New admissions book created

The first in the series of new admissions brochures containing students' snapshots and journal excerpts is scheduled to come out in mid-May. The first pamphlet in the series is an eight-page "search piece," which will be sent to every student who expresses interest in the University and will be the first information prospective students receive. Students from across the University volunteered to keep diaries of their daily lives, take pictures and participate in discussion groups to share their experiences at the University. "We held focus groups of 16-25 students from different areas of the University, so we had a fairly good representation of the type of student life, and taped what they said," University Design Group head Anne Duffield said. "We also gave them disposable cameras and asked them to keep journals . . . so prospectives can see what it is like to be a student here." The series, which replaces the previous one used for the past 10 years, will be inter-related in theme. One member of the University Design Group describes the series as a "family." The brochures include University students' personal statements about different events, both positive and negative, that have happened while they have been at the University, and are in their own words. "The students are not just saying hi, stating their names and majors," Duffield said. "It is very down to earth, with real quotes, and we have stripped out P.R. language." Students involved in the focus groups said they think the brochure is a useful way to show more about what being a student at the University is really like. "For students who have never seen the campus, the pictures and diary [excerpts] help students better understand what the school is about," College junior Fritz Bittenbender said. "[My journal entries included] going to Murph[y's Tavern], but also studying until three in the morning." Students involved said the diversity of the participants shows the prospective students more about the University than they could see through a tour or a brochure without student commentary. "It shows a well-rounded picture of what the University has to offer," Bittenbender said. "It's a unique concept, and shows things you would never see in an ordinary brochure or on a spot visit, since the charm of the University is behind the scenes." The University Design Group has done extensive research to target the prospective students by showing them the parts of the University they want to see in the way they want to see it -- through the eyes of current students. University Design Group is the design agency which planned the campaign for the University's 250th Anniversary celebration, according to Duffield. She was also involved in the planning of the old Admissions brochures 10 years ago.

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