for professional staff and allow guests to directly interact with as many current students as possible Utilizing students in this way allows our team to operate more than 25 large scale admitted student programs, and more than five open house events throughout the year. It also provides a worry-free day to day experience in our admissions building and allows students to learn valuable problem solving and teamwork skills In this session we will discuss training techniques, how to relinquish control and treat your students as an extension of your visit team
Amelia Duane, Admission Specialist III, Southern New Hampshire University
Three years ago, the world shut down Now, we are back to a ‘new’ normal hosting inperson campus events, but it feels different. There was a big question we faced at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU): how do you bring back pre-pandemic large, successful, events to cater to a population that is craving personalization and individualism? The quick (and not always easy) answer: you must be looking to evolve to stay innovative At SNHU we implemented new technology, changed event agendas, and modified the size, type, and number of events offered This allowed a multitude of options for students and guests to choose from to cater to their specific needs and wants. That was great, but what happens next? How do we continue to evolve and change event strategies to meet recruitment goals with a declining high school student population in New England, increase the connection between prospective students and our campus community, and host large events but stay true to our SNHU identity? This session will give an overview of our pre-pandemic events and delve into the strategies and markers used to revamp our inperson events, what benchmarks we used to gauge the outcome of an event, and how we are already looking to continue to evolve our events moving forward.
The campus visit offers students the opportunity to see the university and envision themselves as part of the student body, making the important decision whether or not to apply or attend For many of us, the demand from visitors for campus visits has increased while our resources have not. We want to hear how your institution is providing visitors with a positive campus experience, both in-person and virtually, that goes beyond the one-sizefits-all approach, including how you came to these solutions and how you measure success
Mark Reeder, Assistant Director, University of Texas at Arlington
Karen Moser, Associate Director, Campus Visits & Recruitment Events, University of Texas at Arlington
Are your tours really communicating your university’s values and culture? Or do your prospective students leave only remembering a collection of buildings? At the University of Texas at Arlington, we’ve recently adjusted the way our tours feature UTA’s identity to tell guests what UTA is all about In this session we will discuss how we’ve repackaged the standard descriptions of campus to highlight what students can expect to experience: the Maverick Way We’ll also review how our tour script has been reformatted to help our tour guides create conversations and incorporate personal stories. Lastly, we’ll review how we created a vision statement for our tour guide program to help provide direction and purpose for our staff If you’re interested in learning how to repackage your same old tour stops, come learn how we’ve put our identity at the forefront to leave guests with a stronger impression
Casey Shubin, Assistant Director of Freshman Recruitment, University of California, Los Angeles
Nicole Villanueva, Assistant Director of Freshman Recruitment, University of California, Los Angeles
Learn about UCLA’s four student groups, but really highlighting our Bruin Ambassador Program (BAP) and Tour Guide Program (Tours) Learn how BAP and Tours supports our recruitment and yield events through Open House, Admitted Student Days, and Recruitment Travel
Marissa Salazar, Associate Director of Admission, Colorado College
Amanda Trostad, Lead Coordinator of Events and Operations, Colorado College
This past year, our office has developed a new template for admitted students who cannot visit during our open houses and have created a 'shadow day' which includes sitting in on a class, getting a 1:1 personalized tour, and enjoying lunch with a current student. If a student brings along a guest (i e parent, guardian) the guest can sign up for specialized sessions as well Sessions include, campus safety, housing, accessibility services, and financial aid During this session, we will discuss how to create buy in amongst staff in and out of your office, create healthy partnerships around campus to support your mission, execution of logistics, and overview of this past years data/feedback of 'shadow day' from students, guests, and staff around campus.
Dillon Duke, Assistant Director of Campus Events, University of the Incarnate Word
While the visual component of a campus experience is often the first aspect that higher education professionals think about it, there are a multitude of other factors to consider as well. This presentation will examine the audible, spatial, and environmental aspects of hosting an event on campus By studying both higher education institutions as well as successful business practices, we can learn about the unseen and often unconscious details that help your campus experience stand out
Cliff Lundin, Associate Director of Admissions, New College of Florida
Richelle Porambo, Assistant Director of Admissions, New College of Florida
Do you think you already have a highly personalized visit program? We did too, and then we realized our visits lacked a few custom elements. In this session, you'll learn how to personalize student visits further and give guests a fully immersive campus visit experience With a little bit of rebranding and a massive overhaul of our class visit program, we successfully increased enrollment by 30% in a single cycle We discovered that by having a robust staff of students with varied interests, we could appease prospective student demands We also added the ability for prospective students to shadow a current student. We saw increased visitor engagement and satisfaction simply by allowing them to spend additional time with our current students. Although safety was initially a concern, it is important to hire trustworthy students to best represent the institution
Erin Milin, Associate Dean of Admission, Campus Visit Coordinator, Colgate University
In spring 2020, the campus visit team at Colgate University was proposing major changes to long-standing aspects of its programs: modifying the daily campus visit experience for prospective students and transitioning its student programs from volunteer to paid positions The pandemic accelerated the need for these changes, in order to provide meaningful, sustainable, and safe campus visit offerings. During this session, learn about the best practices that guided Colgate’s team for assessing your daily visit programming, implementing changes, and measuring success; securing buy-in from your staff, students, and campus partners; and building a strong campus visit team
Jonathan Clues, Founder & CEO, StudentBridge
Lacey Norman, Assistant Director for Campus Visit Experiences, Maryville University
Kristen Swales, Program Coordinator, Visitors Center, West Virginia University
Campus visits are a powerful way for students and others to learn about your institution. But what’s the experience like for those who can’t take part in a guided visit? Join Maryville University and West Virginia University to discover how two vastly different institutions reimagined their virtual and self-guided tours to ensure relevant visits for everyone, everywhere, every time They’ll share how they did it (including strategies you can apply at your institution), the results they’ve seen so far, and what’s next for them.
Lilia Ivy, Assistant Director of Admission, University of Texas at Dallas
Let’s face it, presentations during a campus visit can lead to glazed eyes, repetitive questions, or general lackluster. However, with a different take on the presentation, it can be used as a helpful tool to boost your guest’s overall campus visit. Understanding the different ways to make your words heard and the different ways you can communicate to form a connection can turn the presentation from just words to something memorable We all want to achieve that memorable moment the guest leaves with This can be easily achieved by a good presentation
Samantha Giordano, Senior Campus Visit Specialist, Lynn University
Think about your ideal ambassador team. Multiple factors go into training them. What facts they should know, what to say, and what not to say, all while providing a high level of service You want your students to make a memorable visit for any prospective family that walks through your doors Every tour should be different and tailored to that family. Where do you start? Training your ambassadors is the root of creating a customizable campus tour This session will teach you about tailored training courses for building the ideal campus tour. On top of this, you will deep dive into mentorship programs that keep student ambassadors connected with peers before and during their time as an ambassador. We must remember community You are building the ideal tour for prospective families and a community of ambassadors who connect with your team and future families. You’ll also learn about adding a bit of healthy competition to work on those team-building skills.
