Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill
January 6-8, 2022
Welcome to the ninth annual CIVSA Student Development Institute! We are incredibly excited to welcome you all to historic and beautiful Washington, D.C.! With the nation’s Capitol Building as our backdrop, we look forward to an engaging weekend filled with educational events and idea sharing. We hope that you take advantage of your time this weekend to connect with peers, learn from one another, and to explore all that D.C. has to offer.
Your SDI Planning Committee has worked tirelessly over the past six months to prepare and plan an amazing Student Development Institute. SDI is a culmination of all the committee’s hard work, enthusiasm, and creativity. We are excited for you to be in Washington, D.C. and to take in all that is here. From world class educational institutions to some of our nation’s most historic sites, there is something for everyone in D.C. However, the best part of SDI is you, the attendees. Your educational sessions and networking will lay the foundation for growth that you will each take home with you long after the conference has ended. Our hope is that you leave SDI feeling inspired and eager to enact meaningful change within your programs.
Thank you for joining us for the Student Development Institute. We are excited that you are here and hope you will be even more excited when you leave, full of new ideas and ways that you can make your programs the very best they can be. Welcome to SDI!
Nick Reffuge, University of Pittsburgh Chair, Student Development Institute
Misty Sparrow, Chair
Eastern Michigan University
Ashley Mitchell, Chair
University of Missouri
Selena Walsh
University of Pittsburgh
Kacy Rader, Chair
Illinois State University
Michaela Elsbernd, Chair
Truman State University
Julia Emrich
University of Alabama - Culverhouse College of Business
Tiana Hakimzadeh, Chair
American University
Kristen Luther Towson University
The Student Development Institute would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of two incredible people: Lindsey Darling, CIVSA’s Conference and Events Manager, and Jen McGowan, CIVSA’s Association Manager. Lindsey and Jen work tirelessly to ensure that CIVSA’s events are high quality and engaging. We could not host amazing events like this weekend without their work and support. On behalf of the SDI Planning Committee and CIVSA, we extend our most heartfelt thanks to Lindsey and Jen for all that they do and for helping create such an amazing weekend.
On behalf of CIVSA and its Board, I am happy to welcome you to Washington, D.C. for our ninth Student Development Institute. There is so much to look forward to! I have been counting down to hear from Stan Pearson II, our keynote speaker. I also experienced the Monuments by Moonlight tour during a site visit to our host hotel in the fall, and I cannot wait to do it again! And of course, this year’s Educational Programming slate is loaded with incredible opportunities for knowledge sharing.
To our student attendees
CIVSA is an international association of higher education professionals who work in the fields of information and visitor services. I suspect the advisor(s) you traveled with would agree that you – our students – are the most important part of our roles.
This conference is dedicated to your success. I hope you can appreciate the opportunity to learn from each other. Embrace the spaces where you find your differences and enjoy the chance to learn best practices from those organizations so different from your own. As you consider the Educational Sessions available, don’t hesitate to split up and maximize your opportunity to learn from others.
Most of all, I hope you develop lasting friendships among the students you’ll meet. Spend time getting to know your peers. You never know which students (or professional advisors!) you’ll encounter in your work after graduation.
To professional advisors
I am happy that you and your institution have chosen to invest in your students’ success. While this is a student conference, our conference committee has put great intention into making sure advisor-specific learning opportunities are available to you throughout our Educational Sessions.
If you’re not a CIVSA member, I hope you see the benefit of becoming one through our array of programming this weekend. Besides early access to SDI registration, CIVSA members also have access to virtual and archived educational resources year-round.
To our current CIVSA members in attendance, thank you for being a CIVSA member. SDI 2022 represents a return to in-person programming, and we are so happy you’ve chosen to join us. I hope you’ll let me know if you have identified areas where CIVSA can further support you in your professional and institutional goals.
