Lessons from a KU Visit
How does a large university make one prospective student feel welcome?
How to Welcome a Student — Jayhawk Style
Notes from a College Visit:
In the late 1980’s, Meg Brudney took me to visit the University of Kansas. I fell in love and selected KU for my college education. Last week, I took my daughter to visit Lawrence for her first college visit. I enjoyed the trip as a parent, an alumna, but also as a communicator.
My question: how does a campus of 26,000+ students make a high school student feel welcome and special? It’s all in the signs — from large to small.
Welcoming Culture:
Facilities: KU has strategically prioritized making visitors feel welcome. They invested $21 million in a 30,000-square-foot Jayhawk Welcome Center, that opened in 2023. The Welcome Center is the starting point for campus visits by prospective students, their families, and visitors to campus.
Atmosphere: Everyone we met was friendly and eager to engage with each student.
Personalization:
Tailored technical surprises include a 34-foot-tall video screen with the visiting student’s name on a campus hero image (First image — where the staff behind the desk duck to allow a photo with only the student); interactive digital displays where students explore degrees, campus activities, and famous alumni with easy to use touch screens that broadcast well-produced videos; and a photo booth, donated by Patty and Charles Garney, with a green screen paired with a virtual background library.
Brand Representation:
The Welcome Center plays a pivotal role in making the storied brand of the university approachable and helps demystify the university experience. (Second image)
Tradition:
Invitations to explore academic and athletic traditions help to differentiate the university, making it more than just an educational institution but a place where individuals can find a sense of belonging and identity.
Intangibles:
The aspects of the university that are not easily quantified or planned, such as the warmth of greetings throughout campus — like the small Post-it note at the campus radio station (Third image) — or the upbeat atmosphere of Lawrence stores and restaurants build a layered experience that the university is inviting you to come.
KU and Lawrence made an important first impression for one prospective student.