Carlee Causey, Director, Assistant Director of Campus Tour Experience, The University of Southern Mississippi
Kalyn Patterson, Admissions Recruiter, The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi's Campus Tour Experience team launched an Admitted Student Tour offering in spring 2023 The tour offering aimed to tackle a yield issue by connecting prospects with student service representatives even earlier in the funnel and helping them see the benefits of a medium sized university experience.
David Thomas, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions-Welcome Center Program Director
Colby Weatherford, Undergraduate Admissions Counselor, Texas State University
Offering a comprehensive and engaging campus tour is an important part of the college admissions process, especially for large universities with expansive and complex campuses However, it can be challenging to balance the needs and interests of a diverse group of prospective students and their families while also highlighting the unique features and resources of the university This presentation will provide best practices for offering a campus tour at a large university, including how to effectively plan and structure the tour, and how to train and support tour guides.
Professional growth and development are central to the work that we do Sessions in this track include student, staff, and personal growth Topics may include hiring and retention, training and development, work/life balance and wellbeing, and improving office culture We encourage you to share innovative ideas and strategies that have helped to shape your team dynamics, build personal and team morale, and equip all levels of staff with the tools they need to succeed.
Tiana Hakimzadeh, Director, On-Campus Programs, American University
Karma is not my boyfriend, and Karma is not a god, but Karma could be the breeze in my hair on the weekend. Listen and learn from this professional's series of ups and downs, and how she fulfilled her needs and her institution's needs in a healthy, clear, and direct way From overseeing a tour guide program of more than 150 students and almost getting fired, to restructuring a 15-year-old organization structure from an unpaid program to a 40person paid program Learn how to navigate and embrace change while never giving up in creating a tour guide organization that works best for you and your institution. She and Karma vibe like that!
Patrick Fredricks, Assistant Director of Admission for Campus Visit Programs, Fort Lewis College
Managing a large group of students can be challenging with varying schedules, needs, communication preferences, and issues that pop up all the time Learn how one student ambassador team was transformed overnight by implementing a new system of accountability and rewards which also helped increase communication, collaboration, and timeliness.
Torii Masinsin, Associate Director of Admissions for Campus Visit, Elon University
Student employment is thought to be the next high impact practice, which are practices that aim at deepening a student’s learning through meaningful engagement on campus. After noticing that our student tour guides seemed unengaged in their work as we reentered our “new” normal, the Elon Campus Visit team has made an effort to incorporate the characteristics of a high impact practice into the tour guide experience Our goal was to create a more meaningful and engaging experience within the tour guide program that focused on developing students through their position Since implementing new initiatives in the hiring, training, and continual training processes, we have seen increased engagement in the program.
Kristin Robbio, Associate Director, University of Southern California
Neelam Savla, Associate Director, University of Southern California
Student Ambassadors are some of the busiest people on our campuses, which is what makes them so good at their jobs Between multiple leadership positions, internships, and personal commitments, it can be difficult for students to manage the demands of their busy lives on top of their role as a university representative Learn and engage in conversation with the University of Southern California Admission Center team as we discuss the trials and tribulations of staff accountability; office morale; and balancing institutional, programmatic, and student priorities in a post-pandemic world
Nicholas Reffuge, Director of Campus Visit Experience and Enrollment Event Management, Duquesne University
This session will focus on building the leadership capacity of yourself and the individuals on your team Most managers will say that leadership is a critical skill, but few spend the time or resources to develop it adequately among their team. Using best practices from current research and the personal experience of leaders in the field, this session will teach attendees how they can build leadership capacity and knowledge to lead through the diverse challenges they face everyday. Everyone is a leader and this session is for all, whether you manage a large office or you're a team of one
Kirsten Swales, Program Coordinator, West Virginia University
Kids dream of becoming doctors, astronauts, or teachers. Careers in higher education/visitors services typically don’t make the “dream jobs” list However, once students work as collegiate tour leaders and realize how a college visit impacts the trajectory of prospective students’ lives, often they’ll seek careers where they continue helping others find their purpose This is my lived experience I’ll share my path from tour leader to professional staff member who supervises the team where my higher education journey started. Transitioning from peer to supervisor presented expected and unforeseen challenges that are relatable to others who followed a similar path I’ve acquired strategies that allow me to lead with authenticity and compassion, while also setting boundaries and growing professionally My three and a half years as a tour leader taught me to develop training and coaching strategies that ensure effective, high-quality processes to address the needs of our guests, professional staff, and student staff. The shared experiences between myself and students builds a unique rapport; I understand their concerns and can balance them with the needs of our center Many audience members share similar paths to their current role Join me and discuss how to become the leaders we would’ve wanted as tour leaders!
Mary Elizabeth Buckel, Admission Campus Visits Coordinator, St. Edward's University
This training was developed to provide tour guides with the tools and education necessary to promote self-care and awareness about the impacts of their mental health. Its intended purpose is to not only address the mental health challenges that college students face, but to also give them the adequate resources essential to helping them learn how to take care of themselves and strive towards accepting that they are worthy enough to do so
Attendees and student supervisors will learn how crucial and beneficial it is to motivate and encourage their tour guides to better themselves personally, as their mental well-being affects them professionally. Attendees will also learn how to collaborate and strategize with campus partners to tend to student needs and to model what it means to be supportive supervisors who prioritize students and strive to help them be the best versions of themselves both inside and outside of the workplace
Kinsey Stout, Director, Enrollment Engagement and Experiential Marketing, Berry College
What are the elements that define a successful team? How do you build one from the ground up - and more importantly, how do you ensure that the same positive, highperformance culture exists across the institution? At Berry College, what began as a project to update technology systems launched a revolution to create an environment where clear communication and authentic relationships serve as the foundation to reach ANY successful outcome In this session, we'll discuss how our institution implemented personal and professional team-building activities within and across departments, from administrators to professional staff to admission ambassadors. We'll share information about how we established a new framework and built buy-in to execute successful projects and drive enrollment outcomes, as well as tips for working better as a team (dare we say, even having FUN?) within your office and with your campus partners.
