Managing Tour Guides: Managing Tour Guides: Two Campuses At a TimeTwo Campuses At a Time

Dorie AinDorie Ain

The George Washington UniversityThe George Washington University

The HistoryThe History GWU was established in 1821GWU was established in 1821

Started on Capitol Hill, went to Columbia Heights, ended up in Foggy Started on Capitol Hill, went to Columbia Heights, ended up in Foggy BottomBottom

In 1997 we acquired Mount Vernon College For WomenIn 1997 we acquired Mount Vernon College For Women Seminary that had been for women, 3 miles Northwest of Foggy Seminary that had been for women, 3 miles Northwest of Foggy

Bottom locationBottom location Initially MVC housed only women and very few classes were offered Initially MVC housed only women and very few classes were offered

there. Around 2002 the campus became co-ed.there. Around 2002 the campus became co-ed. The MVC is predominantly a freshman campusThe MVC is predominantly a freshman campus

6 residence halls, completely integrated. Dining, Library, Athletic 6 residence halls, completely integrated. Dining, Library, Athletic Centers, etc.Centers, etc.

We were satisfied with both campuses, but the main question for the visit We were satisfied with both campuses, but the main question for the visit program was how to integrate the two…program was how to integrate the two…

Foggy BottomFoggy Bottom

5 by 6 Square Blocks5 by 6 Square Blocks Neighbors: White House, State Department, Kennedy Center, Neighbors: White House, State Department, Kennedy Center,

IMF, World BankIMF, World Bank Of 9,700 Undergraduates, the majority of our students are Of 9,700 Undergraduates, the majority of our students are

living and taking classes on Foggy Bottomliving and taking classes on Foggy Bottom The Office of Undergraduate Admissions, The Visitors Center The Office of Undergraduate Admissions, The Visitors Center

and the majority of the other University’s administrative and the majority of the other University’s administrative offices are housed on FBoffices are housed on FB

Many students come to GW for the location and to them Many students come to GW for the location and to them Foggy Bottom is that place.Foggy Bottom is that place.

Mount VernonMount Vernon MV is located 3 miles northwest of Foggy Bottom.MV is located 3 miles northwest of Foggy Bottom.

27 Acres, in the Foxhall Neighborhood of DC27 Acres, in the Foxhall Neighborhood of DC Neighbors: Embassies, Georgetown University, Restaurants, residential Neighbors: Embassies, Georgetown University, Restaurants, residential

homeshomes The Mount Vernon campus has 6 residences halls and approximately 400 The Mount Vernon campus has 6 residences halls and approximately 400

beds.beds. 95% of all introductory classes taught on MV and FB Campuses95% of all introductory classes taught on MV and FB Campuses All outdoor athletic facilities on MVCAll outdoor athletic facilities on MVC MVCL: Mount Vernon Campus Life Office, geared towards the needs of MVCL: Mount Vernon Campus Life Office, geared towards the needs of

all MV studentsall MV students Dean of Freshman resides across the street from MVC and oversees Dean of Freshman resides across the street from MVC and oversees

MVCL OfficeMVCL Office Specific Programs housed at MVC: Womens Leadership Programs, Specific Programs housed at MVC: Womens Leadership Programs,

Interior DesignInterior Design

The STAR ProgramThe STAR Program

Student Admissions RepresentativesStudent Admissions Representatives The guide program is completely voluntary at The guide program is completely voluntary at

GWU GWU Approximately FB 150 STARsApproximately FB 150 STARs 13 MVC STARs13 MVC STARs

Management: Dorie Ain, Douglas Pineda, Management: Dorie Ain, Douglas Pineda, Student CoordinatorStudent Coordinator

How Does it WorkHow Does it Work

Two Staff members manage FB STARsTwo Staff members manage FB STARs One Staff member manages MVC and FB STARsOne Staff member manages MVC and FB STARs

One Student Coordinator (paid) manages One Student Coordinator (paid) manages STARSTAR Added a voluntary student coordinator position for Added a voluntary student coordinator position for

MVC STARs in 2008-2009MVC STARs in 2008-2009

How Does it Work (cont.)How Does it Work (cont.)

RecruitmentRecruitment FB and MVC: Ads in The Hatchet, information FB and MVC: Ads in The Hatchet, information

sessions, tabling, facebook groups, word of mouthsessions, tabling, facebook groups, word of mouth MVC: Much more work has to be put into MVC: Much more work has to be put into

recruitment on MVC. Smaller campus, not as recruitment on MVC. Smaller campus, not as much admissions presence on MVCmuch admissions presence on MVC

How Does It WorkHow Does It Work

SelectionSelection FB STAR selection is much more competitiveFB STAR selection is much more competitive

150 Applications: Everyone invited to group interview150 Applications: Everyone invited to group interview 100 individual interviews100 individual interviews 70 new STARs chosen each fall70 new STARs chosen each fall

