Summer Quarter Communications

Past Summer Quarter Communications
Best Ways to Communicate with Students about Summer Quarter

Past Summer Quarter Communications

In each group, there was high recall of summer quarter communication pieces. Several people in each group remembered that the preliminary summer quarter announcement is mailed out each Spring. Others mentioned seeing posters or flyers and advertisements in The Daily. One or two students heard about summer quarter through the community college they attended. The other way that participants reported hearing about summer quarter was through advisers and classmates.

Best Ways to Communicate with Students about Summer Quarter

Participants had a number of suggestions about how the University should communicate summer quarter information. Resoundingly, students reported that direct mail is the best way to reach everyone. Many pointed out that they are on and off campus in a hurry and they don't pay much attention to booths or flyers. In general, students reported liking information to flow through their departments. If a professor will be teaching a course in the summer, students recommend that he or she mention it to students in class. Many responded favorably to the idea of an e-mail update, as long as that message was direct and to the point, and it came from an adviser or department. Several students made a point of saying that they wanted more guidance from their counselor. Following are some comments that reflect these findings:

"Mailings are the best for me. I don't spend much time on campus. I go to school, get on the bus, and go home. "
"People really like e-mail, especially if it's from your department or your adviser - someone who knows your status. "
"Advisers give more confirmation than assistance, but I would like more assistance. "
"If you have a class with 500 kids all you need is one professor to say something. With UW's class size this seems like a good idea."

Some of the other, slightly less popular ideas were advertisements in The Daily, posters, and messages on the STAR system. While not everyone reads The Daily, participants suggested that it was the best place for a print advertisement. Because virtually all students must accesses the STAR system, it was also suggested as a strategic place to remind students about summer quarter offerings.

"If you are trying to target students, you should definitely use the school paper. Why go outside of the UW for advertising?"
"Say something on STAR as a reminder right around registration. For example, you could say that full or overloaded classes will be offered in the summer."
"Flyers by my classes or on the Ave. would catch my eye."

Radio advertisements and booths at the Hub did not receive much support from students. Most felt that it would be too difficult to reach students through radio due to student's varying musical tastes. The Hub is seen as a gathering place for younger students or those who live on campus. Those that do frequent the Hub say it's too crowded to pay much attention to any of the booths.

"It seems impossible to target just one radio station. In my household alone, their are four of us, and we all listen to different radio stations."
"The Hub is really congested. Only people who live on campus seem to go there."
"Don't bother with a booth at the Hub. Everyone just walks by."
"Places like the Hub are more gatherings for younger students."

Students also had some suggestions about the timing of communications. Even though a handful of students said they wouldn't decide what to do with their summer until the last minute, most students wanted the summer quarter offerings and time schedules to be finalized well in advance.

"People plan ahead for summer, housing, vacation, and work."
"There isn't a concrete list early enough."

Summer Quarter Report Appendix 7c