SDI 2025 Program - Houston

Table of Contents 2025 SDI Attendees ............................... 3 SDI Chair’s Welcome ............................. 4 President’s Welcome ............................. 6 Keynote Speaker ................................... 8 CIVSA Matching .................................... 9 Closing Dinner & Awards ......................... 9 SDI All-Star Awards ............................... 10 SDI Individual & Institution Awards ............ 11 Schedule ............................................ 12 Connections Groups ............................... 13 Educational Sessions ............................. 14 Hotel Map ........................................... 34 Explore Houston ................................... 36 About CIVSA ........................................ 38 CIVSA Leadership ................................. 39

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2025 SDI ATTENDEES Agnes Scott College Albion College Amarillo College American University Angelo State University Appalachian State University Arizona State University Auburn University College of Education Auburn University College of Engineering Berea College Berry College Bob Jones University Bowling Green State University California Institute of the Arts California Lutheran University Carnegie Mellon University Central Michigan University Coastal Carolina University Colorado Mesa University Colorado School of Mines Colorado School of Mines Graduate Program East Tennessee State University East Texas A&M University Eastern Michigan University Emory University Florida International University Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Southern University High Point University Hofstra University Indiana University of Pennsylvania James Madison University Johns Hopkins University Kean University Knox College Lamar University Lindenwood University Louisiana State University, Residential Life Maryville College Messiah University Middle Tennessee State University Mount Saint Mary's University

North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Ohio University Penn State University Pepperdine University Pitzer College Rice University Sam Houston State University San Jacinto College South Texas College Southeast Missouri State University Southern Illinois University Carbondale Southern New Hampshire University Spokane Community College St. John's University St. Thomas University Stanford University Stevens Institute of Technology Stevenson University Suffolk University Texas A&M International University Texas A&M University Texas A&M University, Residence Life Texas Tech The University of Texas at Arlington The University of Texas - San Antonio University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Arizona University of California, Los Angeles University of Central Arkansas University of Central Florida University of Central Missouri University of Central Oklahoma University of Cincinnati University of Colorado Boulder University of Delaware University of Evansville University of Hawai'i at Mānoa University of Houston University of Idaho University of Kentucky University of Louisville University of Maryland, Baltimore County

University of Minnesota Rochester University of Missouri University of Missouri - College of Engineering University of Nebraska - Lincoln University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of Northern Colorado University of Oklahoma - Gallogly College of Engineering University of Oregon University of Pittsburgh University of South Carolina University of South Carolina Aiken University of South Carolina Beaufort University of St. Thomas - Houston University of Tennessee, Herbert College of Agriculture University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee University of Wisconsin Madison Utah Valley University Vanderbilt University Virginia Tech Virginia Tech College of Science Washburn University Weber State University West Virginia University Western Kentucky University Wichita State University Wofford College Xavier University of Louisiana

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Katie Holdgreve-Resendez | SDI Chair University of Colorado Boulder Welcome to Houston, TX! It’s incredible to think that 2025 is our 12th annual Student Development Institute (SDI)! On behalf of the SDI Planning Committee, we are thrilled to have you with us in Houston, TX, “The Space City.” We look forward to an exciting and engaging institute, full of collaboration and educational opportunities. We hope you enjoy your time this weekend connecting, learning and exploring all that Houston and the conference offers.

Your SDI Planning Committee worked tirelessly to ensure that the Student Development Institute exceeds your expectations. This SDI is the culmination of the committee’s hard work, creativity, enthusiasm and innovation. We hope it doesn’t disappoint! Houston is an incredible city, with lots to see, do and experience. But we can’t forget, the best part of SDI is YOU. Our attendees bring a magic to this experience that is unparalleled, and if you’ve never experienced it, you’re in for a treat. With a record number of educational session proposals having been submitted, and intentional networking opportunities, we have no doubt this will enable you and your programs to grow and spark ideas you may have never thought possible. We hope you leave SDI feeling inspired and eager to enact meaningful change within your programs for years to come. One attendee at last year’s conference commented, “I no longer just give tours of campus. I AM a tour guide that provides experiences.” That is our goal for each and every one of you!

Thank you for joining us for SDI! Whether this is your first SDI or your fourth, we hope you are as excited as we are, and hope you’re even more excited when you take all you learn home. Welcome to Houston, TX and the 12th Student Development Institute!

Best wishes,

Katie D. Holdgreve-Resendez Student Development Institute Chair University of Colorado Boulder

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SDI Planning Committee Programming & Education Committee: Sarah Splinter, University of Wisconsin - Madison (chair) Kaely Graham, Arizona State University Macey Lynch, Virginia Tech Lexi Petrak, East Tennessee State University Kristin Thomas, Messiah University Courtney Youngblood, High Point University Local Arrangements: Breezy Landman, Rice University (chair) Angela Guidry, University of Houston Publicity & Promotion Committee: Brandon McDonald, Penn State University (chair) Sam Hannah, Virginia Tech Tyler Pennington, Georgia Gwinnett College Spirit & Traditions: Quinn Munk, Wichita State University (chair) Akilah King, Georgia Southern University Welcome & Volunteers: Tera McDonald, Georgia Institute of Technology (chair) Rachel Anderson, University of Wisconsin - Madison The 12th Student Development Institute would not be possible without the dedicated work of two phenomenal people: La Dawn Duvall, CIVSA’s Conference and Events Manager, and Jen McGowan, CIVSA’s Association Manager. La Dawn and Jen work tirelessly year-round to ensure that CIVSA offers high-quality, engaging events. Without their hard work and support, we would not be where we are today. On behalf of the 2025 SDI Planning Committee and CIVSA, we extend our most heartfelt thank you to La Dawn and Jen for all they do and for helping create an amazing weekend.

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Andrew Cohen | CIVSA President Georgia Institute of Technology Welcome to the 2025 Student Development Institute!

On behalf of CIVSA and the Board, I am thrilled to welcome you to Houston for the 12th Student Development Institute. This SDI is jam-packed with incredible programming - our keynote speaker Eboné Bell will start our event with enthusiasm and Saturday’s Houston Experience will take you out into our host city. As we join together here in the Space City, I hope you will take a lesson from NASA in dreaming big, embracing curiosity, and boldly reaching for the stars when it comes to creating transformative and innovative experiences for your campus’s visitors.

The lineup of educational sessions this year is packed with great topics and lots of student presenters. This weekend is about learning from institutions that may look and feel very different from yours, but whose innovative ideas can help you enhance what you do at your school. Student Development Institute holds an incredibly special place in my heart and reminds me of the impact that our student ambassadors have on each of our campuses.

To our student attendees - you are among the most dedicated and passionate individuals. You were selected to attend because of how well you represent your institution, and your advisor’s belief that you have the ability to make positive changes happen. Learn all you can, make friends, and go home ready to make a difference!

To our advisors and professional staff - thank you for advocating to attend SDI this year. We have included programming specifically for you, because we know students grow best when they are surrounded by eager leaders. You are vital to the success of your programs!

Finally, I want to express my appreciation for our 2025 SDI Planning Committee Chairs - Sarah, Breezy, Brandon, Quinn and Tera - thank you for your leadership through this process. To our CIVSA Conference and Events Manager La Dawn and Association Manager Jen - this weekend could not happen without you. And lastly to our 2025 SDI Chair Katie - thank you for going on this adventure with me.

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I am excited to welcome you to Houston, and grateful that your institution has made the commitment to support you attending SDI! Best wishes,

Andrew Cohen CIVSA President Georgia Institute of Technology

STAY CONNECTED Follow @OfficialCIVSA

SHARE YOUR CONFERENCE MOMENTS! #civsaSDI2025

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER Eboné Bell Eboné F. Bell (she/her/hers) is a visionary speaker, facilitator, business owner, and trailblazer, illuminating the realms of DEI, allyship, and leadership. Eboné is widely recognized as the founder and former editor of Tagg Magazine, an award-winning print publication and media company dedicated to serving LGBTQ women across the nation.

