WWU Scholars Week 2024
Planning, designing and creating a successful week celebrating academic excellence for our client: Western Washington University's Scholars Week.
Stage 1. Research
After being divided into groups as a class, my group did extensive research on our client, Scholars Week. After developing a thorough understanding of the Brand elements, Language, and presence across social media platforms/ web pages, we started to develop a plan to best set Scholars Week up for success.
Stage 2. Planning
The team of myself, Olivia Marty and Mina DiVirgilio worked to develop a thorough plan to eliminate the issues discovered in the current Scholars Week Presence. We produced a readable and eye-catching poster, which advertised the events that Scholars Week hosts as well as a poster encouraging sign-ups for poster sessions and the 3MT events. The posters are based on older designs, using correct formatting and branding. It is able to be printed and distributed next year by the Scholars Week Committee with approval. Our goal was to advertise to students, faculty, and those on campus, aiming for more attendees during Scholars Week and additional sign-ups for access to the poster session and the 3MT events.
Our second of the three deliverables is a donation promotional video that consisted of three faculty members being interviewed to provide video content for future scholars' weeks. We created a script and interview questions for a video that will highlight the importance of donations to Scholars Week. This video was originally going to feature members of the planning committee and students participating in Scholars Week, showcasing what Scholars Week does for students and how to donate. The final video linked below is of a few members of the planning committee, which can be used to make a longer video and be used in future projects. The video was shot during Scholars Week by coordinating via email with staff. Our plan was for it to be used on social media and the Scholars Week website for next year. Our target was alumni, businesses, parents, and all those willing to donate to this academic event. Our goal was to increase donations for Scholars Week.
Deliverables 3 & 4: Poster Session/3MT Promotional Talks and Pitches with Departments/Classes (35 emailed, 3 classes participated)
Scholars Week Promotional Talks and Pitches with Departments/Classes and Academic Clubs (31 classes emailed, 3 participated) (18 clubs emailed)
Delivered and created by Olivia Marty, Mina Di Virgilio, Ross Osborne
Completed on: The week of poster session sign-ups and the week before Scholars Week
We worked with professors who teach upper-level classes to promote more participation in the Poster Session and 3MT events during Scholars Week. Olivia contacted and coordinated with professors via email. Mina gave a brief overview of the requirements to students in class, encouraging them to display their research in class. We created a script and took time to deliver information and relay information to professors. Our target was students who are conducting research and projects, getting them to display their work. We hoped to encourage more sign-ups.
Additionally, we worked with larger lecture classes to advertise Scholars Week to students across campus and create a brief pitch to get more students to support those participating and attend. We will work with professors to schedule times in classes to give a two-minute speech about the importance of Scholars Week in the student community, contacting them via email. Our target was students not participating in the Poster Session to view and vote for others displaying their research. Our hope was to increase attendance.
Stage 3. Implementation
Email: (Sent to Scholars Week planning committee)
Hello,
We are a part of WWU’s public relations service-learning class, and this quarter we are working with Scholars Week staff and participants to create a donation video for Scholars Week to potentially be used next year.
We are reaching out to see if you have any availability next week for a quick video interview about the importance of Scholars Week. It would be about 10 minutes, and we would be happy to provide questions to you in advance.
Our general inquiries are about why Scholars Week is important for students, your role in planning Scholars Week, and why it is important to give to Scholars Week.
Since next week is Scholars Week, we are all volunteering and would be happy to meet you on-site or wherever is most convenient for you.
Please let us know if you would like to participate and we will schedule a time and place.
Thank you,
Olivia Marty, Mina Di Virgilio, and Ross Osborne
Interview Questions:
· Role, name, pronouns
· Tell me a little bit about SW in your own words
· Why did you choose to join the planning committee?
· How long have you been working with SW?
· Why do you believe Scholars Week is important for students?
· Why do you believe Scholars Week is important for the broader community?
· How is WWU's Scholars Week unique?
· Is there a specific project/presentation during this year's scholars week that you are particularly excited about?
· Is there a moment/experience that stands out to you during your time with SW?
· Why would you encourage people to donate to SW?
Participants:
Dr. Scott Linneman, director of the Honors Program
Dr. David Patrick, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost of Research and Sponsored Programs
Vanessa Blackburn, journalism department instructor, interim committee chair
Stage 4. Evaluation
After receiving feedback and analyzing how the week went, my groupmates and I worked together to assess what went well, what led us to success, what the hindrances were, and what could ensure success for future scholars' weeks.
Debreif & Outcomes
Throughout this whole week, one thing became really clear to me working alongside my peers, presenters, and audience members. People are exceptionally skilled at sharing their skills, what they have accomplished, and providing feedback. From my time connecting with the audience, I found that each person I asked about their feelings towards Scholars Week wished that there were more opportunities throughout the year to hear about the academic successes of the students.