Lastly, I hope you’ll find opportunities to thank the hard work of our SDI Planning Committee and those subcommittee chairs. I am so grateful for the work of Education and Programming Chair Misty Sparrow (Eastern Michigan University), Local Arrangements Chair Tiana Hakimzadeh (American University), Publicity and Promotions Chair Ashley Mitchell (University of Missouri), Spirit and Traditions Chair Michaela Elsbernd (Truman State University) and Welcome and Volunteers Chair Kacy Rader (Illinois State University). I want to give special recognition and a great deal of personal gratitude to Student Development Institute Chair Nick Reffuge (University of Pittsburgh).
I hope we have the opportunity to meet one-on-one during your time here. Welcome to Washington, D.C. and welcome to the Student Development Institute!
Taylor Blair CIVSA President University of Kentucky
Agnes Scott College
Albion College
American University
Anne Arundel Community College
Appalachian State University
Arcadia University
Auburn University
Barton College
Berry College
Bloomsburg University of PA
Bowling Green State University
Bucknell University
Buena Vista University
Cal Poly Pomona
California Lutheran University
California State University, San Bernardino
Carnegie Mellon University
Charleston Southern University
Colorado Mesa University
Eastern Michigan University
Emeritus
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia State University
Hofstra University
Illinois State University
James Madison University
Lander University
Lees-McRae College
Lindenwood University
Maryville College
Mercer University
Messiah University
Middle Tennessee State University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Penn State University
Pepperdine University
Red Rocks Community College
Rider University
Sam Houston State University
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Stevenson University
Texas A&M University
Texas Tech University
The Catholic University of America
The University of Texas at Arlington
Truman State University
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Oklahoma
University of Evansville
University of Houston
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Maryland
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
University of Minnesota Rochester
University of Missouri
University of Pittsburgh
University of South Carolina
University of Tennessee
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
University of WisconsinMilwaukee
Warren Wilson College
West Virginia University
Western Kentucky University
Wichita State University
Wingate University
Stan Pearson II, MBA is a former Governor Staffer & Former Capitol Hill Staffer for a U.S Senator who has been speaking professionally for 15 years. As a celebrity speaker and mindset coach, Stan consults professional athletes, celebrities, students and professionals on how to build their personal brand while teaching authentic confidence building skills. He’s spent time with Billionaire Mogul Martha Stewart, Ben & Jerry’s Co-founder Jerry Greenfield & NFL SuperBowl Champion, former Baltimore Raven Haloti Ngata to name a few.
Stan has traveled the globe speaking to audiences & businesses on how to build their mindset and tap into the Nos of their life! While some of his other professional accomplishments include Alumni of the Decade, he has also founded NAMCA, The National Association of Masterminds and Co-curricular Advancement to help higher ed professionals build their professional and personal footprints while helping create better professional speakers. Stan is also probably one of the best husbands on the planet and working on being the #1 ranked Dad in the world.
Download the Guidebook app in the App Store or Google Play store for an interactive program for SDI! View our SDI program, get live push notifications for sessions and submit conference forms.
The CIVSA SDI All-Star Award was modeled after the Association’s “Foot Awards” given at the CIVSA Annual Conference to recognize outstanding attendees who have “left their footprint” or in this case, “shined brightly” during the event.
Only student attendees are eligible to be nominated, and can be nominated by any attendee of SDI - including advisors and fellow students. All nominations will be considered and recipients will be selected by the Student Development Committee, and announced at the conclusion of SDI.
Nominees can be considered for any reason including, but not limited to, providing a great educational session, being a leader amongst peers, and helping others and/or showing great potential to be a future leader in the field of information and visitor services as a profession.
Nominate a potential SDI All-Star using the QR code in this program or submit through Guidebook. All nominations must be received by 3 p.m. EST on Saturday in order to be considered.
After Education Sessions, submit the feedback form for your session to be entered into a raffle! Be sure to submit after each session to increase your chances to win!
Each person will be provided with a bingo card with different questions to ask other people. Get to know each other and make connections to have throughout the conference and after!
RULES:
• Need to find attendees from different universities to ask these questions to. This is getting to know new students after all!
• You must introduce yourself and ask another participant a question on your card.
• If they say yes, they can sign your card for that spot. Don’t just give your card for someone to find a question that fits them.
• A participant can only sign a person’s card two times.
Join the race to see the sights of Washington, D.C.!