Micah Howe, Director, Associate Director of Prospective Student Programs, University of Oregon
Whether your tour guide organization is large or small, paid or volunteer, clear expectations for students are integral to their success. University of Oregon’s Ambassador Program policy manual underwent significant edits in recent years to address the dynamic employment landscape on campus, including changing payroll guidelines, emergency management protocols, disciplinary procedures, and more This session will help departmental leaders and other visit professionals write a clear policy manual for ambassadors or review an existing policy document in need of updates. Session attendees will also review highlights from the CIVSA shared resources webpage and share with one another to identify gaps and best practices in human resources policies for student supervisors.
Neelam Savla, Associate Director, University of Southern California
Kristin Robbio, Associate Director, University of Southern California
Brandon McDonald, Tour Guide Coordinator, Penn State University
Not enough hours in the work day to get through all of your projects? Join the University of Southern California Admission Center team as we discuss how we have increased our professional staff's capacity to do more through the use of graduate assistants. This session can also be helpful for anyone hoping to learn more about how to effectively utilize student leaders, paid interns, and work study staff to take on projects that you would love to tackle but just do not have the capacity to
Sophie Deutsch, Director of Admission Programs, Texas Christian University
Learn more about the transition from working with unpaid student volunteer groups (250+ students) to a fully paid student job for our campus ambassadors (100 students) In this session, we will share the framework of our old and new model, the growing pains of this transition over the past three years, what has gone well, what has not gone well, and goals for the upcoming years This session is being led by staff from Texas Christian University which is a mid-sized private institution located in Fort Worth, Texas.
Natalie Faculak, Assistant Director of Admissions, Events, Western Michigan University
Our student ambassadors are more than just tour guides at Western Michigan University; they are an integral part to running our Campus Visit Center. From tours to personnel to daily operations, we have three main leadership tracks with our student ambassador program Once student ambassadors have passed our eight-step tour guide training process they are eligible for additional responsibilities and opportunities within our office, including, but not limited to weekly training, tour registration, event interns, retention, hiring, and group tour coordination.
Ann Malkoc, Events Manager, Emory University
The Emory Student Ambassador (ESA) program transitioned from a volunteer to a paid program in the 2022-2023 academic year As Emory returned from the pandemic and drastically increased its in-person public engagements, we realized how vital a strong, affinitive student ambassador program is to a university. One might think this transition would instantly solve many problems; and while it has, we still have some long-term objectives to attain.
Kailen Richmond, Assistant Director, Lehigh University
How can you help people remember to complete tasks? What strategies can you share with someone struggling with organizational skills? What is the best way to communicate with people from different generations? This session will focus on determining the best approaches to collaborating with students workers, vendors, and/or co-workers that have trouble completing assigned tasks We will also discuss how to move away from micromanaging while still meeting goals.
Shawn Wilson, Assistant Director - Admissions, Kent State University
Rachel Klacza, Admissions Visit Coordinator, Kent State University
Supervising a team is challenging, especially when you are thrown into what can only be described as a building on fire Two teams, office assistants and tour guides, each with their own challenges requiring different solutions. This presentation will follow the trials of two new supervisors as they learn to lead and rebuild their teams to figure out how to become successful units.
Cate Schlobohm, Assistant Director, West Virginia University
Giving honest, authentic, and timely feedback, especially if it's negative, can be daunting and uncomfortable for many people However, we all have unique natural talents that can be used to help navigate these coaching conversations. First, we must understand each person is different; our individual strengths will dictate how we approach these conversations and how we digest the information we are receiving Being in tune with these strengths will ensure the feedback-giver and receiver are both optimally equipped to use the information in a productive manner. Additionally, focusing on individual strengths as the foundation for feedback will provide the greatest room for growth and improvement, which will be a win for your team member's development and your organization!
Samantha
We know that recruiting, hiring, and training a team of ambassadors can be a BIG undertaking. However, having the assistance of a robust student leadership team can help this process run smoother than taking it on alone. After having to double their staff in their most recent hiring cycle, Florida State University is here to share some insight into their recruitment, hiring, and training strategies, and working with large groups of student employees This session will cover professional development strategies for your student leaders, building structured timelines for your recruitment and hiring process, formulating leadership teams amongst student workers within the recruitment and training process, and tips for initiating professional development and retention strategies for maintaining a large student staff Individuals who are seeking out new ways to delegate responsibilities to your student employees, those who are looking to hire and retain a large student staff, and those who are looking to shake up the structure of their team can benefit from this session
Katie Lehnert, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions, West Chester University
In this session, we will discuss how we utilize our ambassadors in a variety of ways in our office, to enhance our visitors experience on campus and help our students build various skills during their time in the program. In addition to giving campus tours, learn how our ambassadors staff welcome desks, host student panels, give presentations, and so much more
Catie Taylor, Senior Associate Director of Admission, University of Evansville
Mike Targonski, Director of Admission Visits and Events, Valparaiso University
Do you ever wonder if you would have more success or luck as a paid or unpaid student ambassador program? Hear from two schools with very similar processes; however, one is paid and one is volunteer We will discuss what makes each program successful through the processes in which the programs are run, how leadership opportunities are selected, and what those ambassador leadership teams do. The goal of this session is to provide ideas on ambassador team and leadership team structures, whether you are currently a paid or volunteer program or if you are evaluating which may be more successful for your school
Liz Hill, Assistant Director, Student Engagement and Campus Visit, Arizona State University
In this session, we will go over how Arizona State University's (ASU) two campus visit student organizations transformed from volunteer programs to compensation-based groups. One remained a student organization with stipends available, the other became a student worker position. We will go over the experiences and strains that led to the conversations and implementation of compensation We will also go over how our student organizations were reshaped and modified to continue to meet the needs of Admission Services and our campus visit programs, as well as fulfilling the needs of our student ambassadors At the end of this session, attendees will learn about the pros and cons of various compensation models and the decision process that led to ASU choosing more than one compensation model.
Maggie Keene, Student Success Recruiter, University of Tennessee - Tickle College of Engineering
Are you a new professional working for your alma mater? Better yet, are you currently overseeing the program you were once a member of? If so, then you likely feel like you're somewhere in purgatory, stuck between the college life you've known for the last four years and the professional world you've just joined That's hard enough as it is, but working for your alma mater comes with a host of new challenges - like, what if the person you're dating is still a student? Learn from a professional who is an alum of their institution about creating boundaries and being seen as a professional at your alma mater.