For her outstanding contributions, Forbes Magazine featured her as an "Inspiring Black Entrepreneur Changing Our World," reflecting her commitment to creating meaningful change.

Eboné's mission is clear: to make a lasting impact on the world. Among her notable achievements is the initiation of a student group for LGBTQ people of color during her time at the University of Maryland College Park. She further solidified her legacy by establishing the Tagg Scholarship Fund - a crucial resource for young, queer, women of color pursuing higher education.

Eboné extends her influence as a dynamic DEI and Leadership Keynote Speaker. Over the years, she has delivered impactful presentations at esteemed institutions such as Microsoft, Accenture, Charlotte Tillbury, Deloitte, VistaPrint, Edward Jones, Kent State University, Purdue Global, Penn State, The STEAD School, and Rochester Institute of Technology, showcasing her versatility and expertise.

Beyond lecture halls and corporations, Eboné is actively engaged in middle schools and high schools nationwide, focusing on anti-bullying initiatives and workshops. As a keynote speaker and facilitator, Eboné is celebrated for her warm energy and unwavering transparency. Fearless in tackling tough conversations, she invites audiences to explore their presence in the world.

Approachable both on and off-stage, her humor adds an engaging touch, while her dedication to fostering connections solidifies her status as a dynamic community leader and unforgettable speaker.

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SDI MATCHING GAME Our CIVSA Matching activity is SDI’s go-to if you’re looking for ways to meet new people! At check-in, each student will receive their nametag. Each nametag will have a sticker with a number.

Find as many people as possible with the same number, take pictures with them, post them using the hashtag #civsaSDI2025 on social media, and most importantly, talk about the sessions you’ve attended at SDI and make new friends! Your mission with CIVSA Matching is to connect!

CLOSING DINNER & AWARDS Get ready for closing dinner and dress to impress in your best Space Cowboy garb! Think cowboy boots, hats and animal print, but add as much neon, sequins, and out-of-this-world color as you can get. Get creative and use what you already own!

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SDI ALL-STAR AWARDS The CIVSA SDI All-Star Award is 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 conference.

Only student attendees are eligible for nomination and can be nominated by any attendee of SDI including advisors, graduate students and fellow students. All nominations are considered and recipients will be selected by the 2025 Student Development Institute committee and announced at the conclusion of SDI during the Closing Dinner.

Nominees can be considered for any reason including, but not limited to, providing a great educational session, being a leader amongst peers, 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 this QR code or submit through Guidebook. All nominations must be received by 3 p.m. CST on Saturday, January 11 to be considered.

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SPIRIT AWARDS In addition to our CIVSA SDI All-Star Awards, this year’s SDI will also give two spirit awards: Most Spirited Institution and Most Spirited Individual. Think back to most school spirited superlatives! Most Spirited nominees will display unparalleled pride and enthusiasm for their institution. One institution and one individual will be selected.

Only student attendees are eligible for nomination for Most Spirited, and can be nominated by any attendee of SDI - including advisors, graduate students and fellow students. All nominations will be considered and recipients will be selected by the 2025 Student Development Institute committee, and announced at the conclusion of SDI. Nominees can be considered for any reason including, but not limited to, exhibiting school colors and iconography in dress and decoration, submitting an institutional centerpiece, vocalizing and embodying institutional values, and/or displaying pride through active participation and engagement throughout SDI. Nominate Most Spirited Institution and Most Spirited Individual using these QR codes or submit through Guidebook. All nominations must be received by 3 p.m. CST on Saturday, January 11 to be considered.

INSTITUTION

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INDIVIDUAL

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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 We are excited to announce the mobile app for 2025 CIVSA Student Development Institute is now available! With this resource, you get access to the most up-to-date information as well as networking tools, notifications, and more.

Get started at https://builder.guidebook. com/g/civsasdi2025/.

TIME (CST)

ACTIVITY

2 – 8 p.m.

4 – 4:30 p.m.

4 – 5 p.m.

7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Registration/Info Desk Open SDI First-Timers Orientation (Students and Advisors) Volunteer Open Q&A Evening Activity - Karaoke

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 TIME (CST)

ACTIVITY

7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

8 – 8:30 a.m.

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.

10 – 10:45 a.m.

11 – 11:45 a.m.

Noon – 1:45 p.m.

2 – 2:45 p.m.

3 – 3:45 p.m.

3:45 – 4:15 p.m.

4:15 – 5 p.m.

5:15 – 6 p.m.

8 – 10 p.m.

8 – 9:30 p.m.

Registration/Info Desk Open SDI Kickoff & Welcome Keynote Session with Eboné Bell Connection Groups (small group discussions) Educational Sessions Lunch (gift card provided) Educational Sessions Educational Sessions Break Connection Groups (small group discussions) Educational Sessions Student Nighttime Activity - Learn to Line Dance Advisor Social

Saturday January 11

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TIME (CST)

ACTIVITY

7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

8:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

12:30 – 2:15 p.m.

2:15 – 3 p.m.

3:15 – 4 p.m.

4:15 – 5 p.m.

6:30 – 9 p.m.

Registration/Info Desk Open Choose Your Own Houston Experience / Workshop Optional Workshop Programming Lunch on your own Educational Sessions Connection Groups (small group discussions) Educational Sessions Conference Closing Dinner & Awards

ABOUT CONNECTION GROUPS What are Connection Groups?

Meet and share with a small group of students (or advisors) from schools of different sizes, types, and visit experiences. Use this as a networking opportunity to collaborate with the other great student leaders during SDI! Students and advisors are pre-assigned to a connection group. Your group is listed on your name badge. The names of the groups are inspired by Houston, our host city!

Connection Group Locations Group Name Astros Beyoncé Comets Cowboy Carter Dynamo Galleria Hermann Park Jim Parsons Kemah Boardwalk Lizzo Park Plaza Post Oak Rockets Sam Houston Simone Biles Space City Texans Texas Hold ‘Em The Heights Houston Rodeo Mission Control Rodeo Clown Space Cowboy

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Location Discovery Ballroom Champions V Founders ll Discovery Ballroom Founders lll Champions Prefunction Area Champions ll Speaker Room Champions Prefunction Area Summit Discovery Ballroom Discovery Ballroom Discovery Ballroom Champions l Legends Prefunction Area Founders Vl Discovery Ballroom Champions Vll Champions lll Legends Ballroom Legends Ballroom Legends Ballroom Legends Ballroom

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EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS Educational Session 1 Friday, January 10 | 11 - 11:45 a.m.

All Too Well: The Tour Guide Quiz Version Location: Champions VI & VII Track: Ambassador & Tour Guide Training University of Houston | Houston, TX | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid Who says training can’t be fun? In "All Too Well: The Tour Guide Quiz Version," we’ll show you how to use quizzes to turn dry tour manuals into lively team challenges. Through bi-weekly quizzes, we’ll tackle common hurdles like forgotten facts and overlooked details, while adding a dose of competitive energy to training. You’ll experience hands-on quiz activities and group discussions, gaining tools to keep your team excited and informed. By making learning a game, we’ll turn preparation into an adventure and ensure every tour is as engaging as it is accurate!

Key Takeaways: Master Quiz Strategies: Learn how to design and use quizzes to improve retention and mastery of essential tour information, ensuring no critical detail is overlooked.

Address Gaps with Confidence: Discover techniques to pinpoint commonly missed details on tours and strategies to address them for more accurate and thorough presentations.

Make Learning Fun: Explore creative ways to transform training sessions into interactive and enjoyable experiences, boosting ambassador engagement and enthusiasm.

Elevate Tour Quality: Gain practical tools to ensure guides are well-prepared, confident, and capable of delivering exceptional and comprehensive tours.

From Civil War to Endgame: How to Re-Assemble your Ambassador Community after Conflicts Location: Champions III Track: Strengthening Your Team University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid A tour guide’s enthusiasm is essential to creating a positive experience for guests, but a strong work community is just as important to empower employees to excel in their roles. Join UCF as they share the journey of transforming their office culture from a divided team into a strong and supportive work community. Through the revamping of leadership, training processes, and team-building initiatives, the UCF ambassadors will share how they were successful in creating a space where their team members feel connected, valued, and motivated. Attendees will leave with practical tools to nourish their ambassador environment, transform workspace culture, and enhance the tour guide experience within their office.

