Campus Life

Utah State Welcomes Next Wave of Incoming Aggies

By Bailey Longhurst |

This summer, seven Outreach Specialists employed by Utah State University Office of Student Retention & Completion (SR&C) are contacting Logan Campus students who have not yet registered for fall of 2021. They are calling, emailing and even text messaging students to see how their previous semester went, how COVID-19 impacted them, and what their plans are for the upcoming fall semester.

Throughout the conversation, our Outreach Specialists are building a rapport with students and helping to direct them to USU resources that fit their individual needs. They also encourage them to fill out a Notification of Leave form if they do not plan to come back to USU for the fall. As a team, SR&C has successfully brokered student relationships with various resources on campus and provide students with the information they need to succeed.

The outreach team meets weekly with SR&C Graduate Assistant Bailey Longhurst and newly-hired Success Coach Michael King. During these meetings, they receive training and have the opportunity to share successes as well as struggles. One outreach specialist, Lauren Nix, shared an experience she had with one student.

“I was about done with work when I called a student who hadn’t registered for fall 2021 yet,” Nix explained. “This was the third or fourth time trying to contact them but this time they answered. They told me they were going to take a few semesters off to work on some mental health things so they could come back in 2022 prepared to take on college. I told them that was completely understandable, and they said no one had ever agreed with them. We talked about how college takes a lot of mental capacity and if they needed to take a break to work on that and then come back, that was a healthy, mature decision. This led to a lengthy conversation and a new friendship. A few days later, they reached out to me and said they might want to come back to school this fall. Now, a few more days later, they are searching for housing for the fall semester.”

Cody Fisher, a peer advisor with Aggie First Scholars as well as an outreach specialist for incoming first-generation college students has also had a great experience reaching out to incoming students.

"I love to help people that don't know what their next step is supposed to be,” Fisher said. “Whether that is taking a leave or some registration issue."

Cassi Craig, who is working as an Outreach Specialist this summer in addition to her year-long role with Notifications of Leave said, "I love getting to know the students and focusing on just one for even a moment. I think so many students feel they don't matter to the big university, and we get to change their mind, help them feel important, and be able to take the next step forward."

Nix, Craig and Fisher are just three members of the team that have had success reaching out to USU students.

“We have enjoyed building relationships with our students and being a guiding hand as they prepare for fall 2021,” said Longhurst. “Within the last three weeks, over 1,000 phone calls and other communications have been made with our students who have not yet registered. Our Outreach Specialists are working hard to make sure our students know they’re supported here at USU.”

For more information on the SR&C, visit www.usu.edu/retention.

WRITER

Bailey Longhurst
Graduate Assistant
Student Retention & Completion
bailey.longhurst@usu.edu

CONTACT

Bailey Longhurst
Graduate Assistant
Student Retention & Completion
bailey.longhurst@usu.edu



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