This past fall, the DePaul Admission Partnership Program (DAPP) introduced a new marketing initiative featuring promotional brochures tailored to specific community colleges. The brochures include testimonials and photos of DAPP students, and a photo and logo of the community college from which that student transferred.
Initiated by EMM in 2010, DAPP helps students successfully prepare for admission to DePaul while they are taking classes at their community college. Program participants receive guidance from DePaul transfer admission counselors and map out their community college coursework so they do not lose time or credit, all to ensure a smoother transfer process.
As of fall 2018, there were 266 DAPP students enrolled at DePaul and to date, 240 students have graduated from DePaul who were once DAPP students. Meanwhile, 392 students at community colleges are in the pipeline and currently looking to transfer to DePaul by 2020.
“DAPP is an innovative program, and we wanted to create a marketing approach to highlight its benefits in a new way,” shares David Villaroel, assistant director in Community College Partnerships. “Integrating the student perspective on the value of DAPP helps us connect more with prospective students, since they can more easily relate to students who were once in their shoes."
EMM’s Marketing Communications department designed and produced the new brochures for seven community colleges: College of DuPage, Elgin Community College, Harper College, College of Lake County, Moraine Valley, Oakton Community College and the seven City Colleges of Chicago.
“This is the first time we have created co-branded, customized marketing materials,” says Villaroel. “Our community college partners have been very enthusiastic about this project. They were excited to see their names next to ours, as these dual-marketing brochures are the first of their kind. Their willingness to work with us is a testament to the strong relationships we have with them.”
While the new recruitment efforts aim to attract prospective students, Community College Partnerships is also encouraging DAPP students to create a student organization on campus to support those who have already transferred to DePaul through the program.
“The transfer admission process was the most stress-free experience and it’s because of the DAPP program,” shares one student in her testimonial. “DAPP made it really easy to transfer to DePaul,” shares another. “I met with an advisor every quarter, and that gave me the peace of mind that I was taking the right classes so that all of my credits would transfer.”