Key Takeaways: How thoughtful leadership revamps can redefine office culture, improve communication, and balance previously uneven leadership responsibilities.

Learn how to critically evaluate long-standing practices within your team, identify those that may foster disunity, and implement changes that build a positive and inclusive culture.

Discover creative strategies for practical team-building activities to cultivate a positive team culture both in and out of office through incentivized programs, leadership opportunities, and small team dynamics, while also reinforcing connections through meaningful off-the-clock activities and celebrations.

Gain insights into designing training procedures that are approachable and engaging, helping team members feel confident and a part of the team from day 1.

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EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.)

Educational Session 1 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 11 - 11:45 a.m.

When the Touring Gets Tough: Building and Maintaining a Strong Team of Campus Tour Ambassadors Location: Founders II Track: Tour Technicalities St. Thomas University | Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada | Institution Size: 1,001-5,001 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid This session will explore how building and maintaining a strong team of campus tour ambassadors requires training, recruitment, and support that reflects the culture of your institution. We will address how we distill our campus culture into the short span of a tour, and how our personalized approach to tours--which relies upon ambassadors sharing their own experiences--helps the team navigate tough questions and difficult situations when touring. Our approach to tours takes up the diversity and unique approach to education that is found at St. Thomas, and we commit to offering tours that show prospective students what a future at our institution could really look like. Focusing on cultivating the culture of our institution into our tour team is ultimately how we recruit and maintain a team of ambassadors who can authentically and professionally represent St. Thomas to prospective students.

Key Takeaways: Identifying difficult to communicate aspects of the education or culture offered at your institution, applying these aspects to tours through individual campus ambassadors, focusing training on what is unique about your institution, and maintaining professionalism and positive work environments after initial team training.

Plugged In! Building Your Brand on Social Media Location: Founders III Track: Beyond the Tour Texas A&M University | College Station, TX | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid As we only seem to peer farther into the Digital Age, an organization’s brand image online has become increasingly important and essential to the success of their mission and community outreach. Any organization today must be able to equip themselves with the knowledge and understanding of the impact that social media plays into how they are perceived on a wider scale. This session aims to simplify the jargon of social media marketing and propel participants to seek out ways to build their personal/organizational brand on digital platforms. First, participants will be able to learn about the background and importance of why an online brand image is important to outreach within an organization today. Then, participants will learn a variety of logistics and algorithms that play into how marketing initiatives are perceived online as well as the insights that solidify them.

Through this, they will be equipped to know how most other organizations plan their marketing initiatives online around these same logistics. Additionally, participants will learn what the purpose of a foundational brand guide for their organization to center their presentation and mission around is as well as how to best create and build upon it. Through this, participants will be equipped to adhere their presentation on social media to these marketing strategies and begin building a secure and stable online foundation and presence for their organization to stand upon. As we only become a more and more digitalized society, this session will push to keep organizations, its members and its mission ahead of the curve.

Key Takeaways: Participants will learn about the various aspects that surround an organization's brand guide and image and how to best utilize each of them.

Participants will learn how to properly create and adjust the presentation of posts, reels, stories, tweets etc. as to best support the organization’s mission.

Participants will learn how to understand how social media algorithms play into the interaction and outreach of each marketing initiative/campaign.

Participants will learn how to best update and change a brand guide as an organization continues grow.

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Educational Sessions EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.) (cont.)

Educational Session 1 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 11 - 11:45 a.m.

First but Certainly Not the Last Location: Champions V Track: Diversity & Social Justice University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid Higher education can appear as an unknown concept for many first-generation students and families. It is through interpersonal relationships and guidance that you, as ambassadors of your respective universities, can bridge the gap between the unknown and the understood. In the session, I will share my experience as a first-generation college student and my journey in assisting prospective students to find a place amongst the flock. In the past year, the University of Oregon reported that 24% of our student population are first-generation with neither parent holding a bachelor’s degree or above. As ambassadors, this means that approximately 1 in every 4 students you interact with is navigating this process without prior insight. Since enrollment and retention of students is one of a university’s highest priorities, it is imperative that they recognize the non-traditional needs of students and work to overcome traditional barriers along the way. With the assistance of real-life examples, descriptions of support services, conversations about convoluted language, and audience discussions, I will describe how to make higher education more inclusive.

Educational background is not visible, and it should never be assumed everyone understands “college speak.” Each firstgeneration experience is understandably different due to access to resources and underlying social factors. What unites these students is navigating college life without the first-hand knowledge about the support systems available on a university campus. Whatever their situation, we want them to feel welcomed and understand that college is a possibility for everyone.

Please take the time to learn how your understanding of a university impacts these students!

Key Takeaways: Investigate accurate and nuanced information about the non-traditional services, policies, and support available on your individual campus.

Exhibit patience and compassion for first-generation students in short or long-term interactions.

Share knowledge about higher education terminology to avoid convoluted language.

Understand the numerous ways you can support first-generation students on their college journey.

Go for Launch: Leveraging your Tour Leader Skills from Interview to Onboarding Location: Founders IV Track: Tour Guide Transferables West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 10-25 Student Ambassadors | Paid As tour leaders, we all have developed skills that will travel with us into our professional careers. Through our daily tasks, leadership development, critical thinking, and many more, each tour leader can strategically leverage those foundational skills to collaborate with one another to build professional opportunities. Together, we will dive into how past and present tour leaders have leveraged the skills that we all hone to reach our individual, unique post-grad goals. Throughout the presentation, we will analyze and discuss relevant resume workshop/examples, interview strategies, and confidence boosters that highlight the personal impact of the campus tour leader role. We hope audience members will leave our presentation carrying a renewed sense of pride, confidence, understanding, and appreciation in the launch pad they continue to build.

Key Takeaways: Grasp how hospitality skills from being a campus tour leader can help reach career goals.

Learn to use leadership and teamwork skills to succeed professionally.

Build confidence in applying tour leader skills to any career path.

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EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.)

Educational Session 1 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 11 - 11:45 a.m.

Building Bridges: Navigating Today’s DEI Challenges with Eboné Bell (Advisors Only) Location: Legends Ballroom Track: Advisor Track In today’s polarized climate, addressing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) challenges can feel daunting. Join our keynote speaker for this session, which provides practical strategies for overcoming obstacles, fostering meaningful dialogue, and creating supportive spaces for difficult conversations. This session is specifically for advisors only.

Educational Session 2 Friday, January 10 | 2 - 2:45 p.m.

Enhancing the College Tour Experience: The Vital Role of Feedback for Tour Guides Location: Champions VI & VII Track: Ambassador & Tour Guide Training University of South Carolina | Columbia, SC | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid This presentation will dive into the pivotal role feedback plays in shaping the effectiveness and quality of college tour guiding.

Feedback mechanisms not only empower tour guides to continuously improve but also provide valuable insights for enhancing the overall tour experience. This session will explore the importance of feedback in refining tour guide performance, fostering student engagement, and ultimately influencing enrollment decisions.

Key Takeaways: Implementing actionable strategies based on feedback.

Incorporating feedback into training programs.

Leveraging technology for consistent feedback.

Learning to Navigate Campus and Mental Health Location: Champions III Track: Strengthening Your Team University of Evansville | Evansville, IN | Institution Size: 1,001-5,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Volunteer In this session, we will discuss how prioritizing the mental health and well-being of your ambassadors is essential for maintaining morale and ensuring they can recruit effectively. By fostering a supportive, connected environment, we can enhance the authenticity of campus tours and create meaningful connections with prospective students. We’ll also share an innovative approach we’ve implemented to gauge mental health and provide support through monthly surveys, offering a simple yet effective model that can be adapted by organizations of any size to improve overall engagement and morale.

Key Takeaways: Morale: How to prioritize mental health and increase organization morale.

