Launch Event

To introduce users to the Campus Engagement Guide, WRIT 3335 Technical & Business Communication students planned, advertised, and carried out a launch event on Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 2-3:15 pm in the Ragsdale Center on St. Edward’s University’s campus.

They created posters to advertise the event, which they hung up around campus in the weeks leading up to it. Additionally, they advertised the event on Facebook and emailed the students and faculty who contributed to their research as well as faculty who they thought would be interested in the website.

They organized the event around a holiday theme. To that end, Dr. Unger dressed as “cranky” Santa, and the students dressed as elves. The students played holiday carols on a computer and handed out cups of hot chocolate. They also created promotional materials prior to the event in order to give them to students and faculty passing through the lobby en route to one of the campus cafeterias and Jo’s, the campus coffee house. The promotional materials  included candy canes with holiday gift tags that displayed the website URL as well as 1 inch buttons, which included the website slogan, “Explore Your Toppertunities!” and the URL.

Additionally, the students documented the interactions during the event in order to measure its impact. The section that follows describes that impact while the photos illustrate the camaraderie and enthusiasm that numbers can cover over.

Students were divided into three teams for the event, namely a Jo’s Coffee House Team, a Ragsdale Center Lobby Team, and Street Teams. The Jo’s Team focused on the coffee house patrons while the Ragsdale Team worked down the hall, in the main lobby of the same building. The Street Team hit the third floor of Ragsdale Center, Moody Hall, and the Munday Library, among other locations.

 

Jo’s Coffee House Team

Seven students served on the Jo’s Team. Betsy, Bianca, Kali, and Nicole handed out promotional materials, talked to the coffee house patrons about the website, and helped the patrons navigate the site while Jordan, Sarah, and Sean documented the interactions.

In total, the team gave out 19 candy canes and 10 buttons, both of which featured the website URL. They also interacted with 7 patrons who explored the website.

Comments praised the site design, and one individual thanked the students for their design work.

 

Ragsdale Center Lobby Team

Nine students served on the Ragsdale Team. Corinne, Elizabeth, Eric, Genevia,

Jovahana, and McKinley handed out promotional materials, talked to the passersby about the website, and helped folks navigate the site while Julie, Kendall, and Lucas tracked interaction.

In total, the team gave out 30 candy canes and 40 buttons. Passersby helped themselves to 55 cups of hot chocolate. The team also demonstrated the website to 15 students and faculty members.

Noteworthy Comments:

• “Will it be updated by the clubs themselves?”
• “What class is this for?”
• “What is the next step for the project?”

 

Street Team

Four students served on the Street Team; they worked in pairs to spread the word about the guide to students in all the lounges and study areas around campus during the launch event. Hannah and Mallory comprised one team, and Gabrielle and Lilli comprised the other.

In total, they handed out approximately 65 candy canes and 10 buttons.

 

Overall

Students distributed approximately 114 candy canes and 65 buttons with the website URL. They demonstrated the site for 22 people. More than that, the students received accolades for their hard work and dedication and had the chance to celebrate their efforts for the last day of class.