Jennifer Jean-Jacques, Senior Assistant Director - Undergraduate Admissions, Washington University in St Louis
Jessica Napier, Coordinator of Events and Programming, Washington University in St. Louis
In this session, staff from Washington University in St Louis will discuss tips, tricks, triumphs, and tribulations about their transition from a student volunteer model to a paid model. Staff will share findings from their transition, the recruitment and training process, and what they are still working on. They will also dive into their organizational structure, and give guidance for those navigating their way through their own transition process.
Lauren O'Halloran, Senior Assistant Director for Campus Visit Experience, Boston University
At the Boston University Visitor Center, our thriving community of student leaders enables us to host hundreds of visitors each day, create innovative programming, and manage our large student staff In this session, we'll discuss our insights into managing a highperforming student staff, how we have fostered a culture of student leadership, and how we have maintained a close knit community. Join us to learn more about how we balance treating our students like professionals and holding them to high standards, all while recognizing their roles as students, and young adults, first and foremost
Kailen Richmond, Assistant Director, Lehigh University
This session will discuss the benefits and importance of developing stronger, more in depth relationships with student workers, despite fast-paced and demanding admissions cycles Lehigh University is a private research institution with over 5,600 undergraduate students Our Office of Admissions consists of 22 professional staff members and 100 student workers. With the goal to increase applications and overall school size, our small professional staff relies on student workers to help execute important events used to garner interest and yield students For this reason, it is important that we not only show respect and appreciation for our students, but also prioritize building relationships with them and commit to seeing them as more than just employees. In order to do this, professional staff have to engage with students on a personal level and show interest in who they are, and what they are engaging in both academically and socially.
Beginning in spring 2023, our ambassador program shifted from an unstructured, go-atyour-own-pace training experience for new hires to an eight-week credit-bearing class prior to even being hired to work as admissions ambassadors. I will expand on the hiring process, the structure of the course, and the assignments that students were expected to complete The session will examine the successes and the areas for improvement following the completion of the first cohort utilizing this new training model
Katie Holdgreve-Resendez, Associate Director of Admissions, University of Colorado Boulder
Student development is part of our daily jobs, from working with our student employees and ambassadors to communicating with prospective students. Sometimes the most unintentional interactions, those that we haven't planned, are the conversations that have the most impact on helping our students learn, develop, and grow This overview and interactive session on Perry's Theory of Intellectual Development will help us all remember that we don't have to stage interactions, but instead be curious in our conversations! Come for a mini-refresher or learn about Perry for the first time and how you can make time for daily interactions and learn with students.
Andrea Hitsman, Assistant Director - Campus Visits, Saint Louis University
Samantha Wilson, Program Coordinator, New Student Visit Center, Saint Louis University
With almost 30,000 annual campus visitors, you may be surprised to learn that the Saint Louis University Campus Visit team is made up of only three full-time professional staff members You may be asking yourself, "how do they do it?" The answer is both incredibly simple and incredibly complex: a dedicated team of more than 100 college student workers. Our team has the challenge of recruiting, hiring, training, and maintaining a highfunctioning team of volunteer tour guides, University ambassadors, and admission representative interns We don't just employ these students, though Our student worker program provides progressive leadership experience, offering career prep, professional development opportunities, and one-on-one mentorship with professional staff members across various department subunits. Working with our team of professional staff, including student development experts, we have created a strategic training and development method to ensure these roles encompass more than the average college job. Join Andrea Hitsman, assistant director for campus visits, and Samantha Wilson, program coordinator (and former SLU Admission Student Worker!) to learn more about how we have developed a leadership program that gives our students real-world experience while working in the Office of Admission We promise it doesn't always feel like herding cats!
Renaissance: The Rebirth of Tour Guide/Ambassador Programs Post - COVID
Tera McDonald, Assistant Director for Campus Visits, Georgia Institute of Technology
This session is for those who oversee and advise campus tour guide/ambassador programs. The session will touch on the impacts that COVID placed on tour guide/ ambassador programs and will dive into looking at strategies used to manage tour guide accountability, morale, motivation, retention, training, and development
Building strong relationships with off-campus partners, including schools and organizations, is a critical aspect of our work in improving access to higher education. However, hosting group visitors in addition to families can be a challenge, from overnight programs to school buses filled with eager elementary school students. Share your approach to group visits, including unique program options and strategies for building positive community relationships
Patrick Fredricks, Assistant Director of Admission for Campus Visit Programs, Fort Lewis College
There has been an increase in the number of groups wanting to visit colleges over the past year since they haven't been able to for a while One group that has been a challenge has been middle schools. Their staff wants a campus tour, the students just want to have fun, and the college staff can't make everyone happy. Or can they? Come learn how to create a middle school week that makes these types of visits manageable, meaningful, and fun for all!
Ruben Nuñez, Associate Director, University of Southern California
Neelam Savla, Associate Director, University of Southern California
At the University of Southern California, for two years, group tours had not taken place on campus Come learn about how we reintroduced group tours to the public, our student staff, and campus partners and were able to welcome close to 5,000 students (grade 912/community college) between more than 150 programs in the fall semester. Additionally, we will review how we prioritized promoting accessibility around our group tour programming and working toward developing a comprehensive program that intentionally and appropriately involves our campus partners. The session will take you from the initial relaunch in summer 2022 through this fall 2022 semester and all the successes, challenges, and unanticipated opportunities that arose and improvements in place for spring 2023.
Stephanie Funderburg, Coordinator, Tours & Events, San Jacinto College
If there’s one thing that’s constant in higher education, it’s change We covered this topic at the 2019 Annual Conference but since then our group tour process has changed again! Attend this session to learn about the evolution of group tours at San Jacinto College, challenges we’re currently facing, and how we’re working to create the best possible tour experience for our guests.
Barbara Blue, Director for Campus Relations & Visitor Experience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
This session will provide attendees with the differences between Visitor Center and Visitor Central philosophies and why campuses should be moving in this direction UNLV has expanded its campus visit programming from only providing visitor opportunities for undergraduate students to providing graduate students, early outreach (K-8) groups, new faculty and staff, and corporate partners the opportunity to visit campus. In this presentation, we will highlight the process of transitioning to a Visitor Central philosophy; what our program looked like prior, the steps of moving to a central philosophy, the benefits, and how you can implement this on your campus.