Offering Support: How to enhance your campus recruitment by supporting your ambassadors.

Building Mentorship: How to connect new members to our current ambassadors to create fellowship, and enhance sincerity on tours.

Beyond the Role of Ambassador: Strengthening Campus Connections to Enrich Tour Stories and Enhance Authenticity.

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EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.)

Educational Session 2 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 2 - 2:45 p.m.

Once Upon a Tour: The Magic of Storytelling Location: Founders II Track: Tour Technicalities University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | Institution Size: 5,001-10,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid Let’s face it—prospective students are drowning in stats and facts, and it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. But fear not, because storytelling is a tour guide’s knight in shining armor! In this session, we’ll dive into why personal stories are your secret weapon to help students actually see themselves thriving on your campus (not just getting lost in the library stacks).

You’ll learn how to balance sharing your own experiences while still sharing those important campus facts. We’ll discuss when and how to weave in your story so students feel heard, valued, and even inspired to share their own tales. By turning your tour into a two-way conversation, you’ll make it a more inclusive, memorable experience that sticks with them long after they’ve left campus. Get ready to leave with practical tools that’ll help you create tours that make every student feel like they are living their own story!

Key Takeaways: Unlock the Magic of Personal Stories: Uncover the enchanting power of authentic narratives to help prospective students picture themselves thriving on your campus, creating a bond that lingers long after the tour ends.

Weave Facts into a Tale of Wonder: Learn how to blend essential campus details with captivating stories, crafting a tour that’s as memorable as a favorite fairytale.

Master the Art of Storytelling Moments: Find out when and how to sprinkle in your story and invite students to share theirs, creating an interactive and inclusive experience.

Guide Students on Their Hero’s Journey: Learn how to craft tours that guide prospective students through the entangled college search process and leave them feeling like a hero!

Mustang Momentum: Embracing and Empowering our Herd Location: Founders III Track: Beyond The Tour Stevenson University | Owings Mills, MD | Institution Size: 1,001-5,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid Mustang Momentum highlights Stevenson University’s Senior Ambassador team and their efforts to foster community, work ethic, and engagement. Our presentation introduces the team, their roles, and the purpose of the program. We will discuss our Three-Strike Policy, which promotes accountability, and share tips for implementing similar policies. You’ll learn about our House Point System, featuring five “houses” led by Senior Ambassadors, how points are earned, and the system’s overall benefits. We’ll also explore how we build community through bonding activities and how our monthly service events are structured to create a positive impact. In conclusion, we’ll reflect on how these strategies can be adapted to your own program. The session will include opportunities to ask questions, seek advice, and brainstorm ideas to enhance your team.

Key Takeaways: Developing culture of accountability and ownership.

Cultivating a collaborative and engaged workplace.

Developing an empowering leadership team.

Creating structure for internal and external community engagement while giving back to your campus.

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EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.)

Educational Sessions (cont.)

Educational Session 2 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 2 - 2:45 p.m.

Judging a Book by Its Cover: Assumptions When Working with Others Location: Champions V Track: Diversity & Social Justice Virginia Tech College of Science | Blacksburg, VA | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Volunteer When working with other people, human beings often rely on internalized assumptions, whether we know those assumptions are accurate or not. If someone seems like they’re similar to us, we tend to assume they like the same things or have the same opinions as us. If someone seems different from us, we tend to fill in information from our society and make incorrect assumptions about who they are. Confronting these assumptions is the first step at disarming them. We want student leaders to be aware of their mental shortcuts when working with prospective students, their families, and their student leader peers.

This session will help students recognize their assumptions, and then think of strategies to disarm them in their everyday lives.

Key Takeaways: Think critically about their own heuristics/mental shortcuts.

Consider how heuristics show up in decision-making.

Brainstorm ways of disarming assumptions in their student groups and when interacting with prospective students and their guests.

Practice open ended questions of prospective students and teammates.

Powering Up: Changing the World One Tour at a Time Location: Founders IV Track: Tour Guide Transferables Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY | Institution Size: 10,001-20,000 | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Volunteer Tour guides are “superheroes” who use their “powers” to make an impact on a students’ journey to college! Through their knowledge of campus and wealth of experience, they positively represent their institutions while also connecting on an individual level with students. The more experience a tour guide has, the more powers they collect! Interacting with students in other settings, like Orientation, has a positive impact on the quality of tours. Guides can also use their powers in careers in higher education. By positively impacting every step of a students’ college experience, guides can truly change the world, one tour at a time!

Key Takeaways: Tour guides can use their skills to positively impact their campus community.

Guides can help students see themselves on campus through inclusive language, knowledge of campus resources, and their personal experiences.

Involvement in other campus roles, such as Orientation, can benefit tour guide organizations and give them the skills to further improve their tours.

Guides can leverage their skills to be successful in roles in student affairs and higher education, and make a broader positive impact on students’ experiences.

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Educational Sessions EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.) (cont.)

Educational Session 2 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 2 - 2:45 p.m.

What’s so special about Special Projects: How to maximize student involvement for your campus events Location: Legends Ballroom Track: Advisor Track University of Delaware | Newark, DE | Institution Size: 10,001-20,000 | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid Putting on big campus events is a huge undertaking, we all can agree. Factoring in assigning all your students to locations and positions for the event can add to the difficulty. Having a strong student leadership structure in place can impact the success of the event, while also providing support in the planning process. See how you can empower your students and help put on the best versions of your campus events!

Key Takeaways: Describe the student coordinator structure and the role they play within the Office of Admissions at UD. Introduce the Special Coordinator and the importance of this role as a liaison between professional staff and ambassadors.

Explain how to maximize student ambassador contributions to large scale campus events.

Educational Session 3 Friday, January 10 | 3 - 3:45 p.m.

The Disneyland Approach Location: Champions VI & VII Track: Ambassador & Tour Guide Training Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid Imagine standing on Palm Walk: the moon glimmers, the air carries the sweet aroma of dates, and you feel the buzz of anticipation. You gaze over campus; fireworks light the sky, their colors mirrored in your wide eyes. As the drums beat and trumpets soar, a shooting star glides over A Mountain, a magical moment you’ll never forget. This is The Disneyland Approach. Tours are the bridge to higher education—the fast pass to a wonderland of opportunity. With Sparky as Mickey Mouse and classrooms as thrilling attractions, you’re crafting a journey that feels like stepping into a dream. Like Disneyland, a tour should create joy and spark belonging, transcending barriers to welcome all. Enthusiasm is the magic, and your smile is the pixie dust, turning every visit into a cherished memory. This is the power of The Disneyland Approach: to inspire, captivate, and bring dreams to Life.

Key Takeaways: Belonging for All: Tailoring Tours to Reflect Every Dreamer’s Journey.

Storytelling Strategies: Crafting Memorable Tours That Visitors Won’t Want to Forget.

The Key to Dreams: Inspiring Visitors to See Themselves as Future Students.

Engaging All the Senses: Showcasing Your Campus’s Unique Magical Attractions.

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Educational Sessions (cont.)

EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.)

Educational Session 3 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 3 - 3:45 p.m.

Elevate your Events: Mastering the Art of Communication, Logistics and Self Care Location: Founders III Track: Beyond the Tour University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | Institution Size: 5,001-10,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid Event days are exhilarating and often overwhelming experiences, filled with countless tasks that must be completed. With the right preparation, however, these events can transform from chaotic to seamless and be less stressful for everyone involved.

This session aims to inform attendees of strategies for successful event days and ensure every team member is confident in their role. Participants will explore the importance of conducting comprehensive walkthroughs involving campus partners, professional staff, and student employees. By engaging everyone in the planning process, we can foster a shared understanding of the event's flow and expectations, significantly reducing day-of confusion. Additionally, we will delve into the creation and utilization of effective scheduling documents such as “Where’s the Crew” and “Detailed Event Files.” These tools serve as valuable resources, helping everyone stay organized and informed about their personal roles and responsibilities during the event. With the hectic nature of event days, it is crucial to prioritize well-being through scheduled breaks. This session will highlight the need for breaks, even its just for a few minutes, for employee’s overall well-being and to help keep the energy high for guests. We will share practical strategies for professional staff to implement breaks effectively into their event day schedule. Additionally, we will cover alternative strategies such as rotating locations, and ensuring that all team members have time for meals.. Whether you are a student leader or a professional staff member, you will gain valuable insights that can transform how you approach event management, leading to smoother operations and a positive experience for everyone involved.

