Managing Tour Guides: Two Campuses At a Time

1. Managing Tour Guides: Two Campuses At a Time Dorie Ain The George Washington University

2. The History • GWU was established in 1821 • Started on Capitol Hill, went to Columbia Heights, ended up in Foggy Bottom • In 1997 we acquired Mount Vernon College For Women • Seminary that had been for women, 3 miles Northwest of Foggy Bottom location • Initially MVC housed only women and very few classes were offered there. Around 2002 the campus became co-ed. • The MVC is predominantly a freshman campus • 6 residence halls, completely integrated. Dining, Library, Athletic Centers, etc. • We were satisfied with both campuses, but the main question for the visit program was how to integrate the two…

3. Foggy Bottom • 5 by 6 Square Blocks • Neighbors: White House, State Department, Kennedy Center, IMF, World Bank • Of 9,700 Undergraduates, the majority of our students are living and taking classes on Foggy Bottom • The Office of Undergraduate Admissions, The Visitors Center and the majority of the other University’s administrative offices are housed on FB • Many students come to GW for the location and to them Foggy Bottom is that place.

4. Mount Vernon • MV is located 3 miles northwest of Foggy Bottom. • 27 Acres, in the Foxhall Neighborhood of DC • Neighbors: Embassies, Georgetown University, Restaurants, residential homes • The Mount Vernon campus has 6 residences halls and approximately 400 beds. • 95% of all introductory classes taught on MV and FB Campuses • All outdoor athletic facilities on MVC • MVCL: Mount Vernon Campus Life Office, geared towards the needs of all MV students • Dean of Freshman resides across the street from MVC and oversees MVCL Office • Specific Programs housed at MVC: Womens Leadership Programs, Interior Design

5. The STAR Program • Student Admissions Representatives • The guide program is completely voluntary at GWU • Approximately FB 150 STARs • 13 MVC STARs • Management: Dorie Ain, Douglas Pineda, Student Coordinator

6. How Does it Work • Two Staff members manage FB STARs • One Staff member manages MVC and FB STARs • One Student Coordinator (paid) manages STAR • Added a voluntary student coordinator position for MVC STARs in 2008-2009

7. How Does it Work (cont.) • Recruitment • FB and MVC: Ads in The Hatchet, information sessions, tabling, facebook groups, word of mouth • MVC: Much more work has to be put into recruitment on MVC. Smaller campus, not as much admissions presence on MVC

8. How Does It Work • Selection • FB STAR selection is much more competitive • 150 Applications: Everyone invited to group interview • 100 individual interviews • 70 new STARs chosen each fall • MVC STAR Selection • 13-15 Applications • 14 Students chosen, or all students chosen depending on the year/number of applications

9. How Does It Work • Training • FB STARs have a day of training • Sunday in November, ALL DAY • Current students assist, scavenger hunt, do’s and don’ts • Run by staff member and student coordinator • MVC STARs have a day of training • Sunday in October • Training for MVC STARs much earlier because there are fewer of them. Also, the MVC STARs from the previous year have most likely moved to FB and it is harder for them to commit their time to going back and forth between campuses for tours. • MVCL included in MVC training (History of campus, etc) • Both groups are required to do on sight training for both FB and MVC. The MVC STARs are required to be trained in FB and the FB STARs are required to be trained in MVC • MVC STARs are grandfathered into FB STAR program, they do not have to reapply for the year following their MVC STAR year

10. Tours • FB Tours twice a day • 11am, 3pm • MVC Tours twice a day • 12:45pm, 4:45pm • Students are required to do tours once a week • In April, twice a week • The majority of the MVC STARs will continue in the STAR program with FB tours after their Freshman year

11. Leadership • Assistant Director Douglas Pineda • FB STARs, Deans Council (Multicultural Recruitment team), Intl Recruitment, Intl Freshman Evaluation, Intl Transfer Evaluation, April Visit Team • Assistant Director Dorie Ain • FB STARs, MVC STARs, Special Groups, Domestic recruitment, Domestic Application Evaluation, Domestic Transfer Evaluation, April Visit Team • Student Coordinator • Usually a rising senior who has been involved in STAR program • Competitive selection process • Paid position, required to work at least 20 hours/week in office with Assistant Directors • Manages all communication with STARs, social events, meetings, tour schedule • Manages STAR Lunch, Overnight program • MVC Student Coordinator • New position in 2008-2009 • Helps manage MVC tour program, schedule, social events, training • Unpaid, no requirement of time commitment • For the 2nd year of this position there will be an application process open to former MVC tour guides • Works with Student Coordinator on April Visit Program

12. What’s Next • The most challenging aspect of having two groups of STARs is keeping everyone happy • There is a disconnect sometimes between STAR and MVCL • Would like to increase communication, possibly give more responsibility to MVC Student Coordinator • Enhance relationship between FB and MVC STARs • The fact that GW acquired MVC only 10 years ago and started doing tours under the Visit program 5 years ago means that there is a lot of room to grow, but also a lot of miscommunication still • Meetings once a month for ALL STARs (MVC and FB), separate MVC meeting afterwards. • Want them to feel a part of general community, but also feel as though they are special in their own small community. • How do we promote both campuses? • People many times do not even know that MVC exists, so that is our starting point • Need to show benefits of both campuses • Retention for STARs is the most important aspect of our job. • As a volunteer position, we must figure out a way to make sure the students stay involved!