JUST THE FACTS
Housatonic’s successful “check” brochure summarized the economic impact of HCC on the greater Bridgeport area and the state.
Activity: The Outreach Services Division supports the educational mission and
vision of Housatonic Community College by collaborating with other HCC departments
as well as the College’s external partners in implementing and advancing
the goals of HCC, the City of Bridgeport, and the region’s business community.
Result: Wide support for HCC’s initiatives and the impact of the College on the region as evidenced by over 7,000 column inches of media coverage.
Activity: The Outreach Services Division is responsible for press and media relations, advertising, web site design, promotional videos, and all College publications. By working closely with internal academic and administrative departments to create a systematic approach to College-wide marketing materials, the Division has successfully recruited new students and provided information to the community about the College.
Result: 71 program brochures are now in use for academic, non-credit, and student support services. The course schedule was reformatted into a magazine promoting HCC’s students, faculty, and programs and mailed to over 340,000 homes each year. It is now being reinvented again.
Activity:The Division has maximized its budget by: taking advantage of discount contracts with media; by combining and printing similar projects simultaneously; by partnering with other departments and colleges; and in garnering the business community’s support of marketing efforts.
Result: Publications traditionally costing over $135,000 were produced for $105,000. Additional savings will also be realized with the production of the spring 2004 class schedule.
Activity: Contacts with the media have resulted in the printing of favorable editorials evidencing legislators’ understanding of the CTC system, its budget needs, and the impact that funding cuts have had on the community. The Outreach Services Division has been integral in initiating articles and editorials encouraging HCC’s expansion. Activities at the State Capitol have included HCC faculty, staff, and student visits to legislators.
Result: Editorials written by State Senator Bill Finch and State Representatives Felipe Reinoso and Ernest Newton have emphasized HCC’s value to the community. The Bridgeport Regional Business Council cited HCC’s expansion plans as an important component of the area’s revitalization and continued development.
Activity:Housatonic Community College publications are recognized at the system level and by its sister colleges for their innovation.
Result: HCC has lead the Connecticut Community-Technical College system in innovative communication methods. For example, HCC created and produced a mini-CD that contains everything necessary to know about the College including, the catalogue, student handbook, financial aid information and forms, admission requirements and forms, a virtual tour, and much more. As a result of its mini-CD, HCC’s sister colleges are now producing, or are in the process of producing, informative compact disks for their respective institutions.
Activity: The Housatonic web site features detailed information about academic and workforce departments, continuing education, and special programs. The web site also includes the College's goals and vision statements.
Result: Housatonic’s web site was the first college in the state system to receive certification for being accessible by people with disabilities.
Activity:The advertising and promotion of Housatonic Community College, through consistent and complementary messages in all media, print, radio, and television, has resulted in continuous enrollment increases.
Result: In fall 1998, the College enrolled 3,551 students; in fall 2003, the College enrolled 4,678 students.
Housatonic Community College’s enrollment has steadily increased. This
increase is the direct result of a concerted effort on the part of the entire
College community – faculty, staff, and students; however, most specifically
because of the Outreach Services Division’s efforts.
The efforts made by the Outreach Services Division have increased
the College’s
exposure to a wider public audience, produced marketing materials
of exceptional quality, and brought new ideas to the marketing program
resulting in increased
and enhanced awareness of, and enrollment at, Housatonic Community
College.