Key Takeaways: Attendees will learn the impact of comprehensive walkthroughs and creating effective scheduling documents to allow events to run efficiently.

Participants will learn how to effectively advocate for scheduled breaks during events, understand the impact of rest on team performance and morale, and explore strategies for implementing these breaks.

Attendees will learn strategies for ensuring that all members of the admissions team and campus partners are confident in their roles, increasing the efficiency of events.

Attendees will learn how to maximize their events for guests' experience and how vital admission events are to recruiting prospective students.

Teaching DEI Through Play Location: Champions V Track: Diversity & Social Justice Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, MI | Institution Size: 5,001-10,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid Join us for an engaging and hands-on session designed to equip you with skills (and fun activities) to engage your admissions team in DEI! During this session, you'll participate in hands-on DEI games and conversations, gaining the tools and confidence to facilitate these activities within your team. Leave with a deeper understanding of how to navigate complex DEI topics in a fun, engaging, and effective way.

Key Takeaways: Have conversations about DEI with members of their team in an effective way.

Understand how intersectionality affects the students that we are recruiting and our team.

Learn to facilitate DEI activities within their teams.

Handle difficult conversations surrounding DEI.

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Educational Sessions EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.) (cont.)

Educational Session 3 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 3 - 3:45 p.m.

Crafting Authentic Connections: Personalization in Campus Tours and Visits Location: Founders II Track: Tour Technicalities Berry College | Mount Berry, GA | Institution Size: 1,001-5,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, TX | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid In an era where prospective students seek authentic connections, personalizing campus visits is more important than ever.

This session explores methods for enhancing tour experiences at two contrasting institutions: Berry College and The University of Texas at Arlington. These institutions utilize story-based tours, targeted demographic outreach, and tailored experiences based on guests’ academic goals and interests. From dining hall tastings to two-day tours, student leaders use creative strategies to meet unique requests and create memorable visits. The session will highlight physical elements like signage, curated schedules, thank-you notes, and feedback-driven improvements to enhance connections during and after visits. Admission professionals will gain practical strategies for customization, integrating guest feedback, and designing events for specific focus groups. Drawing from personal experiences as prospective students and tour guides, presenters will share how fostering authenticity and genuine connections can positively influence students’ perceptions of their future college experience.

Key Takeaways: Providing guests with opportunities for a customized tour based on their intended major and other interests can enrich the campus experience.

Personalized elements such as signage, name tags, and custom schedules can create a welcoming environment for potential students.

Authentic interactions between tour guides and prospective students through story-based experiential tours, nontraditional student events, and post-tour engagements hold significance in the college decision process.

How to be receptive and adjust experiences based off guest feedback and staff reflection.

Campus Ambassador Training & the Necessity for Team Building Location: Champions III Track: Strengthening Your Team University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | Institution Size: 10,001-20,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid Fostering relationships among the Campus Ambassador team is essential to creating a welcoming and inclusive office culture.

This can be done in a variety of ways, from teambuilder exercises during training, in the office team builder programs, and successful campus ambassador training. In this session, a presentation will highlight successful programs, teambuilder activities, and training techniques that help build a culture of care and a successful team. This session will conclude with a 15-minute team-building activity.

Key Takeaways: Learn the necessity for implementing team builder exercises during training.

Learn training techniques for new Campus Ambassadors.

Learn the importance of building community within the office.

Learn methods to build community in the office through team builder exercises, programs, and recognition.

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Educational Sessions EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.) (cont.)

Educational Session 3 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 3 - 3:45 p.m.

Professional Etiquette 101 Location: Founders IV Track: Tour Guide Transferables San Jacinto College | Pasadena, TX | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 0-10 Student Ambassadors | Paid What should I say when I leave a voicemail? What does business casual mean? How do I introduce myself to a leader? If you have asked yourself these or similar questions, you probably feel overwhelmed in trying to understand professional etiquette.

During this session, I will give best practices on a variety of professional etiquette topics, as well as take audience questions.

Key Takeaways: The definition of etiquette, especially in today's modern world.

Learning how to build your own brand.

Communication etiquette Resources on learning more about etiquette

The Balancing Act; Student Organization vs Student Employee Location: Legends Ballroom Track: Advisor Track University of South Carolina | Columbia, SC | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid College experiences are becoming increasingly multifaceted, the transition from student organizations to formal on-campus employment presents unique opportunities and challenges for students. This presentation will explore college tour guides as a bridge between student involvement and professional development. We will explore the process of transitioning a campus tour guide program from a volunteer-based structure to a paid position model, a shift that can enhance the professionalism, consistency, and long-term sustainability of the program.

Key Takeaways: Maintaining Program Quality: Understand how to balance the transition to paid positions with maintaining high-quality tours, including ongoing evaluation, feedback mechanisms, and ways to ensure guides stay passionate and motivated in their work.

Finding the Funds: We will present a series of questions to consider when exploring your funding opportunities and restrictions as well as discuss how to start having the conversation about moving to a paid system.

Recruitment & Selection Strategies: Gain insights on how transitioning to a paid program might change your pool of candidates and ensure that you attract motivated and diverse students to be successful guides at your institution.

Enhancing Student Experience: Explore how a professionalized, paid tour guide program can elevate the campus visit experience for prospective students and families, ultimately strengthening your institution’s recruitment efforts and campus community engagement.

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Educational Sessions EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.) (cont.)

Educational Session 4 Friday, January 10 | 5 - 5:45 p.m.

Level Up Your Training: Gamification Strategies for Team Development Location: Champions VI & VII Track: Ambassador & Tour Guide Training Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro, TN | Institution Size: 10,001-20,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid In today’s work environment, finding creative ways to engage and energize teams is crucial for success. This session will focus on the use of gamification as a tool to enhance team development, specifically in the training process. It can help reimagine training programs as spaces where learning is active, engaging, and enjoyable, leading to stronger teams that are excited to share their knowledge and experiences with prospective students and visitors. With the use of hands-on activities and real-world situations, this session can give practical tips to transform your team. Attendees will be empowered with tools to evaluate engagement, making training more fun, interactive, and memorable for their teams.

Key Takeaways: Learn new strategies to incorporate gamification into team training.

Explore how integrating gamified elements into training can increase engagement, energy, and productivity and also make the learning process more interactive and fun.

Discover ways gamification can inspire creative problem-solving and innovative thinking within their teams.

Take away practical techniques for gamifying team development and implementing them at their institution to enhance participation and collaboration among their staff and students.

Putting the “Team” in Microsoft Teams Location: Founders II Track: Tour Technicalities University of Wisconsin - Madison | Madison, WI | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid How do you communicate with 150 people at once? In the fast-paced environment of campus tours and information support, in-person meetings aren’t always realistic. With busy schedules, students don’t always stay on top of their email inboxes and as communicators, we know, effective connection between all levels of your organization is essential. By sharing how our office utilizes existing software like Microsoft Teams and email, we hope other institutions can reflect on how, when, and why they share information the way they do and determine if our framework is for them. Products, like Teams and Outlook, have organized our short and long-term program communications and boosted engagement across our 150+ member team.

Whether it is a real-time issue on the tour route or the information desk, a reminder to fill out timesheets, or a poll to determine the best reality TV show, our staff knows exactly where to look.

Key Takeaways: How to structure communication flow.

How to personalize this framework to your institution and improve your team's efficiency.

Increasing student engagement on virtual platforms.

Keep students engaged with and informed about program highlights.

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EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.)

Educational Sessions (cont.)

Educational Session 4 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 5 - 5:45 p.m.