After Hot Topics, you and a small group of students from other institutions will compete to get photos of famous landmarks of D.C. within walking distance of the hotel. The first group to complete all the items on the scavenger hunt list and check in with Michaela in the foyer will receive a prize.
RULES:
• Your team must have at least three institutions represented in your group of five.
• You’ll receive information for your team with all the locations for the scavenger hunt after Hot Topics.
• Each location will have a QR code that links to the submission form for that location.
• Take a picture with all the members of your team and submit it to the location form.
• Once you’ve visited all locations and submitted your forms, find Michaela in the hotel foyer to check in.
Grab your flannel shirts, throw on your hiking boots and get ready to dance the night away at our Closing Dinner. Camp CIVSA will feature our SDI awards presentation, closing speakers and more. Afterwards, enjoy s’mores and dancing with DJ Chris Styles.
With over 20 years of DJ experience, Chris Styles has done it all. He began his radio DJ career at HOT 99.5 in 2003 and was heard every weekend mixing and hosting on the DMV airwaves.
In 2013, Styles took his talents to CBS Radio DC and was heard mixing every week on WPGC 95.5, Fresh 94.7 and El Zol 107.9. Styles was also given the opportunity to showcase his DJ talents nationally through satellite radio.
In 2006, Styles was hired to host the night show on then XM 20 on 20. In 2009, Styles moved over to SirusXM The Heat and was heard every Friday night mixing and hosting “Friday Night Fire”.
Thursday, January 6 Pre-Conference
2 - 8 p.m. Registration & Info Desk Open Regency Foyer
6 - 7 p.m. Meet & Mingle Thornton ABC
7 p.m. Dinner on your own
Friday, January 7
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Registration & Info Desk Open Regency Foyer
8 - 11 a.m. Visit Smithsonian Museums and Explore DC
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Pre-Conference Workshop: Exploring a Capitol AB Career in Higher Education
12 - 1 p.m. Lunch on your own
1 - 1:30 p.m. Student Development Institute Kickoff Regency ABC
1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker - Stan Pearson II, MBA Regency ABC
3:40 - 4:30 p.m. Educational Sessions (1)
4:40 - 5:30 p.m. Educational Sessions (2)
6 - 7:15 p.m. Dinner
7 - 10 p.m.
Monuments by Moonlight (registration required)
Varies, see session description
Varies, see session description
On your own (gift card provided)
Meet in the Regency Lobby
9 - 10:30 p.m. Advisor Social Article One Lounge
Saturday, January 8
8 - 8:45 a.m. Morning Welcome & Swag Swap/T-Shirt Exchange Regency ABC
9 - 9:50 a.m. Educational Sessions (3) Varies, see session description
10 - 10:50 a.m. Educational Sessions (4)
11 - 12 p.m. Hot Topics for Students
Varies, see session description
Varies, see next page
Hot Topics for Advisors Thornton ABC
12 - 3 p.m. Lunch & DC Educational Scavenger Hunt
3:30 - 4:20 p.m. Educational Sessions (5)
4:30 - 5:20 p.m. Educational Sessions (6)
Meet in Regency ABC
Lunch on your own (gift card provided)
Varies, see session description
Varies, see session description
6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Conference Closing Event & Awards with DJ Chris Styles Regency ABC
Sunday, January 9
Morning Visit Smithsonian Museums On your own
HOT TOPICS GROUP NAME (found on your name badge)
Meeting Location
Archives Metro Regency D
Capital South Regency ABC
Dupont Circle Capitol A
Eastern Market Regency ABC
Farragut Capitol B
Federal Center Regency D
Federal Triangle Congressional A
Gallery Place Columbia C
Judiciary Square Regency ABC
L’Enfant Plaza Congressional A
McPherson Square Bunker Hill/Concord/Lexington
Mt. Vernon Square Regency ABC
Rosslyn (Advisors) Thornton ABC
Smithsonian Metro Congressional A
Union Station Regency ABC
Location: Regency D
Track: Advisor - Special Topics: Ambassador Roles and Responsibilities
Berry College | Mount Berry, GA| Institution Size: Under 5,000 | Private 30-50 Ambassadors | Paid
Do you want to create meaningful work opportunities for your student ambassadors, outside of just leading tours? In this session we’ll share how we’ve structured our ambassador program at Berry College to allow our students the opportunity for so much more personal and professional development. We’ll share the structure of our threeteam ambassador program, the opportunities students have for leadership and growth, and the different ways this structure has benefited our office and our students.