Kristen Hoffman, Regional Relationship Manager, Herzing University
Erin Ginn, Sr Director of Admissions, Herzing University
Outside recruitment is a necessary way to supplement and even build your marketing inquiries Through outside recruitment you can increase the generated inquiries longevity in the system Campuses can also target areas where marketing is advertising to strengthen that marketing. At the end of the day, a campus cannot be dependent on what marketing channels can bring in. Community relations, brand awareness, guerilla marketing, and more will help build your campus faster When it comes to outside recruitment, the number one rule is “always be branding "
From pen and paper to complex CRM systems, visitor data is what drives our work. We encourage you to share how your institution collects and analyzes visitor data and how it shapes your operations, including collection strategies, metrics, analytic assessments, and reporting practices. Learn how you can best leverage data to meet your campus and departmental goals, as well as improve the visitor experience.
Sandra Vance, Assistant Director of Admission, Gonzaga University
Does your daily visit program offer classroom visits for prospective students? Do you use Slate as your CRM? Do you want to find a way to make classroom visit registration easier, and potentially even automated? This session will cover how Gonzaga University has utilized Slate "related events" on visit registration forms to automate the entire classroom visit registration process This utilization has benefited the user experience, increased data clarity, and ensured smooth communications with faculty partners. Anyone who helps to coordinate classroom visits or wants to learn more about optimizing their Slate registration forms should come to this session!
Paul Hovey, Director of Visitor Experience, Fairfield University
The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) approved visitor services standards, in conjunction with CIVSA, for the first time in over a decade this past year. Shortly thereafter, CAS also approved general standards for all of higher education. This presentation will serve as an overview of what those revisions are, how you can use standards in your daily professional work and what CIVSA hopes to accomplish with this new set of standards Time will also be set aside for an open discussion among attendees about how CIVSA can best serve members in the effective implementation of these standards at individual institutions
Samantha Carroll, Assistant Director, Visits and Events, University of Cincinnati
From the seasoned professional to the bewildered newbie, planning and organizing events can seem overwhelming Learn from a self-taught, ex-Excel hater on how to utilize the program to coordinate staff assignments, event locations, program agendas, student staff, and much more! This program aims to demystify Excel and provide templates for any professional at any level to use for event planning
Katie Holdgreve-Resendez, Associate Director, University of Colorado Boulder
Holly Buttrey, Associate Dean of Admissions, Carleton College
Join us to learn how different institutions from across the US, from small schools to big schools, have implemented and are utilizing Slate. Learn how they are working smarter, not harder, to use the CRM that has changed how their visitors experience campus.
Jordan Glover, Visitation & Events Coordinator, Penn State University, University Park
Join the Research & Assessment Committee to discover data analysis techniques that campus visit professionals can use to supercharge their internal assessment and report writing. From events to daily visits, and one-off reports, this session has got you covered! Get ready for an engaging conversation, Q&A, and insider insights that will take your reports to the next level Don't miss out on this opportunity to optomize your data reporting skills!
Courtney Youngblood, Associate Director of Admissions for Campus Visits, High Point University
Brianna Grubb, Campus Visit Coordinator, High Point University
When utilized properly, surveys provide important information on visitors’ experiences that can be used to improve current processes, develop new strategies, and make decisions on how best to serve our prospective students. But how? This session will focus on how the admissions staff at High Point University redesigned our campus visit surveys to be more effective and how we utilized Slate to be more efficient. In addition, we will discuss ways to interpret results and use data to improve guest experiences. Join us for an interactive overview of survey research and results.
Lisa McGrady, Assistant Director, Florida State University
Samantha Buxbaum, Admission Counselor/Program Coordinator - University Ambassadors, Florida State University
Trying to provide an intimate tour experience for guests at a large institution can be challenging. Over the years we had perfected our system of spreadsheets, dry erase boards, and sticker charts to smoothly run tours for satisfied guests. However, as our institution transitioned into using Slate to manage applications, we found ourselves, and our data, left out of the big picture for admissions and recruitment Join us as we take you through our journey of collaboration and creativity with our Slate core team to create our facilitation portal Used to assign tour guides, match guests with similar interests, document notes, and generate reports, our new portal is a more efficient and sophisticated version of our historic process. Still a work in progress, we will share our trials, successes, and ideas for future improvement
Rebecca Johnson, Director of Visitor Center, University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina hosts over 35,000 visitors annually. With 17 tour times a week, over a dozen academic information session and the option for one-on-one appointments, we found it difficult to fit all the necessary details for the visit into an email After some head-scratching and lots of trial and error, we discovered the beauty of utilizing Slate portals to streamline communication. We have optimized portals to help our guests navigate the registration process, locate parking, and get to their event location with less hair pulling We found so much success in the weekday visit process that we expanded to our large event days--Open House and Admitted Student Weekend; and applied the portal to our group visit process to collect participant information Join us as we share some tips and tricks we learned along this journey.
Hannah Ford, Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission, Rider University
TikTok has taken over social media and Rider University’s Office of Admission responded to the need of utilizing the TikTok platform to engage with GenZ students and meet them where they are at In this session we will discuss how we created a student run TikTok, how we manage our student team while also partnering with university marketing and communication offices, and the highs and low of creating content on TikTok. Leave this session feeling more confident to lead a student run team in creating content and explaining to your senior team why it is important for your office and/or student ambassador team to have a TikTok account We will share what works for our team, what doesn’t work, and how you can learn from our triumphs and mistakes.
Emily Stanley, Director of Admission Operations and Events, Lasell University
As visitor services professionals, we are no stranger to making our guests feel welcome. Excellent customer service is a core value of any good visitor center, and also a large part of college admission as a whole However, are we going beyond the friendly greetings and kindly-worded confirmation emails to determine if we are actually making our guests feel like they matter? In this session, we will discuss how we evaluate our visit experiences, communications, and admission technology (including application platforms) in terms of how effective they are at making our guests feel valued through examples of visit conversation maps, registration forms, event schedules, ambassador training, and more Why is this important to you? As the enrollment cliff approaches, small acts like showing prospective students they are seen and heard make all the difference Long story short: mattering matters!
Erica Matt, Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Admissions West Chester University
Chris Kwan, Senior Client Support Engineer, Technolutions
Come learn how we use our CRM, Slate, to manage our student ambassadors. From application to selecting their daily shifts we use the system to manage their work.
