Initiative 1
Share our founders’ emphasis on opportunity and excellence.
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Action Steps
- PC 1-1: Identify key initiatives that have the greatest impact on improving our overall
brand and reputation.
- PC 1-2: Develop and initiate an awareness campaign that informs a diverse array of students
and community members on the benefits of a Ferris education.
- PC 1-3: Develop a sustainable program to ignite pride and excitement among internal (students,
alumni, faculty, and staff) and external (community, prospective students) communities.
Submit Progress and Updates to Initiative 1 Action Steps
Signs of Our Success -
- In partnership with the national agency, a comprehensive brand campaign is launched
in Fall 2019.
- A unifying and sustainable Ferris Pride Campaign has been developed by Fall 2020.
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Progress and Updates -
- Successfully launched the Ferris Forward brand platform, which has been well received
and utilized by all internal and external audiences.
- Expanded digital marketing, direct mail initiatives and tracking analytics, accounting
for the impact of COVID-19 and changing market conditions, to drive stronger emphasis
on prospective student applications and yield ROI.
- Launched a newly designed ferris.edu homepage to align it with Ferris Forward branding
and improve user experience. Initiating a collaborative plan to transition all other
college, department and office webpage content to the new design in the next 15 -18
months with an emphasis on enhancing prospective student content.
- Completed a collaborative effort (UA&M, Athletics, Admin & Finance) to conduct an
RFP for a new trademark and licensing vendor. This is the first such RFP in 20+ years.
A new vendor was selected to notably improve quality, sales, and overall revenue from
our trademark/licensing activities.
- Launched a comprehensive pride initiative that celebrated the University’s 135th Anniversary,
promoted special pride-related mailings and swag giveaways, recognized achievements
of various University departments and student organizations, and partnered with the
local Pioneer newspaper to promote articles and ads touting successful town/gown collaborations
and honoring key local volunteers.
- Significantly expanded the number of University news stories published while strengthening
audience reach and active engagement with related social media and video promotions.
- The Alumni Association collaborated with many campus partners to offer a wide range
of virtual events to celebrate HOMEcoming 2020 from Sept. 26 through Oct. 3. More
than 600 alumni and friends celebrated Ferris pride not only on campus, but from all
across the states and even into Canada. Activities and events ranged from on-line
webinars, photo and cooking competitions to the most popular event, a virtual 5k with
nearly 400 participants.
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Initiative 2
Better utilize alumni as ambassadors to our constituents, partners, and the world.
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Action Steps
- PC 2-1: Dedicate physical and virtual space to highlight accomplishments of alumni.
- PC 2-2: Coordinate an Alumni Speaker Series for both University-wide and program-specific
initiatives.
- PC 2-3: Adopt a comprehensive alumni relations strategy that facilitates the relationships
between alumni and their key University homes, including programs, colleges, athletic
teams, and student organizations, and empowers our alumni to serve as recruiters,
leveraging their geographic reach.
Submit Progress and Updates to Initiative 2 Action Steps
Signs of our Success -
- Prominent recognition of alumni is in development, both virtually and in at least
one physical campus space, by Fall 2019.
- Develop an annual alumni speaking series by Fall 2020.
- Alumni become more visible and active in campus life, participating more widely on
campus and in recruitment activities.
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Progress and Updates -
- Physical space has been dedicated in the CSS lobby visually highlighting prominent
alumni success stories.
- Established the Alumni Ambassador program, which has grown to more than 30 alumni
volunteers in key states across the US to assist the University with engaging alumni
and assisting with recruiting and retaining students from their geographic areas.
- More than 220 alumni participated in “Make A Difference Day” on Oct. 24, a national
day of service encouraging volunteerism. The Alumni Association encouraged members
of the Bulldog community to participate virtually throughout the county by helping
neighbors clean their yards, organizing pop can drives and paying it forward in fast
food lines.
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Initiative 3
Identify, create, and pursue opportunities that strengthen student-focused partnerships
with local communities.
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Action Steps
- PC 3-1: Create a team to identify opportunities to support Ferris-linked educational opportunities
for students in high school and other institutions.
- PC 3-2: Assign regional liaisons to help strengthen local partnerships and University growth
opportunities.
- PC 3.3: Build on civic and social engagement opportunities throughout Big Rapids, Grand
Rapids, and West Michigan, including open dialogues with community leaders and organizations
on issues that will strengthen and build relationships between students, local governments,
businesses, educational affiliates, and civic organizations.
- PC 3.4: Deepen internship collaborations with surrounding communities and professional organizations
that create meaningful opportunities for students, including those with international
status.
- PC 3.5: Create a Community/Student Leader Roundtable.
Submit Progress and Updates to Initiative 3 Action Steps
Signs of our Success -
- Regional liaisons have been identified by Fall 2020.
- A list of current and potential community and educational partnerships is completed
and in use for planning by Fall 2020.
- The Ferris component of Plaza Roosevelt is completed and operational by Fall 2023.
- New community internship collaborations have been developed by Spring 2020.
- A Community/Student Leader Roundtable is in operation by Fall 2020.
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Progress and Updates - |
Pride and Community 