Location: Capitol B
Track: Ambassador and Tour Guide Training
Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA | Institution Size: Under 5,000 | Private 50-70 Ambassadors | Paid
The college search process for prospective students is a whirlwind of statistics and fast facts that all seem to blend together. Learn how to make your tour stand out from the crowd by implementing empathy-based tours in which sharing memorable experiences and engaging with students’ needs are placed first. This is a session for students by students. Advisors, be sure to check out the session with our supervisors to learn how we made this tour possible.
Location: Capitol A
Track: Leadership and Professional Development
Wichita State University | Wichita, KS| Institution Size: 10,000-20,000 | Public 70-100 Ambassadors | Both-some positions are paid; others are volunteer College students have various competing priorities and gaining their buy-in and commitment to a volunteer organization can be difficult. We will discuss how one long-standing student ambassador organization has onboarded members and built a community that students want to be part of.
Location: Bunker Hill/Concord/Lexington
Track: Office Culture and Climate
University of Houston | Houston, TX| Institution Size: 30,000+ | Public 30-50 Ambassadors | Paid
How do we support student workers to balance their academics and mental health? The UH Ambassadors Leadership Council has a well-balanced program that incorporates flexibility, feedback, and transparency. Members of the Leadership Council conduct monthly 1 on 1 meetings with each ambassador, giving ambassadors a safe space to speak about their life in all contexts. We utilize different scheduling techniques to give them the flexibility they can rely on. Learn about the strategies and tips we use in our team to ensure our employees’ personal and academic needs are met.
Location: Congressional A
Track: Tour Skills
Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY Institution Size: 10,000-20,000 | Public 10-30 Ambassadors | Paid
As tour guides, we always want to present our campus and personal experience in a positive light. However, it is undeniable that being a college student, especially in 2022, is difficult. High school students approach the college decision with a lot of fears surrounding how they will fit in, make friends, and succeed. As tour guides, we have the opportunity to express vulnerability concerning the fears we had as freshmen. Utilizing exercises in vulnerability, and accessing past fears and worries, can better help tour guides to empathize with a potential student and thus create a lasting impact.
Location: Columbia C
Track: Diversity and Social Justice
Texas A&M University | College Station, TX| Institution Size: 30,000+ | Public 70-100 Ambassadors | Paid
No University wants to make the news for something gone wrong, but lately more and more missteps around diversity, equity and inclusion are on the front page. How do you address the elephant in the room? Often, tour guides are faced with uncomfortable questions and conversations. These can be discussed in a manner that reduces tension among visitors, without brushing areas in need of improvement under the rug. Students from Texas A&M will discuss their experiences with facilitating difficult conversations among students and parents.
Location: Congressional A
Track: Tour Skills
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL| Institution Size: 20,000-30,000 | Public
30-50 Ambassadors | Paid
On any given day the weather and people on a tour can change. On a rainy day you need a raincoat, but on a snowy day you need a winter coat. Each tour requires a brand-new fit, and UAB Trailblazers are always dressing. Creating a team that can be as dynamic as the weather with all the knowledge needed for an informational tour is not only important but creates a wonderful ‘season’ for the campus visit experience.
Location: Columbia C
Track: Advisor - Special Topics: Cultural/Language Barrier Programing
Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, TX| Institution Size: 20,000-30,000 | Public
10-30 Ambassadors | Paid
Sam Houston State University has recently applied to become a Hispanic Serving Institute with over 25% of the student population identifying as Hispanic. This endeavor has led Visitor Services to target this demographic and reach the family, rather than just the prospective student. By offering Spanish tours and programming, we break the language barrier and invite the parents, students, and siblings to experience the college search process together.