MVC STAR SelectionMVC STAR Selection 13-15 Applications13-15 Applications 14 Students chosen, or all students chosen depending on 14 Students chosen, or all students chosen depending on

the year/number of applicationsthe year/number of applications

How Does It WorkHow Does It Work TrainingTraining

FB STARs have a day of trainingFB STARs have a day of training Sunday in November, ALL DAYSunday in November, ALL DAY Current students assist, scavenger hunt, do’s and don’tsCurrent students assist, scavenger hunt, do’s and don’ts Run by staff member and student coordinatorRun by staff member and student coordinator

MVC STARs have a day of trainingMVC STARs have a day of training Sunday in OctoberSunday in October Training for MVC STARs much earlier because there are fewer of them. Also, the Training for MVC STARs much earlier because there are fewer of them. Also, the

MVC STARs from the previous year have most likely moved to FB and it is harder MVC STARs from the previous year have most likely moved to FB and it is harder for them to commit their time to going back and forth between campuses for tours.for them to commit their time to going back and forth between campuses for tours.

MVCL included in MVC training (History of campus, etc)MVCL included in MVC training (History of campus, etc) Both groups are required to do on sight training for both FB and MVC. The MVC STARs

are required to be trained in FB and the FB STARs are required to be trained in MVC MVC STARs are grandfathered into FB STAR program, they do not have to reapply for

the year following their MVC STAR year

ToursTours

FB Tours twice a dayFB Tours twice a day 11am, 3pm11am, 3pm

MVC Tours twice a dayMVC Tours twice a day 12:45pm, 4:45pm12:45pm, 4:45pm

Students are required to do tours once a weekStudents are required to do tours once a week In April, twice a weekIn April, twice a week

The majority of the MVC STARs will The majority of the MVC STARs will continue in the STAR program with FB tours continue in the STAR program with FB tours after their Freshman yearafter their Freshman year

LeadershipLeadership Assistant Director Douglas PinedaAssistant Director Douglas Pineda

FB STARs, Deans Council (Multicultural Recruitment team), Intl Recruitment, Intl Freshman FB STARs, Deans Council (Multicultural Recruitment team), Intl Recruitment, Intl Freshman Evaluation, Intl Transfer Evaluation, April Visit TeamEvaluation, Intl Transfer Evaluation, April Visit Team

Assistant Director Dorie AinAssistant Director Dorie Ain FB STARs, MVC STARs, Special Groups, Domestic recruitment, Domestic Application Evaluation, FB STARs, MVC STARs, Special Groups, Domestic recruitment, Domestic Application Evaluation,

Domestic Transfer Evaluation, April Visit TeamDomestic Transfer Evaluation, April Visit Team Student CoordinatorStudent Coordinator

Usually a rising senior who has been involved in STAR programUsually a rising senior who has been involved in STAR program Competitive selection processCompetitive selection process Paid position, required to work at least 20 hours/week in office with Assistant DirectorsPaid position, required to work at least 20 hours/week in office with Assistant Directors Manages all communication with STARs, social events, meetings, tour scheduleManages all communication with STARs, social events, meetings, tour schedule Manages STAR Lunch, Overnight programManages STAR Lunch, Overnight program

MVC Student CoordinatorMVC Student Coordinator New position in 2008-2009New position in 2008-2009 Helps manage MVC tour program, schedule, social events, trainingHelps manage MVC tour program, schedule, social events, training Unpaid, no requirement of time commitmentUnpaid, no requirement of time commitment For the 2For the 2ndnd year of this position there will be an application process open to former MVC tour guides year of this position there will be an application process open to former MVC tour guides Works with Student Coordinator on April Visit ProgramWorks with Student Coordinator on April Visit Program

What’s NextWhat’s Next The most challenging aspect of having two groups of STARs is keeping everyone The most challenging aspect of having two groups of STARs is keeping everyone

happyhappy There is a disconnect sometimes between STAR and MVCLThere is a disconnect sometimes between STAR and MVCL

Would like to increase communication, possibly give more responsibility to MVC Student Would like to increase communication, possibly give more responsibility to MVC Student CoordinatorCoordinator

Enhance relationship between FB and MVC STARsEnhance relationship between FB and MVC STARs The fact that GW acquired MVC only 10 years ago and started doing tours under the The fact that GW acquired MVC only 10 years ago and started doing tours under the

Visit program 5 years ago means that there is a lot of room to grow, but also a lot of Visit program 5 years ago means that there is a lot of room to grow, but also a lot of miscommunication stillmiscommunication still

Meetings once a month for ALL STARs (MVC and FB), separate MVC meeting Meetings once a month for ALL STARs (MVC and FB), separate MVC meeting afterwards.afterwards.

Want them to feel a part of general community, but also feel as though they are special in their Want them to feel a part of general community, but also feel as though they are special in their own small community.own small community.

How do we promote both campuses? How do we promote both campuses? People many times do not even know that MVC exists, so that is our starting pointPeople many times do not even know that MVC exists, so that is our starting point Need to show benefits of both campusesNeed to show benefits of both campuses

Retention for STARs is the most important aspect of our job.Retention for STARs is the most important aspect of our job. As a volunteer position, we must figure out a way to make sure the students stay As a volunteer position, we must figure out a way to make sure the students stay

involved!involved!