Christ, F. L., Smith, K., & Sheets, R. (Eds.) (2000).Starting a learning assistance center: Conversations with CRLA members who have been there and done that. H&H Publishing. [Available on LSCHE]
https://lsche.net/articles/slac/
See Question 19 for suggestions from Frank Christ abour developing a favorable image and publicizing the programs and services provided by your learning center.
Turrentine, P. (2019. Everything you ever wanted to know about learning centers (and then some…). H&H Publishing. [See Chapter 9, Publicity and Public Relations)
I love this great list of marketing ideas from the LSCHE website!
- Marketing Plan with subplans that focus on different stakeholders: students, parents, faculty, staff, administration…
- Center identity/branding
- name
- logo
- motto
- Center brochures, flyers
- Center newsletter
- University of Arizona Think Tank: https://issuu.com/thethinktank/docs/onesixtyeight-fall_2015
- Ball State University: Tutor Talk Newsletter
- Posters on campus bulletin boards
- Bulletin board in the learning center with photos/bios of each tutor and staff member (the one shown above also had pins placed on the world map where tutors were born)
- Promotional items for students: bookmarks, pencils
- Staff and tutor shirts, buttons
- Staff and tutor badges
- Student contests (with cash prizes, gift cards—Starbucks, Amazon…)
- Email campaigns to target audiences—students taking and faculty teaching specific classes, academic advisers, personal counselors, etc.
- Campus/student newspaper
- Campus TV/radio stations
- Campus closed-circuit TV
- Dormitory marketing/tutoring
- Social Media—Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, …
- YouTube videos describing the LC and services, customer testimonials, e.g., Auburn University Office of Academic Support Aubie Goes to Study Partners
- Website—see more than 1500 website examples in LSCHE
- Advisory BoardStudent, faculty, adjunct faculty orientations (example Clemson University Academic Success Center Orientation: Information for New Students and Families)
- Club days table to promote the center
- Activities with college mascot
- Sponsor contests
- Participate in campus events
- Obtain awards, achieve certifications and send jubilant press releases
- Center open house
- International Tutor Appreciation Week
- Food!!!
- Exam Jam (e.g., Mt. San Antonio College Exam Jam a Tutoring Party for Finals Week)
- Faculty development days, Department meetings
- Tours, class visits, open houses
- Present at club meetings
- Visit international student orientation
- Standard entry on syllabus for all courses
- Surveys
- Take people to coffee, lunch
- Regular meetings with administrators, faculty, staff
- Participate on campus and college committees, initiatives
- Status reports, annual reports, statistics
- Award ceremonies; tutor pinning (for tutors achieving certification)
- Invite the president, provost, deans, department chairs, etc
- Ask one of these invitees to speak
- See the International Tutor Appreciation Week section under the Celebrate! tab on this page