Location: Capitol A
Track: Other
Stevenson University | Pikesville, MD | Institution Size: 1,000-5,000 | Private 25-50 Ambassadors | Paid
Student Ambassadors are the faces of the University and are the schools experts. Ambassador Programs across the country are highly appreciated by admissions offices is the highly sought after student position. What makes this program so special and sought after at at a school like Stevenson and other similar universities? It’s because we appreciate our ambassadors the paycheck. In this session, we are going to talk about the importance of ambassador events and bonding. A family environment not only makes the office better, but our visits better. Better Visits = Happier Admissions Experiences.
Location: Bunker Hill/Concord/Lexington
Track: Office Culture and Climate
Berry College | Mount Berry, GA| Institution Size: Under 5,000 | Private 30-50 Ambassadors | Paid
Connecting with fellow ambassadors results in stronger and more unified work teams. At the Berry College Office of Admission, we have implemented a Buddy System that strategically pairs ambassadors together each semester who may not know each other well. This system strengthens bonds between loosely-connected ambassadors and adds to the sense of family that makes our team eager to come to work. We’ll share how we developed this system, what it entails, and how it has further unified our team.
Location: Capitol B
Track: Ambassador and Tour Guide Training
Wichita State University | Wichita, KS| Institution Size: 10,000-20,000 | Public 70-100 Ambassadors | Both-some positions are paid; others are volunteer COVID-19 has taught us how to be creative in engaging with prospective students when face-to-face interaction is limited. Learn how one university is leveraging social media platforms to reach prospective students where they’re at. Attendees will be able to glean ideas for their ambassador program’s accounts on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, ZeeMee, and more.
Location: Regency D
Track: Leadership and Professional Development
Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA | Institution Size: Under 5,000 | Private 50-70 Ambassadors | Paid
Overworked? Underappreciated? Burnt out? Or somewhere in between? In 2020 many of our lives came to a screeching halt as one by one activities we loved were cancelled. Now, as things have started reopen and feel more normal we’ve found ourselves right back into the “busier the better” mindset...but is busier really better? Maybe not. In this session you’ll be invited to slow down, discover ways to create greater balance in your life, and be more intentional with how you spend your time.
CIVSA 1.0
Location: Bunker Hill/Concord/Lexington
Track: Advisor
CIVSA Executive Board
Are you looking to get more involved with CIVSA but don’t know how? Come to our session and find out all of the ways you can maximize your CIVSA membership to the fullest extent! We’ll discuss the history of CIVSA, all of the various membership benefits, as well as all of the professional and volunteer opportunities that CIVSA has to offer!
Location: Capitol B
Track: Other – Student: Connecting with Students Virtually in a Hybrid World
The George Washington University | Washington, D.C.| Institution Size: 10,000-20,000 | Private 50-70 Ambassadors | Paid
During the pandemic, our office worked to create meaningful connections and showcase our university in a virtual setting. This prompted the birth of GW Unfiltered, a student run podcast that talks about all things GW. This was a useful tool to help students learn about our university from afar, but more importantly, it created more opportunities to engage with GW even after we resumed on campus visits. GW Unfiltered empowered our student ambassadors to be creative and genuine about their experience through a new mode of communication. It also provides more opportunity for students who otherwise cannot physically come to GW for the in-person experience.
Location: Regency D
Track: Ambassador and Tour Guide Training
The Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA | Institution Size: 30,000+ | Public 100+ Ambassadors | Unpaid
This session is about using inclusive language to cultivate a welcoming environment for prospective visits in addition to Strategic Phrasing in order to provide tour guides with a tool to positively showcase their institution.
Location: Congressional A
Track: Diversity and Justice
University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA| Institution Size: 10,001-20,000| Public 50+ Ambassadors | Paid
In recent history there has been a massive shift toward the focus on DEI efforts as a society. As college tour guides, we are required to navigate between the workplace and academia. With this shift in society DEI training are important to educate and create opportunities of engagement with DEI. While activities and training lead by non-college students are beneficial to the organization, student lead training provide a more one on one connect and a more comfortable atmosphere that allows members of the organization to activity and comfortably engage with DEI discussion. By allowing students to create and lead these trainings, they can craft the information in a way that is easily understood by their peers which in turn leads to higher engagement and comprehension.
