Academic Librarians’ Roles in attracting & Recruiting students to their university Jim Miller Bob Kackley Nevenka

1. Academic Librarians’ Roles in attracting & Recruiting students to their university • Jim Miller • Bob Kackley • NevenkaZdravkovska 22nd June 2010

2. University of Maryland, College Park

3. Introduction • Most recruited students are non-athletes • UMD summer Project Lead the Way (Inventor’s Camp) recruited local HS Students • Coordinator Alex Prasertchoung noted UM recruiting of magnet school students • UM librarians saw our part in recruitment • Formal instruction sessions • Public events; non-instruction efforts

4. K-12 seminars – From UM Libraries User Ed Stats

5. Follow-Up Sessions for Current StudentsFrom UM Libraries User Ed Statistics 2009

6. Literature Review -- Recruiting • Literature review: 1 article on direct library role • Behr (2007) “… unable to uncover any instances of a library playing a role in recruitment initiatives...” • Others imply library involvement, or call for it • Creative marketing • Outreach to K-12 • New jobs include outreach & recruiting • University libraries already help recruit • Long history of university marketing

7. Display Ad 1 -- "Educational". Washington Post Aug 10, 1878; pg. 3 (Proquest)

8. Literature review --- Marketing U of Texas San Antonio used marketing and public relations strategies for university recruitment, especially among Hispanics George, A.M. (2000). The New Public Relations: Integrating Marketing and Public Relations Strategies for Student Recruitment and Institutional Image Building – A Case Study of the University of Texas at San Antonio. Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing 9 (4), 17-31.

9. Literature review --- Marketing “Librarians could suggest to the campus recruitment office that they consider sponsoring a student-created online graphic novel/graphic journal about life at the university…” O’English, L., Matthews, J.G., Lindsay, E.B. (2006). Graphic Novels in Academic Libraries: From Maus to Manga and Beyond. Journal of Academic Librarianship 32 (2), 173-181.

10. Literature review --- Marketing “… libraries should think creatively when drafting new positions” so that job “…directly relates to recruiting” Boff, C., et. al. (2006). Reaching Out to the Underserved: More Than Thirty Years of Outreach Job Ads. Journal of Academic Librarianship 32 (2), 137-147.

11. UM Library Recruitment efforts • Maryland Day, last Saturday in April • 60 -75,000 visitors, many under 18 • UM Library sponsored Bob the Vid Tech (local PBS star) • Special Collections Division sponsors: • State-wide History Day • Active in 2003 - 2004 June National Finals • Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library (PAL) • Assists home-schooled students • Music lessons arranged by Dr. Michael Hewitt • EPSL instructs home-schooled students

12. More UM Library Recruitment • Academic Achievement (part of TRIO) • 70+ summer classes for provisionally accepted (minorities) • 92% sophomore retention • Beats UM system average of 83% • Lib class for UMD Institute for Global Chinese Affairs • Training institute for Chinese professionals in the US • Other Library classes • International Students from 134 countries • Transfer students • 41 Native Americans – PA and MD tour Summer 2009

13. High school Classes, UMD EPSL 2001-09 • [import chart #3]

14. engineering & physical sciences library • ESTEEM Research Mentoring Program • HS seniors get ENGR faculty mentor & EPSL instruction • GEAR UP • Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness Ugrad Programs • Enrichment camp for low-income 7th-12th graders • Career opportunities – Federal & MD Career websites • Summer Bridge Program (HS seniors) • part of Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation • Math Spiral • (Summer Program In Research And Learning) • Women In Engineering RISE program • Research Internships in Science and Engineering

15. Project lead the way at umd Summer 2008-2009 Inventors Camp • EPSL is Patent & Trademark Depository Library • “College Park PTDL” since 1984 • Was asked to instruct PLTW Inventor’s Camps • Local (Prince George’s County) magnet schools • Oxon Hill High School (Science and Technology Program) • Charles H. Flowers High School (Springdale, MD) • 2008: one large group • 2009: two separate sessions • grades 9-10 • grades 11-12

16. UMD PROJECT LEAD THE WAY 2009 PATENTS CLASS

17. GEAR UP – CAMP STEP • Compared major patent Web sources • Patft.uspto.gov (full text US 1790-present) • Google.com/patents (full text US, with gaps) • Ep.espacenet.com & depatisnet.dpma.de(intl. pats.) • Showed US Patent Classification (USPC) • Important for comprehensive search • Hands on search for hovercraft patents • Student teams each chose one of patent databases • Discussed & compared results

18. CLOSING REMARKS • Universities heavily recruit and market • Have far more PR resources than libraries do • Public libraries ahead of academics in PR? • Much recruiting not reported in journals • Academic department web pages • Annual reports, etc. • ASEE “First Bell” • Almost daily examples of university K-12 outreach • Very little mention of libraries • Librarians must make first move

19. conclusion • Be aware of all recruiting/marketing • Appreciate past & current work • Look for potential new ventures • Competition from other venues; economic climate • Many online schools • Strong competition from all universities and colleges • Fewer college students as 2nd Baby Boom graduates • Hope to inspire & motivate further proactive work

20. Thank you!! (Questions?) Jim Miller / jmiller2@umd.edu NevenkaZdravkovska / nevenka@umd.edu Bob Kackley / rkackley@umd.edu