The Community of Practice on Communications and Retention (COP) brought together a network of leaders who are experts in how to use strategic messaging and communication practices to support students. By sharing promising practices, enabling collaboration for innovative approaches to student support, and connecting great minds around big ideas, this COP aimed to increase student retention the universities. From work within the COP, and with support from the AIA, NAU proposed the NAU Student Affairs Communications Playbook project.
The COP launched in summer 2022, with subcommittees kicking off in spring 2023. The official convening of the COP concluded at the end of spring 2023, although informal gathering and connections continue across team members.
- Enable collaborative discourse and sharing of information that could positively impact the student experience at the three universities.
- Deepen understanding of current practices for university messaging as interventions for retention.
- Share promising practices, technology-based solutions, and analytic tools for personalized engagement.
Subcommittees
Messaging for Student Financial Obligations: Financial messaging is especially complex due to the critical nature of these communications, hard to understand terminology and the emotional charge associated with talking about money. This subcommittee wanted to deepen shared learnings on how to best support students through messaging in this space.
Enrollment Messaging for Continuing Students: Traditional communication and retention strategies focus on the first year student. This subcommittee chose to emphasize opportunities for messaging to engage students in their second year and beyond.
Members
- Crystal Miller, Director, Student Success Innovations (ASU)
- Natalie Goebig, Director, Strategic Communications (ASU)
- Andrea Stark, Communications Coordinator (ASU)
- Melissa Heinrich, Assistant Vice President, Financial Aid and Scholarship (ASU)
- Ty Seibel, Associate Director, Academic Enterprise Communications (ASU)
- Sarah Kyte, Senior Research Scientist, Student Success & Retention Innovation
- Wendy Bruun, Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs (NAU)
- Cari Wilkins, Director, Enrollment Services, Statewide (NAU)
- April Cook, Director, Student Affairs Strategic Initiatives (NAU)
- Trevor Ritland, Communications Manager (NAU)
- Esther Cuellar, Assistant Director, Enrollment Management (NAU)
- Jackie Henderson, Assistant Director, Communications (NAU)
- Christine Salvesen, Assistant Vice Provost, Student Success & Retention Innovation (UArizona)
- Jenny Nirh, Director, Collaboration, Communication & Outreach (UArizona)
- Jennifer Ludwig, Director, Strategic Interventions (UArizona)
- Christe LePeau, Financial Literacy Coordinator (UArizona)