Location: Capitol A
Track: Diversity and Social Justice
University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Knoxville, TN| Institution Size: 30,000+ | Public 70-100 Ambassadors | Paid
Celebrating just over two years since its inception, the UTK ambassadors Multicultural Engagement Team (MET) seeks to educate members on everything diversity, equity, and inclusion. Whether participating in group discussions centered around self-discovery or bringing in motivational speakers, MET seeks to add value to every student guide.
Location: Regency D
Track: Advisor - Special Topics: Tour Route Creation
Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA | Institution Size: Under 5,000 | Private 50-70 Ambassadors | Paid
We know our prospective students make decisions based on feelings, rather than facts, so why are our tour guides still reciting stale numbers like square footage or enrollment data instead of sharing stories? At Bucknell, the Office of Admissions and the Office of Communications teamed up for a total tour route overhaul. After assessing the existing tour route, aligning messaging with the university’s branding goals, and letting feelings pave the way, they were left with a reimagined tour experience driven by storytelling. This is a session by advisors for advisors. Students, be sure to visit the ambassador session for a crash course in catching feelings.
Location: Congressional A
Track: Ambassador and Tour Guide Training
University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY | Institution Size: 30,000+ | Public 50-70 Ambassadors | Paid
University of Kentucky Visitor Center presents Cultivating Unique and Diverse Tours. This educational session will showcase how the University of Kentucky Visitor Center uses a unique training method to ensure that all tour guides’ stories are told. We will highlight our tour shadowing process that we utilize with new team members to help them cultivate their own individual tours. Additionally, we will explain how we go about semesterly fact books versus scripts to encourage our tour guides to provide families with their diverse experiences.
Location: Capitol B
Track: Leadership and Professional Development
Anne Arundel Community College | Arnold, MD | Institution Size: 18,424 | Public
10-30 Ambassadors | Volunteer
The Ambassador Leadership team would like to discuss the adjustments that we have made to our program’s model to aid in the transition of pre-to-post COVID changes to better support and prepare our student leaders for success. Our team would like to share our perspectives on how being a student leader in a virtual environment has better prepared us for academic, personal, and professional challenges. The skills we have equipped our student leaders will be vital in the transition to their future endeavors.
Location: Capitol A
Track: Diversity and Social Justice
Wichita State University | Wichita, KS| Institution Size: 10,000-20,000 | Public 70-100 Ambassadors | Both-some positions are paid; others are volunteer
Speaking English as a second language can create barriers for students in the college search process. Session attendees will participate in a discussion about language barriers in both the college search process and in college itself. This session will focus on strategies for serving prospective students and families with English as a second language including selecting bilingual student ambassadors and tour guides and offering events in second languages.
Location: Bunker Hill/Concord/Lexington
Track: Tour Skills
Maryville College | Maryville, TN| Institution Size: Under 5,000 | Private 10-30 Ambassadors | Paid
This session will provide student ambassadors with the opportunity to learn how to treat prospective students as “more than just a number”. From the time an ambassador is hired until the prospective student makes their final college decision, every part of the college process is crucial in creating a lasting relationship with whoever steps foot on our campus.
Location: Columbia C
Track: Other – Student: Social Media
Rider University | Lawrenceville, NJ | Institution Size: Under 5,000 | Private 30-50 Ambassadors | Paid
At a small university like Rider, we believe the best way to get to know us is through our people. This presentation will focus on building a social media presence from scratch (or giving your current one a makeover) by utilizing a team of current students to give a holistic university perspective. It all starts with knowing your goals and who you want to reach. By building your student team, determining the content that works best for your school and creating a plan to sustain your brand into the future, you will capture the attention of prospective students and connect with their interests.
19 Tours and Counting
Location: Regency D
Track: Advisor - Special Topics: Visit Structure
Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY| Institution Size: 10,000-20,000 | Public 10-30 Ambassadors | Paid
The demographics of students are continually evolving, and your campus tours should be too. Culture and diversity shape universities across the country, meaning that each guest looks for something different when visiting your campus. Through offering a variety of tours from bus, evening, and academic program visits, restructuring the foundation of the campus tour displays what each facet of your campus does best. While this platform not only provides tour guests with a more desirable experience, it also eliminates stress that visit coordinators face daily, aiming to fulfill special tour requests. It’s time we revisit how we envision campus tours.