Inside Out: Working with Difficult Personalities Location: Champions III Track: Strengthening Your Team University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | Institution Size: 10,001-20,000 | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid Do you know what personality is the most difficult to work with? Spoiler alert: it's probably the personality type that is different from yours! In this session, we will share how we work with different personalities on our tours and within our team, and how we continue to prioritize making everyone feel welcomed. Within the UAB TrailBlazer team, we prioritize having a diverse group of all types of personalities, but this of course can lead to conflict, differing communication styles, and misaligned priorities. While using the Enneagram model, we have found a lot of success over the past few years in our trainings to avoid these issues and grow individually and as a team! We will share some of those practices, how they are implemented on tours and within our team, and how to bring this back and share with your own organizations!

Key Takeaways: How to work with different personalities while making everyone still feel included.

General overview of each personality type within the Enneagram.

How to learn more about your own personality and how this affects how you view conflict and communication.

How to take this back to your institution and teach/train others.

Not Just a Tour Guide Location: Founders IV Track: Tour Guide Transferables Utah Valley University | Orem, UT | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid The purpose of any good University Ambassador program is to provide great tours and allow an opportunity to cultivate leadership abilities. This can be accomplished through practicing public speaking, building resumes and networks, goal setting, and developing transferable work skills that will aid them in their careers long after they’ve graduated. UVU's Ambassador program strives to provide this through yearly course content, networking opportunities, inner program advancement, and projects focused on leadership development to help create skills that extend beyond just the campus tour.

Come see what the UVU Ambassador program does to implement lifelong skills in our ambassadors and how you can implement them too!

Key Takeaways: Program structure and opportunities for advancement.

Developing skills for a variety of future careers.

Effective comprehensive program curriculum.

Building internal and external networking opportunities.

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Educational Sessions EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.) (cont.)

Educational Session 4 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 5:15 - 6 p.m.

Berea's Mission: The Kinship of All People Location: Champions V Track: Diversity & Social Justice Berea College | Berea, KY | Institution Size: 1,001-5,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid Emphasizing ways prospective students interested in Berea College can find the places on campus that would be beneficial to them. We accomplish this through our campus tours. Finding ways to make these students feel wanted and welcomed as soon as they step foot onto our campus.

Key Takeaways: Learning about our campus centers and how we utilize them on our tours specifically.

History on Berea College and why the history is important to our institution today.

Special events and opportunities we offer.

Beyond the Tour: The Importance of Social Media Engagement Location: Founders III Track: Beyond the Tour St. John's University | Queens, NY | Institution Size: 10,001-20,000 | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid In today's digital age, social media platforms have become powerful tools for fostering community engagement. Our presentation will explore how having a strong social media presence and posting consistent content helps you connect with prospective students beyond their campus tour. We use various social media strategies that successfully connect with our St. John’s community.

Key Takeaways: How to strategically use social media to connect with prospective students.

Social Media Resources to Create Content (Capcut, iMovie, etc).

How to plan and post content consistently.

How to stay up to date with current social media trends.

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Educational Sessions EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.) (cont.)

Educational Session 4 (cont.)

Friday, January 10 | 5:15 - 6 p.m.

Turning Conflict into Connection Location: Legends Ballroom Track: Advisor Track Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid This presentation offers a roadmap for universities seeking to modernize student leadership programs while preserving their core values. The Devils’ Advocate program's transformation—from a volunteer-based organization to a stipend-supported leadership model—demonstrates how to enhance student experiences and professionalize roles effectively. Key strategies include transparent communication, proactive stakeholder engagement, and a focus on unity during transitions. By incorporating structured training, mentorship, and feedback systems, institutions can create adaptable, sustainable programs that meet changing university standards. This model empowers universities to foster leadership, improve student engagement, and ensure long-term success, offering valuable insights for adapting student organizations to evolving needs.

Key Takeaways: Balancing Tradition with Innovation - Programs can preserve their core mission and values while adapting to changing institutional requirements. Successfully blending tradition with modern practices enhances participant experiences and ensures alignment with broader organizational standards.

Empathy-Driven Transition - Understanding and addressing concerns from stakeholders is critical during significant changes. Actively listening to feedback, acknowledging emotional investments, and fostering open dialogue ensures individuals feel heard, valued, and supported throughout the process.

Comprehensive Communication Strategy - Transparent, inclusive communication is vital to managing change effectively.

Establishing clear channels for open dialogue helps address concerns, build trust, and maintain unity among all stakeholders.

Adaptable Model for Modernization - A well-designed framework that integrates leadership, strategic communication, and structured support can guide organizations through modernization while preserving foundational goals. This approach is scalable and beneficial across various institutions and programs.

Educational Session 5 Saturday, January 11 | 2:15 - 3 p.m.

Taming the Chaos: How Student Leadership Can Improve Your Flagship Events Location: Founders III Track: Beyond the Tour Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | Institution Size: 5,001-10,000 | 0-10 Student Ambassadors | Paid This presentation aims to help institutions enhance the organization and outcomes of large flagship events for prospective students. We will outline the responsibilities of our student executive team in facilitating these events, including pre-event planning, day-of coordination, and handling unexpected changes. Our goal is for other institutions to learn from the challenges we have faced, such as guest and employee confusion and frequent changes in room preparations, ultimately benefiting their student ambassadors and guests.

Key Takeaways: How to implement organizational systems to improve overall execution of flagship events.

How having a hierarchy of student leadership roles allows students the opportunity to effectively problem solve.

How to enhance the guest experience through strategic planning.

Event prep materials.

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Educational Sessions EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.) (cont.)

Educational Session 5 (cont.)

Saturday, January 11 | 2:15 - 3 p.m.

YOUnique-ifying Campus Tours Location: Champions VI & VII Track: Ambassador & Tour Guide Training Utah Valley University | Orem, UT | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid Ambassadors are much more than just tour guides, but the fact is that giving tours is approximately 78% of their job. No two tours, nor tour guides, are the same, and it is paramount that sufficient time is placed on providing Ambassadors detailed training and practice. Utah Valley University aims to give Ambassadors all the resources possible to craft their unique tours, striving to help them both give correct information and maintain the brand of the university. In our session, we will go over how our University's Storytellers are trained, and what principles can be applied at your school to help you inform, train, and inspire your Ambassadors. As your Ambassadors craft the unique stories they share on their tours, they will rise to greater success time and time again.

Key Takeaways: How to streamline the tour training process of your university.

How to utilize different teaching styles for teaching Ambassadors both tour content and tour presentation.

The level of confidence that your Ambassadors have in their tours is equal to the amount of confidence you place in them.

The best way to make a tour a memorable experience is to tell a unique story to your audience, both in the way you present information and in the way your Ambassador shares their experiences.

Engaging Every Guest: Because Everyone Deserves Their 15 Minutes of Fame Location: Founders II Track: Tour Technicalities Messiah University | Mechanicsburg, PA | Institution Size: 1,001-5,000 | 10-25 Student Ambassadors | Volunteer At Messiah University, we believe the college decision is a collective process, often involving family and friends. We invite prospective students to bring their important people along for a personalized visit experience. Our admissions team curates visits to make everyone feel included, with activities such as scavenger hunts for younger siblings and tailored events for parents. Guests are involved in every step, from faculty meetings to coach discussions, based on the student's interests. This personalized approach mirrors the holistic support students receive while enrolled, fostering a sense of belonging from the very start. By intentionally including all guests, Messiah provides an early opportunity for the student to experience the community, helping them assess if it aligns with their academic and personal growth goals.

Key Takeaways: How to make a campus visit personalized to the student's interests.

How to engage all guests in the visit experience - from siblings to grandparents.

How to access and build an inclusive tour route.

How to foster a sense of belonging during the campus visit.

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Educational Sessions (cont.)

EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.)

Educational Session 5 (cont.)

Saturday, January 11 | 2:15 - 3 p.m.

