The purpose of this assessment is to document the effectiveness of recent improvements to the Spring 2026 Grad‑App‑Alooza fair at Estrella Mountain Community College, hosted by the Career and Transfer Center (CTC) and Workforce and Experiential Learning (CWEL) departments.
This assessment builds upon insights from previous years, evaluates the impact of newly implemented strategies, and captures the overall influence of Grad‑App‑Alooza on the student experience.
This assessment is necessary to provide evidence of program impact, specifically regarding increased student awareness of transfer pathways, career opportunities, graduation requirements, and campus support services. As a large‑scale event featuring more than 50 employer and university representatives and multiple campus departments, it is essential to ensure that the event’s structure, timing, and engagement strategies continue to demonstrate value to campus partners and support the long‑term success of future fairs.
There were several changes for the Spring 2026 Grad-app-alooza event to provide a better student and vendor experience. These included:
- One-Day Offering: Based on Spring 2025 data, the event shifted from a two‑day format to a single‑day fair with extended hours (10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., previously 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.). The event date was also moved one week earlier, to February 24, to avoid overlapping with peak priority‑registration traffic in Admissions and Advisement.
- Student Engagement Techniques: A student stampbook (passport) was introduced to encourage meaningful engagement with representatives. Students received the passport at check‑in and earned stamps by visiting tables. Four stamps qualified students for pizza and snacks, and six stamps entered them into a swag giveaway.
To reduce networking anxiety, custom name tags were created for all employer and university representatives. These included targeted Fields of Interest (FOIs), a fun fact, and a suggested question students could ask to initiate conversation.
- Intentional Outreach: Targeted email marketing was expanded from last year’s single audience (students with 50+ credits) to two groups:
- Students nearing graduation (“You May Be Ready to Apply for Graduation”)
- All other students (“Grad‑App‑Alooza: One‑Stop Event for Graduation, Transfer & Career Planning”)
This ensured students understood the event was designed for everyone and not only those preparing to graduate.
- The Grad-app-alooza Headshot Studio: During this year’s event, we offered students professional headshots during the event. Five students of the MTI Club facilitated the Headshot studio during the event as part of a project-based internship experience. Students could borrow blazers for their photos, submit their information via Google Form, and later receive edited headshots from the interns.
- Graduation Readiness Request Form: The newly launched Graduation Readiness Request Form (formerly Degree Progress Check Request), developed using feedback from last year’s event, was incorporated into Advisement’s year‑round practice. The form link was included in targeted emails and displayed at Advisement and Admissions tables during the fair.
All participants checked in using a HubSpot form accessed via QR code and iPads at the entrance. Students completed a Google Form at the end of the event to provide feedback. Employers and transfer representatives received a separate feedback form. Email marketing analytics (clicks, views, etc.) were reviewed through HubSpot and CampusCast.
Attendance Overview : A total of 380 check‑in scans were recorded, with 340 completed submissions—indicating some attendees may have been missed at check‑in. Attendance increased by 29% compared to Spring 2025 (340 students in 2026 vs. 262 in 2025). Approximately 25% of attendees (88 students) checked in after 2:00 p.m., demonstrating the value of extended event hours.
Student Feedback and Results (71 responses- 20% response rate)
Student response was overwhelmingly positive:
- 97% reported the event helped them develop and engage with a supportive academic and professional network.
- Students indicated the event met or exceeded expectations, provided valuable information, and offered meaningful opportunities to connect with employers, advisors, and university representatives.
- Most students stated they would attend again and recommend the fair to others.
Suggestions for improvement included:
- More employers and universities, especially in education, IT, and specialized industries
- More event days or extended availability
- More space for walking, as the event felt crowded at times
- More job opportunities aligned with specific majors
Highlighted Student Testimonials:
- “This was awesome. If I wasn’t forced to do the passport I would’ve blown past all the tables to get pizza and wouldn’t have learned about ASU’s new school. It’s focused around my degree so the school is perfect for me.”
- “Nothing — it’s amazing! So much fun.”
- “Organizer did an amazing job at this event as well as the other individuals. I hope more days would be added to this event. Good job!”
