Saturdays@SAM, one of Sam Houston State Universities largest recruitment events, proves to be an effective way of raising enrollment in new and transfer students.
Bringing in thousands of students every semester, Saturdays@SAM provides an opportunity for both accepted and prospective students to preview SHSU and everything it has to offer.
Not only is it effective in helping accepted students begin their transition into college life, but for prospective students as well.
Allison Cason, a junior at Cy-Fair high school found the event to be effective in her college search and helping her find her future home away from home.
“I think it’s very effective I learned everything I needed to know I even got to see the dorms. I wanted to see how it was all going to be and if I didn’t like the campus then I probably wouldn’t want to go here, but everything is great. I have already got t-shirts and everything!” Said Cason.
While the main focus of the event is to provide students with an insight into SHSU’s degree plans and campus life, it also helps accepted students start their transition as a Bearkat.
“I wanted to get ahead and kind of visit the campus, this would be my first time coming here so I enjoy visiting it’s a nice campus I am ready to come here I am ready to be a study here.” Said an attendee of Saturdays@SAM.
Accepted students took the opportunity to get advised, register for classes and even take their Bearkat one photo!
According to the Visitors Center over 50% of the students that attend Saturdays@SAM end up choosing SHSU as their future home.
Suzie Houston, Visitor Center Coordinator says Saturdays@SAM is a large contributor to the increase of student enrollment at SHSU, which is why the Visitors Center has added new programs to make this event larger and more effective.
Programs such as the Go KATS Go Center, which is a mobile trailer equipped with laptops and the necessary equipment for easy registration. Another program, which was implemented this semester, is the guidebook mobile app. The app allows students to access all of the important information they will need while attending Saturdays@SAM.
Small implementations, like these will help Saturdays@SAM become more effective and allow prospective students to see all there is to see at SHSU.