Smells Like Team Spirit Location: Champions III Track: Strengthening Your Team Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, TX | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 10-25 Student Ambassadors | Paid In today’s uncertain Higher Education environment, fostering a positive team spirit is essential for enhancing tour guide morale and dedication to your tour program. Visitor Services at Sam Houston State University has a SAMbassador team of about 20 part-time, paid student tour guides. This training focuses on effective strategies to boost office morale through innovative training, impactful incentives, and engaging team bonding efforts that we utilize weekly, monthly, and bi-annually. We will explore practical methods to cultivate a supportive workplace culture, emphasizing the importance of recognition and teamwork. While not all tour programs are the same, we have implemented simple budget-friendly and free incentives that have created opportunities for increased student commitment and daily work output. One key component of the training will be identifying incentive options tailored for tour guides, such as our “100 Club” tour count leaderboard, postcard of the week, and our “SAMbassador of the Month” program. These incentive practices are designed to encourage longevity and commitment within the team, creating a sense of belonging and appreciation. Our students serve many capacities here on campus including running on-campus recruiting events and tours, overseeing the university front desk, and managing the operator line for the entire campus. While our students do more than tours, our staff strive to enhance their collegiate journey as young professionals. We do this through training beyond the day-to-day operations with a focus on individual growth and skills to be used upon graduation in their chosen career fields. By the end of the session, attendees will have a toolkit of strategies and ideas to enhance team spirit, leading to a more cohesive and motivated workforce. Join us to discover practical ways to help create a thriving workplace where everyone feels valued and inspired without breaking the bank!

Key Takeaways: Ways to boost office morale with training, incentives, and team bonding efforts.

Free and cheap options for incentives to encourage longevity in tour guides (tour counts, post cards, employee of the month, etc).

Biannual and weekly training opportunities and practices.

The Wizarding World of Transferable Skills Location: Founders IV Track: Tour Guide Transferables Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY | Institution Size: 10,001-20,000 | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid This session aims to empower campus tour guides by celebrating the magical skills they acquire through their role. By recognizing and articulating these abilities, participants will be better equipped to navigate their own professional journeys. By the end of this session, participants will have gained a deeper understanding of the transferable skills developed as a tour guide, learned effective communication and storytelling techniques to enhance their tours, and acquired insights into how to leverage their experiences for future career opportunities.

Key Takeaways: The Sorting Hat: Identifying Your Unique Skills Charms of Communication: The Art of Being Interpersonal Potions of Teamwork and Leadership: Brewing Success Together The Marauder's Map: Navigating Challenges with Critical Thinking Building Your Hogwarts Network: The Power of Community The Journey of Personal Growth: Your Hogwarts Story

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Educational Sessions EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.) (cont.)

Educational Session 5 (cont.)

Saturday, January 11 | 2:15 - 3 p.m.

Promoting Perspective and Professionalism: DEI on Campus Tours Location: Champions V Track: Diversity & Social Justice Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Institution Size: 5,001-10,000 | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid Communicating diversity on campus is a crucial yet nuanced responsibility for tour guides. This session equips participants with strategies to authentically highlight diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) while balancing professional expectations and personal identity. Learn how to highlight underrepresented groups, use inclusive language, and address challenging questions, all while providing the best visitor experience. By focusing on preparation, storytelling, and collaboration, participants will gain confidence in their ability to authentically represent their campus’s DEI efforts, ensuring every visitor feels seen, valued, and connected.

Key Takeaways: Preparing for DEI Discussions: Understand how to approach DEI topics thoughtfully, including knowing campus resources, using inclusive language, and anticipating visitor questions.

Sharing Meaningful Narratives: Learn to communicate authentically and effectively about campus diversity in a way that feels natural and non-performative.

Navigating Sensitive Situations: Develop techniques for handling challenging or unexpected questions with confidence and professionalism.

Integrating Personal and Professional Roles: Discover how to balance personal identity and values with the expectations of being a campus ambassador, creating an impactful and inclusive tour experience.

It's a Cruel Summer Location: Legends Ballroom Track: Advisor Track Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, OH | Institution Size: 10,001-20,000 | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid Summer is often the hardest time of year to find tour coverage. Guides go home for break, find exciting internships, or find other jobs with better pay. BGSU struggled with this problem, too. Then, three years ago, we implemented a Summer Cohort model - a program that can ensure your guests receive a high-quality experience regardless of when they visit. Since launching, we have seen a significant increase in tour coverage, increased summer visit numbers, positive reviews from visitors, and a boost in program morale. This session will cover our program structure, benefits, and more. You'll walk away with examples of budget proposals, schedules, special perks available only to summer guides, and an end of summer report so you have the tools to begin implementing a program of your own.

Key Takeaways: Participants will learn the benefits of a sustainable summer tour cohort-based program.

Participants will gain insight into how the development and structure of a summer cohort.

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EDUCATIONAL Educational Sessions SESSIONS (cont.) (cont.)

Educational Session 6 Saturday, January 11 | 4:15 - 5 p.m.

Elevating University Tour Guide Training Programs for Collective Success Location: Champions VI & VII Track: Ambassador & Tour Guide Training University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Volunteer A great campus tour starts with an even greater training program. At the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, our Niner Guide program exemplifies this approach. With 65+ undergraduate volunteers, our comprehensive training structure ensures each guide is equipped with the skills and confidence to deliver exceptional tours. From a competitive application process to a semester-long training experience that includes shadow tours, buddy tours, and interactive study sessions, we focus on developing both individual excellence and a strong community. Our impressive 86% retention rate reflects the success of our approach, with guides staying engaged through graduation. Led by a supportive professional staff and skilled Training Team and Coordinator Team, Niner Guides creates a culture of commitment and continuous growth. Join us as we share how our unique training program sets the standard for building effective, sustainable tour guide teams.

Key Takeaways: Best Practices for Tour Guide Training: Learn how a structured and comprehensive training program can develop knowledgeable and engaging tour guides.

Effective Recruitment and Retention Strategies: Discover how to attract and retain high-quality volunteers, ensuring longterm commitment and consistent program success.

Building a Strong Team Culture: Understand the importance of creating a supportive environment and gain practical strategies to develop a strong team culture that encourages guides to remain engaged post-training.

Connecting the : How Tour Tagging Enhances Guest Experiences on Tour Location: Founders II Track: Tour Technicalities University of Maryland, Baltimore County | Baltimore, MD | Institution Size: 10,001-20,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid Join us to learn about Tour Tagging, a relay-style tour strategy that offers guests a comprehensive college tour with a variety of diverse student viewpoints. This strategy has been adopted and altered to fit the needs of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County admissions team. We have been experimenting with Tour Tagging to find a comprehensive and efficient way to show our campus to more guests while building the confidence of our tour guides. After a year of work from our tour guiding team, the undergraduate team has nearly perfected the art of giving large groups of guests a more personalized experience.

We believe that Tour Tagging can be adopted and changed to help other universities improve their own programs. Join two representatives from UMBC’s “Grit Guide” team to see how Tour Tagging could be personalized to fit your guides!

Key Takeaways: Understanding how the concept of Tour Tagging works and the different stages of its process at UMBC. Envisioning ways Tour Tagging could be individualized to suit the needs of other universities.

Using Tour Tagging at events to improve the Guest Experience.

Learning the benefits of Tour Tagging for fostering confidence and connections within a team of ambassadors.

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Educational Sessions EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.) (cont.)

Educational Session 6 (cont.)

Saturday, January 11 | 4:15 - 5 p.m.

Positivity Promotes Productivity: Building Strong Leadership to Cultivate an Inclusive Team Environment Location: Champions III Track: Strengthening Your Team Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, VA | Institution Size: 20,001 | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Volunteer Maryville College | Maryville, TN | Institution Size: 1,001-5,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid The presentation focuses on strategies for building stronger, more effective teams by incorporating fun and team-building activities that not only enhance collaboration but also boost performance. It explores the importance of fostering a team culture that values diversity, emphasizing the need for social inclusivity and highlighting the wide range of community-based interactions that contribute to a positive work environment. Additionally, the presentation covers the concept of "serving the community" by engaging in large-scale efforts that make a meaningful impact. Lastly, it discusses how to provide prospective guests with valuable, memorable experiences that go beyond the standard tour, enriching their overall engagement.

