It is not effective to focus on the process of public relations, student recruitment, or fund-raising. In the 1990s, public relations must use rigorous research to achieve measurable results, not just more paperwork. (Author/MSE)

Based on Gustavus Adolphus College's experience with hiring a consultant for student recruitment, suggestions for optimizing the working relationship are provided. Issues include establishing needs, selecting a firm, setting a schedule, using progress reports, and avoiding communication problems. (MSE)

Alumni with drive and influence can help a college alumni organization meet its long-term goals. Prospective donors may be willing volunteers, and regular review of the alumni notes may suggest volunteers. A diverse volunteer group can best represent diverse alumni populations. Challenging, meaningful assignments that tap expertise are the most…

To succeed in recruiting development officers, colleges and universities must use more aggressive methods to reach alumni, people with ties to the campus, and local business people; expand their selection criteria, perhaps including candidates with little or no experience; streamline the hiring process; and train new professionals. (MSE)

College and university student recruitment offices are encouraged to use graphic illustrations and other artwork, in addition to photographs, to enhance the individuality of their viewbooks, and are offered suggestions for selecting, combining, and commissioning such artwork. (MSE)

Three chief alumni relations officers discuss their views on the importance of hiring graduates of the college or university as alumni relations staffers. Opinions ranged from the belief that it is helpful when alumni and staff share an alma mater, to alumni status is not particularly important, to an attempt to mix both in the alumni relations…

Although volunteers serve many useful functions in fund raising, soliciting gifts should be left to staff. Volunteers are hard to recruit, keep, motivate, are unreliable, lacking in expertise, and they can balk at the realities of development tasks. Development offices should carefully think through the appropriate roles for these individuals.…

Ingredients for a successful alumni association membership campaign are outlined, including clear objectives for the campaign; support of staff, board, and administration; careful timing; focus on college events; strategically targeted mailing audience; appropriate type of mailing; unique message; attention-getting format; follow-up; and use of…

Colleges are using current students' and their parents' enthusiasm for the institution as an effective recruitment tool. Student contact with prospective students on campus visits, hometown contacts, and parent phone calls to prospective students' parents are useful strategies. Most are volunteers though some students are paid for their time as…

College and university initiatives to recruit students through the Internet are described. Issues discussed include the kind and quality of information made available, different means of accessing it, and responding to user requests. Techniques for publishing on the World Wide Web and reaching the appropriate Internet audience are offered. (MSE)

Rapid turnover is posing a threat to fund-raising efforts. Suggestions on how to find a more systematic way to reduce it are provided including: define needs of the institution, define type of person needed, prepare the job description, match professional backgrounds, and characterize the ideal person. (MLW)

To recruit from the multicultural and lucrative international student market, colleges and universities are advised to develop a strong marketing plan; develop publications tailored to this population; and make a personal visit to targeted countries. (MSE)

For college admissions and publications officers, a focus group of college-bound high school students can offer quick, anecdotal information about the general effectiveness of recruitment materials as well as about specific messages, themes, or design approaches. The insights gained by one publications specialist through the use of focus groups…

The potential of CD-ROM and floppy disks in college student recruitment is explored. Benefits, research strategies, selection of format, creation of content, production values, and details of delivery are discussed. It is argued that carefully planned and effectively produced CD-ROMS and floppy disks can supplement computer network capabilities as…

Describes the way in which Wilfrid Laurier University (Ontario), an institution that had worked hard to improve its programs and reputation, addressed a disappointing ranking in a national news magazine. In cooperation with other educators, administrators, and institutional researchers, the university undertook a successful project to have the…