Location: Bunker Hill/Concord/Lexington
Track: Other - Student: Student-Led Marketing
University of Houston | Houston, TX| Institution Size: 30,000+ | Public 30-50 Ambassadors | Paid
In this presentation, we will share how the ambassador role at the University of Houston has expanded the influence of ambassadors, benefitting prospective students, and ambassadors. We will first showcase how ambassador participation in social media campaigns has led to their increased influence over prospective students’ admission decisions by allowing ambassadors to share their unique experiences as students to further connect with prospective students’ personal identities. Next, we will showcase how participation of ambassadors in campus wide events has led to increased influence of ambassadors on campus. These opportunities have allowed ambassadors to develop a network, and build professional skills.
Location: Columbia C
Track: Leadership and Professional Development
Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, MI | Institution Size: 10,000-20,000 | Public 30-50 Ambassadors | Paid
Is your office full of besties? Many admissions offices try to encourage community within their office, but with that, personal and professional boundaries can be overlooked and overstepped. While close relationships can help an office be successful, setting boundaries is necessary to avoid burnout, stress, strained relationships, and to remain focused on office values and responsibilities. This session will include what boundaries are, how to set them, how to communicate them and how to uphold them throughout the chain of command.
Location: Capitol A
Track: Diversity and Social Justice
Berry College | Mount Berry, GA | Institution Size: Under 5,000 | Private 30-50 Ambassadors | Paid
As an Admissions Office, it is our job to make prospective students feel as though they are welcome from the moment they step foot onto campus, and it is important that our office culture reflects that we are a welcoming environment to everyone. To support cultural diversity within the Berry College Office of Admission, our Diversity and Outreach student team has developed several initiatives to educate our ambassadors and our campus visitors on issues of diversity. By recognizing and celebrating diverse cultures and identities, we are fostering a culture of inclusivity that benefits both our visitors and students.
Location: Congressional A
Track: Ambassador and Tour Guide Training
American University | Washington, D.C. | Institution Size: 10,000-20,000 | Private 10-30 Ambassadors | Paid
We have all been there- that moment in the admissions center or a tour where a prospective student/parent asks a personal, probing, problematic or downright rude question. The “Karen” is no longer confined to restaurants and the Target check-out line, but now on college tours across America. Through our workshop, we seek to impart how American University Ambassadors train guides to answer these difficult/uncomfortable questions. Training guides to deal with this allows them to be better prepared once the tour starts, enables them to provide quick, effective, and accurate responses that not only convey the facts but recenter the conversation and keep the tour moving.
Location: Capitol B
Track: Tour Skills
Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Institution Size: 10,000-20,000 | Private 30-50 Ambassadors | Paid
The Carnegie Mellon Campus Lore Tour was conceived as a way to further engage admitted students in a virtual world. As a younger university (in the grand scheme of things), we wanted to demonstrate that CMU has its own unique history, traditions and urban legends that continue today. The event took a deeper dive for students who had attended the campus tour. In addition to the material, concepts tested in this tour were later applied to our Virtual Campus Tour. This virtual event proved effective (and fun!) as we welcomed our largest incoming undergraduate class to date in the Fall.
Location: Congressional A
Track: Tour Skills
West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV | Institution Size: 20,000-30,000 | Public 10-30 Ambassadors | Paid
A crucial aspect of the college experience is the transformation students make from freshman to senior year. Showcasing the impact your university has made on the lives of its students allows the tour experience to go beyond the facts and anecdotes. In this session, we will cover how to use personal stories, professional experiences, and social media to show prospective students you don’t just go to school, the school becomes a part of you.
