If you build it, will they come? That is a question many schools ask as they work to develop a financial literacy program for their students. Thanks to Paul Goebel, Director at the University of North Texas's Student Money Management Center for offering his insights on how to publicize your program:
"Every way we can imagine! Seriously, our team utilizes a
multi-faceted marketing plan to make students aware of our programs and
services. Unfortunately, there is not one single communication medium all
students favor or primarily use. As such, each semester our team is exploring
and expanding our marketing efforts to effectively communicate with the university’s
diverse student body.
Currently, we use on-line resources (center and university
events websites); Listserves targeting specific groups of students, faculty,
and professional staff members; SMMC Facebook; email systems; posters; banner
in the University Union foyer; sponsorships; ads in the student newspaper;
presentations; resource fairs; and special events. Over the past four years more
students have identified “word of mouth” and “friends”
as the referral source that brought them into the center for a consultation or
to a classroom for one of our workshops. This is a positive indicator that our
efforts are being valued by our students, especially when they are recommending
their friends to use our services."