This assessment serves several purposes. In Fall 2023, the Open House was organized with a planning window of approximately three weeks. The event was quickly assembled, advertised through EMCC’s social media and emailing students, and supported by a handful of volunteers from both Academic and Student Affairs. Held in the Estrella North Community Room, the turnout—estimated between 200-300 students and their support systems—exceeded expectations. The assessment aims to: (1) gather student feedback, (2) obtain a more accurate headcount of students and attendees, (3) document needed changes for planning and marketing, (4) evaluate if the original goals of the Open House were met, and (5) determine if the event’s value justifies the time and effort of college employees.
The necessity of this assessment is grounded in both student feedback and EMCC's strategic goals including Student Enrollment Management (SEM) goals. According to the Ruffalo Noel Levitz survey (scale from 1-7), students rated the importance of “concern for the individual” at 6.36, yet their satisfaction was only 5.94, signaling room for improvement in how connected and supported they feel. The Open House aims to address this gap by fostering a sense of belonging among students and their support systems, offering them an opportunity to connect with resources, services, and faculty across campus. This engagement aligns with our strategic and SEM goals, which emphasize strengthening relationships, increasing support for students, and improving the overall campus experience.
Additionally, students have consistently expressed a desire for more engagement and connection with EMCC, particularly following the challenges of COVID-19. The Open House is a targeted way to maximize our finite resources and ensure we invest in events that positively impact student satisfaction. By assessing the effectiveness of the Open House, we can better understand its role in student success, determine its value in meeting EMCC’s objectives, and explore other impactful strategies to leverage resources effectively for our students and college community.
Building on lessons learned from the first Open House, we made significant improvements for the next iteration to better manage and support the high attendance. Recognizing the event’s popularity, we created a more structured process, including a Google form to organize volunteer roles and gather student feedback. The location was shifted to a larger venue to accommodate the anticipated crowd, and we increased volunteer recruitment. The College President showed support by providing pizza for volunteers, enhancing a sense of community and appreciation amongst employees.
To streamline planning, we held standing meetings throughout the spring semester, as opposed to the rushed three-week setup in Fall 2023. Marketing efforts were improved, and we utilized HubSpot for RSVPs (this was not required), and we had students sign in to better track attendance.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sddnTuhJujue4qSqpTFj8dzJDRf7j7Z_VXdsRJNXp8g/edit?usp=sharing
In the google doc, you will find access to the data.
The Fall 2024 Open House showed notable improvements over the previous year’s event in several key areas, reflecting the adjustments made to address the unexpected turnout and volunteer needs from Fall 2023. Based on student feedback and logistical observations, we implemented enhanced marketing strategies, engaged more faculty and staff volunteers, and moved to a larger space to better accommodate the increased number of attendees. Here’s a summary of the improvements:
- Student Feedback: Survey results from Fall 2024 indicated that students found the Open House to be engaging and beneficial. Positive feedback highlighted the welcoming atmosphere, support from staff and faculty, and the value of having family members present. This aligns with our goals to foster a sense of belonging and ensure students and their support networks feel connected to the EMCC community.
- Increased Attendance: In Fall 2023, the event saw approximately 200-300 attendees. This year, attendance grew to 399+ signed-in guests, which doesn’t account for everyone who may have attended without signing in. This increase highlights the effectiveness of our improved marketing efforts, which included a more comprehensive campaign and the use of HubSpot for RSVPs. This platform allowed for real-time tracking of interest and facilitated prompt responses to attendee inquiries.
- Volunteer Engagement: The number of volunteers also increased significantly, from approximately 20-25 in Fall 2023 to around 50 in Fall 2024. Volunteers from various areas, including Workforce and Experiential Learning, Honors and PTK, STEM Center of Excellence, Animal Ambassadors, Clubs and Orgs, Advising, Counseling, and many other departments/divisions, Biology faculty provided students guided tours (a new feature in Fall 2024), staff aided with with sign-ins, many volunteers provided information about programs and support services. The added volunteer support improved the event experience, as attendees had access to more personalized guidance throughout the time.
- Logistics and Space Improvements: Moving the event to a larger venue within the Estrella Conference Center allowed us to create a welcoming environment that still felt lively and full. With designated areas for each activity and a clear layout, students and their support systems were able to navigate more effectively, visiting key locations like the biology labs, library, bookstore, and tutoring services.
- Diverse Representation of Majors: The event drew a wide range of students from various majors, reflecting the college’s diversity and appeal across fields. Among the attendees, there were significant groups interested in Nursing (65), STEM (43), Business (34), and Behavioral Science and Human Services (32), as well as many undecided students (31). The variety of academic interests underscores the importance of presenting resources and support applicable to all disciplines, which was achieved through broad faculty and staff representation.
- Food and Refreshments: With food provided for students and volunteers, there was ample opportunity for attendees to stay longer and feel welcomed. Having enough food addressed one of the logistical challenges of the previous event and demonstrated the college’s commitment to making the Open House a pleasant experience for everyone involved. In Fall 2024, the president of the college purchased food for volunteers, which was also a new aspect to the Open House.
Overall, the improvements in attendance, volunteer participation, and attendee engagement suggest that the strategic changes made for Fall 2024 were effective in improving the Open House experience. The increased engagement and positive feedback from students provide valuable insights into how to further develop this event as a staple in EMCC’s student engagement efforts.
The "Let’s Get Ready Together" Open House at EMCC was a welcoming and informative event designed to prepare students and their support networks for the upcoming semester. With over 344 students and their support systems in attendance, the event featured faculty, staff, and representatives from multiple departments, offering guidance on academic, financial, and personal resources available on campus. Through lab tours, campus tours, and one-on-one interactions, attendees gained familiarity with campus facilities, course expectations, and support services. The event was particularly beneficial for first-generation students, who made up a large portion of attendees (36%). This assessment documents the event's success in fostering a supportive college environment, developing a student's sense of belonging, and identifies opportunities for future improvements.
Please note: Contributors to this assessment is a large team of people from all areas of the campus.