Stephanie Gavin, Associate Director of Recruitment - New York City, Syracuse University
Feedback doesn't just help us improve existing events but it can help inspire us to create new ones As our institutions continue to recognize new areas of growth and new recruitment targets, conversations with campus partners combined with current event survey data can help us find new ways to respond to institutional needs. This session will share examples of how data was utilized to develop new event programs and create change to events as well as survey design
Heath Riddle-Sims, Associate Director of Admission - Communication, Hendrix College
Jenn McKenzie, Associate Director of Admission - Campus Visits, Hendrix College
Everyone's events are unique, but are the basic building blocks really all that different? Hear from a Slate school how events and communications are leveraged to create a smooth behind-the-scenes process for admission staff and additional campus constituents. It's not just the students that deserve a user-friendly process!
NOTE: Processes and examples will be based on Slate tools.
Designed for individuals who have been in the profession for more than 5 years, as we recognize the wide breadth of knowledge and experience. We encourage supervisors, managers, and mid-level staff to share ideas and strategies regarding professional staff culture, advancing your career, working effectively with institutional senior leadership and staying actively engaged in this work.
Mel Baxter, Director of Visitor Experience, University of North Texas
Kelvin Lee, Assistant Director of Visitor Information Services, Stanford University
One of the most powerful tools of coaching is asking questions, and we believe that asking better questions makes you a better manager This interactive workshop will help you put your coaching skills into practice. We'll review what coaching is and how it applies to our roles, talk about how to ask more thoughtful questions, and then put those skills into practice during the workshop We'll finish by sharing reading recommendations for how to further strengthen your skills Come to this session ready to engage so you can leave with tangible questions to start asking today!
**This workshop is a follow-up to the "Insights from a Coach: A Guide to Coaching Your Team" session at the 2022 Annual Conference. You do not need to have attended the 2022 session to join this workshop
Julee Mitsler, Assistant Vice President, Communications, Lindenwood University
So no one told you life was going to be this way? Becoming a supervisor often feels like being tossed into the deep end of the pool, with no formal training, teaching, or how-to guide OHHHH MYYYYY well, you know As a supervisor, you handle a lot of unexpected, and if you’re like me, navigate your way through it until you get the hang of it This session will highlight some of the more challenging circumstances I’ve faced as a supervisor, strategies for getting through them, how to PIVOT when things aren’t working, and an opportunity to workshop with colleagues who’ll be there for you as you grow in your supervisory role
Jayne Reimel, Events & Communications Coordinator, University of California Office of the President
Laura Stansell, Director of One Stop, The University of Tennessee
Wes Sullivan, Director of Enrollment Management Systems, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
Andrew Cohen, Associate Director for Guest Experience, Georgia Institute of Technology
Do you coordinate off-campus events? If so, soliciting, reviewing, and negotiating venue contracts can feel like a daunting task, especially given changes in event planning practices (and costs) post-pandemic. Join this session to hear from other event professionals within CIVSA with years of contract experience who will share collective advice for requesting proposals and negotiating concessions to save you time and reduce event expenses This session is not meant to advise on contract legalese, but instead share best practices for working with off-site vendors and help you feel empowered to negotiate like a pro!
Nathan Cheesman, Associate Director of Admissions: Orientation & Visit Experience, New Mexico State University
Lightly facilitated intentional space for you to connect with other CIVSA members and communicate to share ideas, resources, and guidance based on graduate work at either the master's or doctoral level
Danielle Luszczyk, Senior Associate Director, Lehigh University
Danielle Schlough, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions, Lehigh University
Jennifer Castro, Senior Associate Director, Lehigh University
As women in leadership, we're constantly balancing the needs of our team, empowering those around us while sometimes fighting imposter syndrome ourselves and the responsibility of often being the only woman at the table all the while trying to maintain some sort of personal life outside of our careers. Join us for an honest and open conversation on what it really means to be a woman in leadership We'll discuss everything from the influence of your community and working your way up the leadership ladder to whether you can really have it all. While we don't have all the answers, we know the undeniable power a room of women holds.
Our visitor programs play a pivotal role in building a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive campus environment for all students. As we continue our efforts to improve campus diversity and inclusion, let’s learn from one another about how to improve representation in our own programs, as well as hosting programs and events for specific student populations in order to improve our campus communities for students who are non-traditional, LGBTQ+, disabled, and students of color, along with additional and intersectional identities.
Kaylee King, Associate Director of Admission Events & Visitor Experience, Emerson College
This session will address the accessibility challenges (in all forms) that visiting a metropolitan campus presents: parking, tricky vertical campus spaces, and cost to visit, among others It will outline both suggestions and proven strategies Emerson College has used to combat these challenges including tour changes, virtual programming, and tips for addressing elements beyond our control
Cristina Bates, Coordinator Undergraduate Recruitment, University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is proudly a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) since 2018 The Office of Undergraduate Admissions recognizes the need to maintain strong ties to the Hispanic/Latinx community through recruitment and outreach efforts. In an effort to bridge the gap, we are implementing strategies to serve our Hispanic and Latinx students and families through numerous initiatives and resources this is only the beginning of providing an inclusive and equitable environment
Christine Gibble, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission, Neumann University
How many times have you asked a student if they are first-gen, and they just stare back at you blankly? Do they understand the term? Are they ashamed of the distinction? No matter the reason, it's important to understand the challenges that a first-generation student faces when working through the college search process. The reality for first-gen students is that there are no parents who have experienced the college search process to be there for them as a resource This session seeks to define the full meaning of being first-generation college student, understand how we can celebrate a student’s difference while recruiting, targeted event programming, and how to meet first-gen students where they are throughout the admission cycle.
Shira Kerce, Assistant Director of Events and Visitor Experience, Berry College
Kinsey Stout, Director, Enrollment Engagement and Experiential Marketing, Berry College
What does it mean to be a good neighbor? And how can a good neighbor culture lead to a more welcoming and inclusive office and college campus? At Berry College, our campuswide Good Neighbor Challenge is inviting students, faculty and staff to explore what it means to be a good neighbor, how we can better understand one another and work together to create a campus culture that embraces diversity and doesn't shy away from tough conversations In this session, we'll discuss how the professional staff and ambassadors in our office have embraced the Good Neighbor Challenge, how the challenge has impacted our office culture, and how it has informed our admissions events and larger recruitment goals. We'll also share how our civic conversations have led to better understanding and stronger teams, and how elements of our Good Neighbor Challenge can be incorporated into other offices and institutions.
Jennifer Castro, Senior Associate Director, Lehigh University
Danielle Schlough, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions, Lehigh University
Join us for a candid conversation about the obstacles of transforming our student groups to a more diverse and inclusive community. We will discuss stigmas, roadblocks, student testimonials, recruitment strategies, successes, and areas of improvement with the intention of helping other institutions who are dealing with similar situations.