Vendor Feedback (18 responses- Employer + Transfer Rep)
Areas of Appreciation:
- High overall satisfaction, with most vendors reporting they were Very Satisfied or Satisfied with the event.
- Strong praise for EMCC staff and student workers, especially for their friendliness, support, and consistent check‑ins throughout the day.
- Positive feedback on indoor location, which vendors preferred over outdoor fairs.
- Snacks, popcorn, and goodie bags were well‑received and contributed to a welcoming atmosphere.
- Morning traffic was strong, with many vendors noting meaningful conversations and high engagement early in the day.
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Adjust event timing to better match student traffic patterns. Vendors consistently noted that the final 1–2 hours had very low engagement. Several recommended:
- Ending the event earlier (e.g., 11am–3pm or 9am–3pm)
- Adding an evening option (4–6pm) for working students
- Address space and crowding concerns—the indoor layout felt tight at times.
- Increase access to power, with requests for more outlets or power strips for electronic devices.
- Enhance targeted outreach, especially to education majors, as some vendors saw few students in their intended audience.
- Consider grouping similar organizations (e.g., online universities) to improve navigation and flow.
Highlighted Vendor Testimonials
- “The layout of the room was nice / the design for the flow of traffic. The energy of the staff and students are always welcoming and exciting and it's always a joy to be on EMCC's campus!”
- “It was very organized and the microphone controller (emcee) was very engaging.”
- “The event was extremely organized, and the students were very engaging.”
- “Of the MCCD transfer fairs I've attended so far, this one is the best run.”
Impact on Graduation Applications/Readiness - During the week of Grad‑App‑Alooza (February 23–28), 125 Graduation Readiness Requests were submitted. As of March 11, this represents 45% of all requests submitted to date (125 of 273). This demonstrates that Grad‑App‑Alooza continues to be a major driver of graduation application activity.
Project-Based Internship Opportunity- A total of 47 students utilized the headshot studio, supported by five interns who collectively contributed 40 hours. This addition provided both a valuable student service and meaningful experiential learning opportunities.
Grad‑App‑Alooza (Transfer and Job Fair) is an annual event organized by Estrella Mountain Community College’s (EMCC) Career and Transfer Center (CTC), in coordination with Workforce and Experiential Learning (CWEL). The event is designed to support students as they transition to the next phase of their academic or professional journey by connecting them with representatives from over 50 universities, employers, and campus departments. Grad‑App‑Alooza provides a centralized platform for students to explore transfer pathways, career opportunities, and graduation requirements, ensuring they have access to the resources needed to advance their educational and professional goals.
The Spring 2026 Grad‑App‑Alooza event introduced several strategic enhancements to improve student and vendor engagement. This year’s fair shifted from a two‑day model to a single‑day event with extended hours (10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.), resulting in a 29% increase in attendance (340 students in 2026 compared to 262 in 2025). Approximately one‑quarter of attendees checked in after 2:00 p.m., demonstrating the value of the extended schedule. Additional engagement strategies, including: a student passport activity, customized representative name tags, and the introduction of a professional headshot studio further enriched the student experience and supported meaningful interactions with employers and university partners.
Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 97% of respondents reporting that the event helped them develop and engage with a network that supports their academic and professional success. Students indicated that the fair met or exceeded expectations, provided valuable information, and increased their confidence in navigating transfer and career pathways. Vendor feedback also reflected high satisfaction, with strong praise for event organization, staff support, and student engagement.
Grad‑App‑Alooza continues to play a significant role in supporting graduation readiness. During the week of the event, 125 Graduation Readiness Requests were submitted—representing 45% of all requests submitted as of March 11. The addition of a project‑based internship through the headshot studio further expanded the event’s impact by providing experiential learning opportunities for EMCC students.
Overall, the Spring 2026 Grad‑App‑Alooza demonstrated substantial growth, strengthened student engagement, and reinforced its role as a critical campuswide initiative supporting transfer, career development, and graduation preparation.
Contributors: Miyah Gaston, Grace Kirker, Eric Brown, Stephen Zubia
| Attachment | Size |
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| grad-app-alooza-data-2026.pdf | 656.67 KB |
| 2026-gradappalooza-flyer-1.pdf | 1.45 MB |