The Open House assessment documents the effectiveness, impact, and ongoing improvements of EMCC’s “Let’s Get Ready Together” event, designed to welcome students and their support systems before the semester begins. The assessment for Fall 2025 examines whether the event:
(1) fosters belonging and connection,
(2) offers essential academic and student support information,
(3) helps students feel prepared and confident for the first week,
(4) strengthens alignment with SEM goals related to outreach, onboarding, and retention, and
(5) warrants continued investment of time, staffing, and resources.
Fall 2025 marks the third Fall semester iteration of the event and provides an opportunity to compare results across three years to evaluate growth, identify gaps, and guide future improvement.
The event directly supports EMCC’s Strategic Enrollment Management goals to increase student belonging, improve early engagement, and reduce confusion and anxiety during the enrollment and onboarding process.
Fall 2025 survey results reaffirm the need for this assessment:
- Students rated the experience overwhelmingly positively, with the majority marking “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” on items related to support, networking, and preparedness.
- Students and their families continue to express a strong desire for in-person connection with faculty, advisors, and staff which is an area where EMCC historically receives lower satisfaction compared to the importance students place on “concern for the individual” (Ruffalo Noel Levitz data).
- The event provides meaningful engagement for first-generation students, who represent a significant portion of EMCC’s population and benefit from direct, relational support.
Given increasing attendance and the growing role of the Open House in early engagement, ongoing assessment ensures that planning remains strategic, sustainable, and responsive to student needs.
Fall 2025 Open House improvements were informed by lessons from 2023 and 2024:
- Expanded planning timeline: Monthly planning meetings began early in spring, allowing coordinated logistics across divisions.
- Increased staffing and volunteer coordination: Approximately 50 volunteers supported the event in 2024. In 2025, the college repeated this model with strong representation from advising, counseling, academic divisions and faculty, tutoring, CTL, Workforce & Experiential Learning, honors, and clubs.
- Improved check-in and data collection:
- Sign-in tables aided with capturing attendance numbers.
- Surveys were administered immediately after the event.
- Campus tours and lab tours: Life Sciences faculty again provided specialized biology lab tours with a new feature of chemistry faculty providing tours of their spaces as well.
- Larger venue: The Estrella Conference Center was used to better manage flow and visibility, but we found that the ECC may now be too small. We had many people in attendance, so the committee may look into spreading people out more.
- Food and welcome stations: These encouraged families to stay longer, interact more, and ask questions.
- Marketing & Communication: Social media campaigns, HubSpot tracking, and targeted student emails improved outreach. While we did this in Fall 2024 as well, this time was more organized.
Attendance Growth
- 2023: 200–300 attendees (approximate)
- 2024: 399+ signed-in attendees
- 2025: Attendance remained strong (500 folders were handed out to students, students who signed in shows approximately 400 people), with continued engagement from students and families
Student Feedback Trends (Fall 2025 Survey Results)
Survey statements and results indicate sustained positive impact:
- “The Open House highlighted support services.” – Majority responded Agree or Strongly Agree
- “The Open House provided an environment to network with faculty and staff.” – Majority responded Strongly Agree
- “The Open House provided an opportunity for my support system…” – Strong positive agreement
- Written feedback highlights:
- Appreciation for information tables (“All the information provided… helped me feel more prepared”)
- Requests for more time, more tables, and clearer signage, showing strong engagement and desire to explore more fully
- Multiple comments praising the welcoming environment
Key Themes Identified in Open-Ended Responses
- Students want more time at tables and stations.
- Improved wayfinding (signs, maps) would help attendees navigate.
- The event is seen as engaging, supportive, and useful.
- Students appreciate faculty presence
- Support systems expressed gratitude for being included.
Comparison Across Years Shows Clear, Sustained Improvement
- Better logistics
- Higher volunteer participation
- Enhanced marketing
- Stronger interpersonal engagement
- Increased student comfort and confidence
- Growing alignment with SEM and student success initiatives
The following also helped with planning and organizing this event:
Laura Porritt
Tracy Tanner
Alissa Manzoeillo
Gerniah Liburd
And the many........many.....many volunteers who participated. Thank you!