Sarah Splinter, Assistant Director of Student Engagement, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Helena Manning, Visitor Relations Manager, University of Wisconsin-Madison
This session will highlight the seven principles of Universal Design and how they influence the ongoing accessibility work at the University of Wisconsin - Madison We will share our story of how our staff came together to design a universally accessible tour route and improve access to campus information These efforts have continued to decrease the need for guest accommodations and have contributed to a more inclusive guest experience Participants will be encouraged to identify specific elements of Universal Design and discuss ways it can influence their own programs and services to create a welcoming and accessible experience for all visitors
Katie Holdgreve-Resendez, Associate Director of Admissions, University of Colorado Boulder
Learn how the University of Colorado Boulder constructed a proposal, using data-driven information, to receive full funding for a rural visit overnight student experience From concept to construction to implementation, learn from their successes and challenges to construct your own opportunities for rural students and families!
Nathan Herrington, International Student Recruiter and Advisor, The University of British Columbia
Patrick Ray, Associate International Student Recruiter/Advisor & On Campus Recruitment, The University of British Columbia
Kirsten Molstad, Director, On-Campus Recruitment, The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia’s campuses are located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam and Syilx Okanagan Nations who have been stewards and caretakers of these territories since time immemorial. To acknowledge and support this important role, UBC strives toward building meaningful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial partnerships with the Musqueam and the Syilx peoples.
Land Acknowledgements are an important practice of recognizing the traditional people of a place while affirming their sovereignty and ongoing presence. This practice should also be a catalyst for further reflection, conversation, and action.
UBC is in the process of implementing an Indigenous Strategic Plan which provides guidance for action and a framework for reconciliation in a post-secondary context For many years, our campus tours program has been reflecting on how we can thoughtfully embed decolonial perspectives and conversations into our work.
This session invites those who are new to this journey and those who have more experience to share and learn together It will be hosted by campus tours staff at UBC and will provide an overview of our learning so far and facilitated discussion about what these efforts can look like in different contexts.
Gain exposure to how you can make the most of your CIVSA membership
Julee Mitsler, Assistant Vice President, Communications, Lindenwood University
Barb Dallinger, CIVSA Past President Emeritus, Illinois State University
Tiana Hakimzadeh, Director, On-Campus Programs, American University
Looking to get more involved in CIVSA but not sure where or how to start? Learn from CIVSA veterans about the various areas of service and find something tailor made for you!
A variety of topics will be available during the scheduled ‘hot topics’ meeting time and attendees will have the opportunity to choose the topic that is most relevant These meetings will provide the chance to connect with other professionals in the field, share best practices, and learn from each other
CRMs, Visit Softwares, and Technology (Subtopics: Event Management, Communication, Virtual Programming, etc.)
Developing and Supporting Students Outside of Their Role (Recognition, Professional Development, etc.)
Admitted & Prospective Student Events
Group Visits
Implementing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB) Programming into Visitor Services
Student Hiring & Recruitment Practices
Student Training & Accountability Practices
Wellbeing in the Profession
Graduate Students & New Professionals (1-3 years in Visitor Services)
The Head & the Heart: A Conversation for Senior Leaders
Managing Up & Down: A Conversation for Middle Managers
Navigating the Transition to Paid Student Worker Models
Working with Campus Partners
Competing Priorities: Juggling Recruiting, Reading, & Visitor Services
Planning Events for Special Populations (Transfer, Community Colleges, International, etc.)
Emergency Preparedness & Safety
Marketing, Promotion, & Social Media
Meet and share with a small group of conference attendees from schools of different size, type, and visit programs Use this as a networking opportunity to build your professional sphere and collaborate to push our profession forward!
Your assigned connection group is listed on your name tag The connections group names are inspired by St. Louis claims to fame!
St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis City SC
St. Louis Blues
The Gateway Arch
St. Louis Zoo
City Museum
Ballpark Village
Busch Stadium
Anheuser-Busch Brewery
City Foundry STL
CITYPARK
Forest Park
Union Station
Missouri Botanical Garden
Gooey Butter Cake
Toasted Raviolis
Nelly
Andy Cohen
Tina Turner
Chuck Berry
Jenna Fischer
Schlafly Tap Room
Fitz Root Beer
St. Louis Wheel
Midway Suites 1
Midway Suites 2
Midway Suites 3
Midway Suites 4
Midway Suites 6
Midway Suites 7
Midway Suites 8
Midway Suites 9
Midway Suites 10
Regency A
Regency A
Regency B
Regency B
Regency C
Regency C
Grand A
Grand A
Grand B
Grand B
Grand C
Grand C
Grand Ballroom DEF
Grand Ballroom DEF
Grand Ballroom DEF
Show off your spirit and pride for all-things St. Louis (City SC, Cardinals, or Blues), CIVSA (show off your swag!), Major League Soccer (rep your favorite team) or even Ted Lasso (Go AFC Richmond!). Don’t have merch? Sporting CIVSA blues or gold works too!
Get the most out of your Conference experience by participating in some of these special activities!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7
7 - 7:30 a.m.
LOCATION: REGENCY A
Join Emily Stanley, a member of the 2023 Annual Conference publicity & promotions committee as she gets you ready for the day with an active half-hour dance fitness class. Bring your workout shoes, your positive energy and a smile to get the day started!
THURSDAY, JUNE 8
6:45 - 8 a.m.
LOCATION: UNION STATION GRAND HALL
Join members of the spirit & traditions committee as we take a walk from the Union Station Hotel to the famed Gateway Arch National Monument for a morning wake up! The 1.4 mile walk along Market Street passes numerous parks and historic buildings, and will include time at the Arch for photos before heading back to Union Station Hotel Come see downtown St Louis from the ground up!
FRIDAY, JUNE 9
7 - 7:30 a.m.
LOCATION: REGENCY A
Come work out with Mandy Harmon, CIVSA’s member relations committee co-chair, as she gets the day started with a spirited and fun work out Be ready to move and have fun!
ALL THROUGHOUT CONFERENCE
LOCATION: GUIDEBOOK
Scan QR codes throughout the duration of the Conference to uncover something about our closing dinner! There will be QR codes hidden in locations each day, as well as handed out at events such as meetings and educational sessions. There are 16 QR codes to be found, and attendees who uncover the whole picture will be entered into a drawing for prizes!
ALL THROUGHOUT CONFERENCE
LOCATION: EVERYWHERE
Each day, social media challenges, trivia questions and other activities will be posted with point values for you to earn! Complete the activities and earn points all week long! The top point earners each day and the weeklong top point earners will be entered into drawings for prizes!
