SPARC Grant Report

May 2012

Parent & Family Program

Overview

• Office of Parent Services formed August, 2011 — Diana Anderson, Director

• Team established for development of a Parent Program to include parent newsletter and website

• Collaborators from Student Affairs, Marketing, IT Services, Academic Affairs

• SPARC Grant approves funding for the initiative, August, 2011

Focus

• Engage parents in their student’s success

• Develop volunteer opportunities and create traditions

• Cultivate new donors

• Support recruitment and retention efforts

Key Successes & Activities

• Creative tool box

• Monthly parent newsletter since October 2011

• Website

• Data Collection: Sign up / parent recruitment at Navigate, Move-In Day

• Postcards designed, ready to print

• Phone and email connection via Office of Parent Services

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Lessons Learned

• 500 parents signed up for newsletter, mostly parents of first-year students

– Expanding our area of influence, as most are from outside Chatham County

• Office of Parent Services connects parents with questions to a real person

Future Activities

Short Term

• Postcard mailing to 7,000 existing parents

• Recruiting parents at fairs and Armstrong receptions across the state

• Sign up and activities at Move-In Day & Navigate

Longer term

• Parent gear at bookstore

• Alumni/parent sendoffs for new students

• Reception & activities during Celebrate week

Budget• Printing 10,000 postcards to mail $ 400

• Postal processing & Postage 2,000

• Additional 5,000 postcards & sign up sheets for recruiting 330

• Decals 800

• Website creative writing 800

• Other giveaways 600

• Total $4,930