HOW DO I...
Promote Ohio State to prospective students?
Add a Student Recruitment Chairperson (SRC) to your board. The SRC coordinates student recruitment efforts for the club and is the contact with the Alumni Association and admissions. The SRC should have a committee of alumni, Ohio State friends, and parents of current students to carry out the activities of the alumni student recruitment program. The SRC will receive the Student Recruitment Training Manual and other information that should be shared with recruitment volunteers.
Alumni clubs are invited to participate in a number of admissions events.
● Junior Visit Day (April-May) Alumni clubs host high school juniors on a visit to campus. The Admissions Office will coordinate a special visit program, designed with your students in mind. Highlights will include a campus tour, lunch in the residence halls, and discussions with currently enrolled students.
● Alumni Scholars Program (October-May) Active Ohio State alumni clubs are eligible to award scholarships to local students ($600 per every 2000 alumni in an area). These university-funded awards are $600 per scholarship and must be increased with funds raised by the club.
● Student Retention Incentive Program (March) This outreach program is designed to welcome future Buckeyes to the Ohio State family and convert admitted students to enrolled students through personal contact. You will receive a newly designed recruitment piece to send to these students, congratulating them on being admitted and encouraging them to enroll.
● Summer Send-Off Events (August-September) Alumni clubs invite Autumn Quarter freshmen, as well as currently enrolled students (high school juniors can also be included), to an informal picnic or summer event. The purpose is to congratulate and send-off your new Buckeyes in style, and for students and parents to connect with others in their area who are interested in Ohio State.
● College Fairs (Autumn and Spring) Alumni from out-of-state clubs serve as ambassadors at college fairs in their areas, by staffing Ohio State booths, talking with interested students and their parents, answering questions and concerns, and distributing recruitment materials.
NACAC Guidelines to College Recruiting 2009
● Yield Receptions: (Spring) Yield receptions are held in early March for admitted students and their parents. Three or four receptions are held in locations determined by the admissions. Alumni are asked to attend and serve as hosts.
● Academic Tailgate Parties (Fall) Academic Tailgate Parties were designed to complement high school visits and college fairs. Each Tailgate is co-sponsored by the local alumni club (in-state), and alumni attend each program, serving as greeters/minglers and promoting the Club’s Alumni Scholarship program.
● Dropping off Ohio State information to high schools in your metropolitan area (October) (out-of-state) Admissions provides a list of high schools to visit, folders containing Ohio State publications, and business cards for the territory manager (Admissions counselor) assigned to your area.
● Placing freshman applications on a table at your game watches during football season (September- November) (out-of-state) The main goal would be to have applications available for alumni who might need one for their child or for friends of the family. Admissions will provide approximately 20 applications for the entire season, but more can be requested if needed.
Raise funds for our scholarship fund?
There are many ways to raise funds for your scholarship. Ask for donations at a reception honoring your scholarship winners. Add a line for scholarship donations to your event registration forms. Collect donations at a tailgate. Sale products in Marketplace. Contact Tony Vidmar for other assistance.
Recognize scholarship winners or organize a student send-off?
Be creative when thinking of student events. Whether hosting a pizza party, cookout, or formal reception, make it fun for the students. Avoid serving alcohol if under-age students are invited.
A word about prospective student-athletes
The NCAA is very strict about the extent of participation alumni can have with prospective student-athletes. Alumni are considered representatives of an institution's athletic interests, or boosters. NCAA rules prohibit boosters from making in-person recruiting contacts (on or off campus), or having written or telephone communications with a prospective student-athlete, the prospect's relatives or legal guardians. If you know of a talented prospect, your involvement must be limited to informing the appropriate head coach. In addition, please do not get involved, directly or indirectly, in making arrangements for or giving or offering to give any financial assistance or other benefits to prospects, their relatives or legal guardians. Any violations of these rules will impact the prospect's eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics at Ohio State.
Participate in college fairs?
For materials contact Leslie Smith.
It is important to remember when interacting with any prospective student or family member that our goal is always to provide the information they need to make a well-informed decision when making their college choice. We have found over the years that this informative, soft-sell approach is highly effective. The Ohio State University has much to offer incoming students, but may not be the best choice for everyone. Our goal is to admit those students who have the best chance of successfully earning their degree from The Ohio State University.
Emphasizing the importance of a campus visit is a high priority of the admissions staff. Whether you are an alumni volunteer in Ohio or out-of-state, we would like you to encourage interested students to visit campus.
Participate in the Alumni Scholars Program?
The purpose of the Alumni Scholars Program (ASP) is to provide recognition and financial assistance to outstanding incoming freshmen. Each year since 1979, The Ohio State University's Office of Development has provided funding for the Alumni Scholars Program scholarship awards. Qualified clubs select and recommend talented incoming freshmen for this merit-based scholarship. Clubs that participate may award one $600 scholarship for every 2,000 alumni living in their county or club area (for example, if you have 6,000 alumni in your area you will have three scholarships). Remember, your group must augment the $600 awards with scholarship dollars raised on your own. The scholarship money may be used to attend any of Ohio State's campuses.
Who is eligible?
The Office of Student Financial Aid selects a recipient(s) based on club recommendations. To receive the ASP award, students must
● Be admitted to the university.
● Rank in the top 10 percent of his or her high school class
● Be recommended by school principals, counselors, and/or teachers based on scholastic ability and character.
● Have a record of performance in activities both in school and in the community.
● Impress the club's scholarship committee during the personal interview (if applicable) by demonstrating a sound interest and positive attitude toward college.
● Attend high school in the county/area in which the participating alumni club's membership is based
For more information about the ASP program, contact Leslie Smith.
Start an endowed scholarship?
Contact Tony Vidmar to learn how to start an endowed scholarship ($50,000).
Adhere to ethical standards when awarding scholarships?
If a club member's relative, either by blood or marriage, applies for a scholarship, the club member must recuse himself/herself from the scholarship selection process.