Key Takeaways: How to build stronger teams through fun: Team building with coworkers while enhancing performance.

Identifying the myriad of community based office interactions through social inclusivity and the importance of creating a team culture that values diversity.

Serving the Community by doing good on the largest possible scale.

Providing Prospective Guests Valuable Experiences Beyond the Tour.

What to do when your Duck has diabetes Location: Champions V Track: Diversity & Social Justice University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | Institution Size: 20,001+ | 50+ Student Ambassadors | Paid Do you consider disability to be an important part of diversity on your campus? I believe the answer to this question should be a no-brainer: yes. Whether you are wanting to learn how to better support an alter-abled visitor or co-worker, or you’re an individual with a disability wondering how to talk about your story, you’ve waddled to the right place. During this session, I will share my experience navigating life as a University of Oregon student and tour guide with type 1 diabetes, as well as discuss tips to instigate conversations about disability-related campus resources and stories to incorporate into your tour spiel.

Together we can create a more welcoming and diverse work environment to ensure everyone with a disability has a safe visit experience and leaves your campus feeling supported and empowered, no matter the adversity they face.

Key Takeaways: Learn basic information about autoimmune diseases and non-visible disabilities in the workplace.

Discover what it’s like to work as a tour guide with an autoimmune disease.

Collect ideas on how to discuss health-related resources and better support alter-abled coworkers.

Engage in conversation about how to incorporate disability-aware practices into the welcome experience.

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Educational Sessions (cont.)

EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS (cont.)

Educational Session 6 (cont.)

Saturday, January 11 | 4:15 - 5 p.m.

Beyond the Tour - The Vandal Way Location: Founders III Track: Beyond the Tour University of Idaho | Moscow, ID | Institution Size: 10,001-20,000 | 10-25 Student Ambassadors | Paid The University of Idaho has a unique way of expressing our love for not only our campus but also the community we are surrounded by. We strive to create a rich Vandal experience for our guests from start to finish. Beyond the tour we provide our guests with the opportunity to meet with our campus partners and dive deeper into our campus culture. The Campus Visits Office provides detailed information about Moscow and the Palouse in their personalized welcome packets upon check in. We are excited to take you on the Vandal experience with us.

Key Takeaways: How we prepare our guests for arrival.

How we interact with them on campus to get them involved.

How we stay connected with them once they leave campus.

Embracing the Awkward Location: Founders IV Track: Tour Guide Transferables Albion College | Albion, MI | Institution Size: 1,001-5,000 | 25-50 Student Ambassadors | Paid Have you ever tripped over your words - or your own feet - leaving you red-faced and scrambling for what to do next?

"Embracing the Awkward" is your crash course in turning cringeworthy moments into opportunities for growth. This session equips tour guides and ambassadors with tools to respond internally and externally to these situations, building confidence and adaptability, on tour and in life. Let's master awkwardness and make it work in our favor!

Key Takeaways: Externally Responding Maintaining Confidence Internally Responding Embracing Errors

Let's Talk CIVSA Location: Champions I & II Track: Advisor Track Are you looking to get more involved in 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 CIVSA’s history, membership benefits, and the professional and volunteer opportunities CIVSA offers.

Key Takeaways: Learn about CIVSA’s structure and membership benefits.

Understand the various volunteer positions available to membership.

Gain understanding of the process to get involved in CIVSA. Obtain insight from current leadership about ways to maximize your CIVSA membership and network of visit professionals.

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HOTEL MAP Lobby Level

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Level Two

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EXPLORE HOUSTON Eating in Houston Maggiano’s Little Italy 0.3 miles | 7 Minute Walk | $$$ A taste of Italy served family style or individually.

Velvet Taco 0.3 miles | 7 Minute Walk | $$ Tacos aren’t just for Tuesdays. Check out their “WTF” taco…Weekly Taco Feature.

Starbucks 0.4 miles | 8 Minute Walk | $ Coffee, tea, breakfast sandwiches…oh my!

Skyline Deli and Cafe 0.4 miles | 9 Minute Walk | $$ Breakfast tacos, sandwiches, wraps, burgers and fresh salads. A little something for everyone.

The Honey Hole 0.4 miles | 10 Minute Walk | $$ Lunch and dinner options ranging from tacos and sandwiches to a full range of dinner entrees.

Galleria Mall Food Court and Restaurants 0.5 miles | 11 Minute Walk | $-$$$ Including, but not limited to: Chick-fil-A, Subway, Chipotle, Shushigami, CC’s Cajun Seafood, Sultan Pepper (Halal), Cheesecake Factory, White Oak Restaurant, Burger King, Ichiban.

Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen 0.5 miles | 11 Minute Walk | $$ | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a menu a mile long. If you can’t find something, you are too picky!

Moxies Houston Restaurant 0.5 miles | 11 Minute Walk | $$$ | Trendy and lively atmosphere with a globally inspired menu that features freshly made dishes.

Snooze AM Eatery 0.5 miles | 12 Minute Walk | $$ | Breakfast or brunch with focus on responsibly-sourced foods.

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EXPLORE HOUSTON (cont.)

Explore Houston The Galleria 0.5 miles | 11 Minute Walk This 3 million square foot mall has over 400 stores. Noted as the 7th largest mall in the US, you are sure to get lost!

Museum of Illusions 0.7 miles | 18 Minute Walk Interactive installations await. Prepare to have your mind blown!

Houston Museum of Natural Science 6.5 miles | 17 Minute Drive Spectacular collections and scientific delights, currently featuring special exhibitions: Death

by Natural Causes, Audubon’s Birds of America, King Tut’s Tomb, and Sharks!

Houston Zoo 7.1 miles | 21 Minute Drive Home to over 6,000 permanent residents (the animals), the Houston Zoo is connecting communities with animals, in hopes of inspiring action to save wildlife.

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ABOUT CIVSA 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 every decision made. We seek out all avenues to strengthen connections and networking among our membership. We provide leadership and a variety of innovative educational formats to support professional growth.

OUR VISION The CIVSA vision is to partner with higher education professionals to set standards of excellence in the field of information and visitor services.

OUR MISSION Our mission is to provide knowledge exchange, research and connections in an inviting arena that builds professional and personal relationships.

OUR CORE VALUES 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’s Statement of Non-Discrimination 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.

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CIVSA LEADERSHIP Executive Board President Andrew Cohen, Georgia Institute of Technology President-Elect Ilana Ciccone, St. John’s University Immediate Past President Julee Mitsler, Lindenwood University Secretary Tiana Hakimzadeh, American University Treasurer Kelvin Lee, Stanford University Director of Communications Owen Posey, Western Kentucky University Council of Past Presidents Co-Chairs Taylor Blair, University of Kentucky (ex-officio) Wes Sullivan, California Institute of the Arts (ex-officio)

Regional Directors Region I Sandra Vance, Gonzaga University Region II Stephanie Funderburg, San Jacinto College Region III Misty Sparrow, Eastern Michigan University Region IV Paul Campbell, James Madison University Region V Madison Owens, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Board Committee Chairs

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Annual Conference Jayne Reimel, University of California Office of the President Communications Owen Posey, Western Kentucky University Diversity and Inclusion Keisha Jordan, Valencia College Educational Resources Jordan Glover, Penn State University Terry Jackson, West Virginia University Governance and Contracts Jenn McKenzie, Hendrix College Laura Stansell, University of Tennessee Involvement Shari Foglesong, Truman State University Emily Stanley, Lasell University Member Relations Shelby Kuehl, Emory University Nominating Committee Julee Mitsler, Lindenwood University Research and Assessment Whitney Rollerson, University of Southern California Scholarships Ashley Mitchell, University of Missouri Sponsorships Alex Galbreath, Oregon State University-Cascades Standards Paul Hovey, Fairfield University Strategic Planning Julee Mitsler, Lindenwood University Student Development Katie Holdgreve-Resendez, University of Colorado Boulder

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