Last month, we hosted a webinar with Reach Higher and Better Make Room to talk with NCAN members about how they can coordinate a 2021 College Signing Day event. As we’re still in a pandemic, the
day’s presenter provided some tips and ideas for ways to host celebrations and recognize students virtually.
We know that many of our members are still having to develop creative, virtual, and socially distant ways and opportunities to engage, support, and be present to help students navigate disruptions to their life and education.
To help our member organizations prepare for College Signing Day, here are three important steps to take:
Register your event here. This allows Better Make Room to recognize where events are happening, collect data, and demonstrate the impact and importance of creating a college-going culture.
Determine a date for your event. Although May 1 is the official date for College Signing Day, Better Make Room recognizes that this may not be a realistic date for your students – you’re the best person to make that decision. Choose a date
that aligns with your students’ schedule and needs.
Here are a few ways you can host a virtual College Signing Day celebration:
Reminder: Feel free to post on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok and tag @BetterMakeRoom. Use the hashtags #CollegeSigningDay and #BetterMakeRoom so that everyone can follow along with your celebration. (Check out sample social posts and graphics from Better Make Room.)
Share photos of your students wearing college gear while holding up signs to celebrate the day. If you’re really tech-savvy, have your students hold up a blank piece of paper and digitally insert an image onto their sign.
Post photos of yourself or previous alumni from your program in college attire. Take it a step further and personalize your post by sharing a fond college campus moment experience, like homecoming. Invite students to get involved, and re-post
their photos.
Uplift and share student videos. Encourage program alumni and current students to share their journey. To get them started, provide students with a few prompts to get their brain flowing and help them get their best video all taken from their
phones.
A few video tips! The camera on a cellphone is perfect. First, find good lighting (or go outside). Next, set up your phone to record horizontally and choose a background with minimal noise. Take a deep breath and hit record!
Need more inspiration? The best ideas come from the field itself. Search #CollegeSigningDay on social media to learn what your peer organizations are doing to celebrate and recognize students.
Scroll to the bottom of this page to check out #CollegeSigningDay resources. You will find a wealth of information, from social media guides (both English and Spanish) to printable commitment
signs, event guides, and more.
If you have general inquiries or questions about your College Signing Day event, please contact info@BetterMakeRoom.org.
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