CAMPUS NEWS
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
04/12/01
Admission Ambassadors Program to Strengthen
College's Link to Practitioners, Prospective
Students
APRIL 12, 2001 -
To further address one of
Sherman College’s top priorities - increasing
enrollment - the college recently established an
Office of Admission Ambassadors to organize and
revitalize the college’s recruitment volunteers
(practitioners in the field).
Sherman College’s greatest source of new
students traditionally has been referrals from
alumni and other chiropractors; however, the
number of referrals has declined in the past few
years. “A recent survey shows that alumni and
friends of the college believe they are actively
referring students to the college, though the
facts show otherwise,” says Frank Griffis, vice
president for enrollment services. Griffis is
confident the new Ambassador Program will
rejuvenate practitioner interest, educate
practitioners about how to introduce
chiropractic as a career choice and increase the
college’s enrollment of new students.
I know that this kind of proactive recruiting
operation can be successful,” Griffis says. “I
have seen it work at both of my alma maters -
Texas A&M University and Norwich University. At
both institutions, we rallied the college’s
alumni and other friends to create a virtual
army of volunteer recruiters. This approach
helps the institution make efficient use of
resources while extending its reach to
prospective students across the country. Trained
volunteers make very effective recruiters
because prospective students know that they are
not paid staff members and are speaking from the
heart and from experience.”
Spearheading the Ambassador Program is Kellie
Candino. “Kellie’s extensive interactions with
alumni and friends of the college and in-depth
understanding of straight chiropractic will give
her a head start in reaching our goals with the
Ambassador Program,” Griffis says.
Candino has worked in the Office of Admission
for three years as an administrative assistant
and admission counselor. Her husband, Kevin
Candino, is an eleventh-quarter student at
Sherman College.
As director of ambassador relations, Candino
will support the college’s ambassadors in the
field in their efforts to recruit students. She
will also educate Ambassadors about the most
effective ways to interest students in an
exciting career in chiropractic and in Sherman
College.
Ambassadors will increase Sherman College’s
profile nationwide by actively recruiting
prospective students, representing the college
at high school and college career fairs and
hosting career sessions in their areas,” Candino
says. Ambassadors will also serve as mentors to
prospective students and applicants and organize
speaking engagements for Sherman College
representatives with various state
organizations. The college will provide
ambassador training sessions in targeted areas
nationwide and develop outlines, scripts and
correspondence for initial contacts with schools
and organizations.
In addition to the potential the new Ambassador
Program has for recruiting students, another
exciting aspect of the operation will be a
student mentoring program. Each ambassador will
be asked to mentor the students he or she
recruits. This could take many forms, such as
maintaining contact via e-mail, letters or
telephone, or meeting with students during
breaks and holidays.
Recruitment and retention are the responsibility
of all Sherman College employees, alumni and
supporters. Having the coordinated assistance of
practicing chiropractors will help ensure that
the college’s internal student recruitment
efforts are fully integrated with and
complemented by the efforts of supporters in the
field.
I am very excited about the potential of the
program,” Griffis says. “But its success is
going to depend on our 2,000-plus alumni and
other supporters who believe in the Sherman
College mission. Together, we can make it
happen.”
- For more information about the admission
ambassadors, please call Kellie Candino at
864-578-8770 or 800-849-8771, ext. 1363. You may
also e-mail kcandino@sherman.edu.
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