Location: Bunker Hill/Concord/Lexington
Track: Office Culture and Climate
University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, TX| Institution Size: 30,000+ | Public 30-50 Ambassadors | Paid
At the University of Texas at Arlington, motivation plays a large factor in creating a cohesive and exciting atmosphere. Our team of MavElite tour guides is intentional about providing multiple avenues of appreciation—in both big and small ways—to make sure that our students love working together. In this session we’ll discuss the role of our Motivation Captain and how we execute events like our Holiday Party, End of Year Banquet, and semesterly social events. We’ll also detail our day-to-day motivational incentives, including our shout box, Neel money program, and semesterly check-in meetings.
Location: Columbia C
Track: Ambassador and Tour Guide Training / Advisor Topics
Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, TX| Institution Size: 20,000-30,000 | Public 10-30 Ambassadors | Paid
Sam Houston State University Visitor Services is driven by its vision: We want everyone to want to be a Bearkat! We do this by training our SAMbassadors for more than tours. By the time that a student is a fully trained tour guide, they are essentially trusted to serve everyone from prospective student to University President. Rather than just memorizing campus facts, our students are fully equipped with intensive training to run the campus switchboard, front desk, tours, and recruitment events. Our extensive training produces fully-equipped student staff capable of handling difficult or high pressure situations now and post-grad.
Surveying 101
Location: Capitol A
Track: Leadership and Professional Development
Penn State University | University Park, PA | Institution Size: 30,000+ | Public
100+ Ambassadors | Both-some positions are paid; others are volunteer
Join the CIVSA Research & Assessment Committee to learn more about developing surveys, and analyzing results. In this session participants will learn about writing survey questions, common mistakes to avoid, and how to properly review and share your results. This session is designed to be helpful for both student leaders and professional staff members, and will share examples of ways that you can incorporate survey writing into your professional skill set!
Volunteering Made Fun: How to Lead a Successful Volunteer Ambassador Program
Location: Regency D
Track: Ambassador and Tour Guide Training
University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | Institution Size: 10,000-20,000 | Public 70-100 Ambassadors | Unpaid
Join leaders from our UCA Ambassadors team as we share information about our 90-plus member volunteer program. We will examine what makes our program effective and unique: our mission and core values, organizational structure, professional development opportunities, and more. Our Ambassadors empower each other to go above and beyond and engage with the campus holistically. We will also share helpful advice on how to lead a successful volunteer ambassador program. Give tours, Go bears!
Smithsonian Institution: The World’s Largest Museum Complex including National Museum of African American History and Culture*, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum*, National Zoo*, National Museum of Natural History and many others
*Require free timed entry ticket
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The CIVSA Mission is to provide knowledge exchange, research and connections in an inviting arena that builds professional and personal relationships. We partner with higher education professionals to set standards of excellence in the field of information and visitor services. We support our dynamic membership of collegiate professionals through ever decision made. We seek out all avenues to strengthen connections and networking amoung our membership. We provide leadership and a variety of innovative educational formats to support professional growth.
President: Taylor Blair, University of Kentucky
President Elect: Mel Baxter, New York University
Immediate Past President: Wes Sullivan, California Lutheran University
Secretary: Ashley Bair, University of Maryland
Treasurer: Andrew Cohen, Georgia Institute of Technology
Director of Communications: Julee Mitsler, Lindenwood University
Council of Past Presidents: Laura Stansell, University of Tennessee and Karlene Kunigiel, Skidmore College
Region I: Amanda Wallin, California Lutheran University
Region II: Laura Galloway, University of Houston
Region III: Grace Johnson, University of Kentucky
Region IV: Ilana Ciccone, St. John’s University
Region V: Maggie Keene, University of Tennessee
2022 Annual Conference: Kelvin Lee, Stanford University
Diversity and Inclusion: LeAnn Stroupe, University of Missouri
Educational Resources: Aaron Borgeson, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Involvement: Amber Fitzgerald, Suffolk University
Member Relations: Jo Golden, Western Washington University
Nominating Committee: Wes Sullivan, California Lutheran University
Research and Assessment: Jordan Glover, Penn State University
Scholarships: Ebony Smith, The Ohio State University
Sponsorships: Eric Brodsky, Adelphi University
Standards: Megan Adams, University of Louisville and Paul Hovey, Fairfield University
Strategic Planning: Wes Sullivan, California Lutheran University
Student Development: Nick Reffuge, University of Pittsburgh