FRIDAY, JUNE 9
LOCATION: MIDWAY WEST 2:30 - 2:50 p.m.
Learn more about CIVSA's various committees and gain information on how to get involved
Although campus information and visitor services programs at institutions of higher education stretch back to the establishment of the Campus Information Office at Boston University in 1925, the beginnings of a professional identity did not begin to develop until the mid 1980s The first known meeting of professionals in the field was held at Purdue University in 1986, and the group grew to include 15 members by 1990 They had informally been named “U-VIPs” but voted in that year to be named the “National Collegiate Visitor Services Association” (NCVSA) and began to establish a loosely-organized structure, coordinated through the newlyestablished visitor center at the University of Maryland-College Park.
After a few years of slow but steady growth, the first national conference of NCVSA was held at the University of Alabama – Birmingham in 1994 with 25 members in attendance By the second conference in June 1995, it was clear that the association needed to broaden its scope and was renamed the Collegiate Information and Visitor Services Association (CIVSA) This name better recognized the broad membership of individuals and programs that provide “gateway” services to their campus communities
During the late 1990s and into the early 21st century CIVSA officers and members dedicated themselves to increasing the legitimacy of the campus information and visitor services field CIVSA’s first National Headquarters was established at Rutgers University in 1997, the annual conference continued with steady growth in participant numbers, and great effort went into the solidification and organization of this new professional association An important development for CIVSA was being offered membership in the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) in 1998, followed by the significant milestone of having CAS approve Campus Information and Visitor Services Standards and Guidelines in 2000
As CIVSA’s membership began to grow exponentially, the Association continued to expand the benefits provided to its members The annual conference now rotates through a different region each year to maximize the ability for members to attend and is held at a hotel/conference center rather than on a campus to accommodate the large number of participants Members can connect and share resources with one another through social media and quarterly conference calls in addition to the listserv and the Welcomer newsletter. Smaller regional events are being organized in addition to the annual gathering, and the first CIVSA conference aimed at student employees was held at Furman University in January 2014.
As the organization increased its visibility in the world of higher education, much thoughtful planning went into behind-the-scenes development as well CIVSA officially incorporated as a nonprofit association in 2010 and has established a headquarters independent of a college campus An operations manual was developed to streamline processes and guide newly-elected officials, a formal annual budget was created, and work continues on a strategic plan to lead the Association into the future
1994 | University of Alabama – Birmingham (Birmingham, Alabama)
1995 | Baylor University (Waco, Texas)
1996 | Colorado State University (Fort Collins, Colorado)
1997 | Cornell University (Ithaca, New York)
1998 | University of South Carolina (Columbia, South Carolina)
1999 | University of Wisconsin – Madison (Madison, Wisconsin)
2000 | Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey)
2001 | Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas)
2002 | Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana)
2003 | University of Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska)
2004 | Yale University and University of Connecticut (New Haven and Storrs, Connecticut)
2005 | Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah)
2006 | American University (Washington, D C )
2007 | University of Notre Dame (South Bend, Indiana)
2008 | California State Polytechnic University (Pomona, California)
2009 | Boston University (Boston, Massachusetts)
2010 | University of Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky)
2011 | San Antonio, Texas
2012 | Denver, Colorado
2013 | Alexandria, Virginia
2014 | Chicago, Illinois
2015 | Nashville, Tennessee
2016 | San Diego, California
2017 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2018 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2019 | Portland, Oregon
2021 | Virtual Conference
2022 | Orlando, Florida
2023 | St. Louis, Missouri
2022 NICK KOVALAKIDES
OUTSTANDING MEMBER AWARD
Tim Lipman | Emeritus
2022 RISING STAR AWARD
Grace Johnson | University of Kentucky
2022 INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Chris Benavides | South Texas College
2022 CIVSA SERVICE AWARD
Megan Adams | University of Louisville
For more information about each award, and a full list of previous recipients, please scan:
Foot Awards are a fun way to recognize conference participants for making an impression during our time together. This impression can be one of fun, leadership, caring, or anything that helped make the conference special. You are encouraged to recommend someone for this award by submitting a nomination.
Deadline for submission is Friday, June 9 at 4 p.m. CDT. The Executive Board will consider all recommendations and present the awards at the Closing Dinner Celebration and Awards at CITYPARK.
From five years to 25 years, congratulations to all association members reaching a membership milestone in 2022-2023!
Scan for a full list:
CIVSA's leadership consists of a mixture of elected officers and those appointed to standing or ad hoc committees each year. For more information about current committees and to view the involvement survey, scan here:
These individuals will be joined by current executive board members Mel Baxter, immediate past-president, Julee Mitsler, president-elect, Ashley Bair, director of communications, and incoming council of past presidents co-chairs, Wes Sullivan and Karlene Kunigiel
General Association Business Meeting Agenda
Friday, June 9, 2023 at 1 p.m. CDT
Order of Business
Approval of June 2022 business meeting minutes
Executive Board reports
President - Mel Baxter (University of North Texas)
President-Elect - Julee Mitsler (Lindenwood University)
Immediate Past President - Taylor Blair (University of Kentucky)
Secretary - Jayne Reimel (University of California Office of the President)
Treasurer - Andrew Cohen (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Director of Communications - Ashley Bair (University of Maryland)
Council of Past Presidents - Laura Stansell (University of Tennessee) and LeAnn Stroupe (University of Missouri)
Regional Director reports
Region I - Sandra Vance (Gonzaga University)
Region II - Ashley Mitchell (University of Missouri)
Region III - BJ Heidlebaugh (Ohio University)
Region IV - Sam Webb (Carnegie Mellon University)
Region V - Shelby Kuehl (Emory University)
Committee reports
Reports will be heard from Committee Chairs requesting the floor by President Baxter. All other committee reports are on file with the CIVSA Secretary and uploaded to the Members Only section of the CIVSA website
Election results: Presentation of the tellers report by Taylor Blair, Nominating Committee Chair
Introductions of elected Executive Board members and Regional Directors
President-Elect - Andrew Cohen (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Secretary - Tiana Hakimzadeh (American University)
Treasurer - Kelvin Lee (Stanford University)
Region I Director - Liz Hill (Arizona State University)
Region II Director - Stephanie Funderburg (San Jacinto College)
Region III Director - Misty Sparrow (Eastern Michigan University)
Region IV - Sam Webb (Carnegie Mellon University)
Region V - Shelby Kuehl (Emory University)
The maps below shows how states and countries are divided into the five regions of CIVSA.