| The Wartburg Way is a monthly newsletter from the Admissions Office that aims to keep faculty and staff involved in recruitment throughout the year. We believe Wartburg goes above and beyond in our recruiting efforts; we consider that the "Wartburg Way." This newsletter will showcase and thank the faculty, staff, and students who help us recruit and give helpful tips for those who want to take an active part in the process. |  | FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: DR. MICHAEL BECHTEL '94
Assistant Professor of Science Education
Employed: 3 years How do you approach meeting with a prospective student and their family?
I tell my Wartburg story in many of my meetings. I went to the University of Iowa before I came to Wartburg. I always knew I didn't want to go to a small school; I wanted to get lost among the crowd and have a great time. In the end, I wasted a semester and a lot of money doing that. I transferred to Wartburg, graduated in 4 years, and loved everything I did while here. Families like to hear a story from experience. Even though I had made a poor choice at first, it doesn't mean the end of the road. What's the easiest thing you can do to help recruit?
The easiest thing to help with recruiting is to volunteer to help. I volunteer for scholarship days, SOAR, and just to meet with students. When prospective students are on campus, they are here to impress professors and make connections. Students are able to see me each time they are on campus, and once they enroll, they know me and come to me for help. There are times I am asked questions about another department, or even advising preferences within my department that I'm not an expert in, but I know enough about something to help. I can give information about Wartburg to anyone or who to direct a student to when I've exhausted my knowledge. Do you have any advice for someone who doesn't know where to start to help recruit?
I always try to make connections. I'll ask where the student is from, where mom and dad work, or even someone's last name. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but we are more connected to people than you realize. The connections that faculty and staff make with students are very important. We are who the students work with once they get here; admissions turns the kids over to us, so the impressions we make when students are visiting are the ones they will continue to have once they are here. I also utilize cell phones. I give students my number after I've spoken with them. I love it when the students text me later and let me know they got accepted. Not all the students contact me, but knowing they can means a lot to them. Additionally, I encourage students to use their phones on their visit. For example, my teaching room with all of the animals is a big hit with families and students. The students that Snapchat pictures to their friends is great. It's free advertising for us, and the students love it. I can't believe how many students I see on Facebook where their profile picture includes my tortoises. | 
| STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: CARLY SIS '16
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: Denison Carly is the President of the Ambassador organization, a Captain of the Tennis team, a member of St. Elizabeths Chorale, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Eta Sigma, and Homecoming Committee. Additionally, she is a Dance Marathon morale captain and a High School Leadership Institute Mentor. Why do you enjoy being an ambassador?
I enjoy getting to tell prospective students about all of the possibilities that Wartburg has to offer, like study abroad, outfly, internships, and so much more! What is the easiest thing to do to help recruit?
The easiest thing to do as far as recruitment goes is to show the students that there is something here for absolutely everyone.
What's the most difficult part about recruiting?
The most difficult part for me is showing the students and their families absolutely everything that there is to offer at Wartburg, although it is a small campus, there is never enough time to showcase all of the wonderful things Wartburg has. | 
| COUNSELOR SPOTLIGHT: KYLE VOWELL '10 & MACKENZIE COMPTON '13
Recruitment Area: Kyle - Arizona and Illinois; Mackenzie - Colorado
Employed: Kyle - 2.5 years; Mackenzie - 1.5 years. Kyle is based out of Chicago and Mackenzie is in Denver.
What advantages do you feel you have living in your recruiting territory?
Kyle: The big advantage is accessibility. I have students and families who have questions about Wartburg or the application process and I'm able to meet them for dinner or coffee near their home. Meeting with families is my favorite part of the job. I get to tell them about the amazing opportunities that they will have at Wartburg and see how the student also gets excited. Mackenzie: Living in Colorado allows me the flexibility to meet with students on weekends, attend events, and be more involved with the families. I'm also much more knowledgeable and familiar with the high schools. The biggest advantage, in my opinion, is that we are showing the students our commitment to out-of-state recruitment. The families I work with are so appreciative that we are taking the extra effort to expose them to the Wartburg College experience. What disadvantages do you have not working on campus?
Kyle: The disadvantage would be not being able to host the on-campus visits the student has. I always enjoyed visiting with a family after meeting with a professor or a tour to bring the visit together. Mackenzie: The hardest part for me is being away from the other counselors in our office who I admire and love so much. If you ask any regional admissions counselor, I think it would be their answer, but it is especially difficult for me because of how wonderful our staff is. They are the best in the business, and I'm lucky to learn from them. Being away definitely makes my time on campus even sweeter! | 
| ADMITTED STUDENT EVENT:
ANDY GRAMMER We have invited accepted students to campus for 2 complimentary tickets to the Andy Grammer concert on Saturday, January 9th. 177 students are attending with 45 spending the night on-campus on an ambassador hosted floor in Clinton. They will get dinner in the Mensa from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There, they will get their tickets and interact with current students and our staff. If you are interested in joining dinner to chat with prospective students, please email admissions.
|  | ATTENDING OR PRESENTING AT A PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE?
Consider representing Wartburg!
Kelly Faga and Stephanie TiKippe are traveling to Hawaii for a conference and hosting a counselor breakfast.
If you are traveling throughout the year, let us help you host a high school counselor event! The event can be as simple as a breakfast or a lunch where you meet with local counselors and tell them about Wartburg. We'll provide you with materials to give away with Wartburg information. Keep this in mind next time you travel, and contact Todd Coleman if you are interested! | 
| DECEMBER ADMISSIONS BY THE NUMBERS
49 on-campus visitors 29 prospective student visits with faculty
1,800+ Holiday cards handwritten from our office 53 students attended Music Visit Day Mallory and Meredith have hosted events in their territories — H.S. counselor breakfast and parent luncheon. Combined, they had 9 counselors attend and 28 parents. | Check out the variety of states where students have applied from! 
| | | RECRUITMENT FOCUS OF THE MONTH
We are: - Encouraging families to complete the FAFSA (code 001896)
- Contacting students to complete their applications.
- Encouraging students to apply.
- Preparing for Scholarship and Visit days.
You can: - Contact students who are scholarship eligible to attend Meistersinger Auditions and/or Scholarship Day.
- Send personalized notes to applied and accepted students you've met with — make them feel wanted and excited about your discipline. There are postcards available in the Admissions Office for your use.
- Encourage students to visit campus either on an individual visit or during a visit day.
- Sign up to interview prospective students at one of our Scholarship Days.
We send out emails to thank students for visiting campus, emails and postcards wishing students a happy birthday, and cards to congratulate them on their acceptance, but handwritten notes from faculty or staff also go a long way! | | JANUARY EVENTS Cedar Valley Science Symposium - Jan. 16 Meistersinger Auditions - Jan. 16 Scholarship Day - Jan. 17 Journalism & Communication Visit Day - Jan. 18 | FEBRUARY EVENTS Meistersinger Auditions - Feb. 5 Meistersinger Auditions - Feb. 20 Scholarship Day - Feb. 21 | |
