TDCN Best Practices
* More detailed best practices can be found in the California Transfer Days / College Nights Guidelines.
Location
INSIDE EVENT
Should be in a centrally located area
No weather concerns
Easier to estimate attendee headcount
OUTSIDE EVENT
More students may walk through event
Weather:
Look into renting umbrellas for shade
Provide water for reps
Have a back-up plan
More difficult to determine attendee headcount
Logistics
START TIME
Start time no earlier than 9:00 am for transfer day event and 4:30pm for a college night event.
Schedule during highest possible amount of student foot traffic.
Provide enough time for campus reps to park and set up.
STAFFING
Transfer Center or high school staff
Volunteers
Faculty, staff and student volunteers circulate during the event to check on representatives and answer student questions
Tabling
FLOOR PLAN AND TABLE ASSIGNMENTS
Table Arrangements
Do not put all schools from one system together, i.e. all UC’s in one area
One table per school with two chairs
Avoid table sharing
Extra tables
Ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities
Distribute most popular campuses around the room (crowd control)
Campus Participation
DETERMINING CAMPUS PARTICIPATION
TDCN subcommittee coordinates registration for the UC, CSU, and AICCU campuses.
Priority is given to the campuses that have registered via the TD/CN online registration system.
You are responsible for inviting and registering reps from other universities and colleges
EXTENDING PARTICIPATION INVITATIONS
DO NOT RUN A SECONDARY REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR THE UC, CSU, or AICCU CAMPUSES.
They are only required to use the online registration system provided to them by this subcommittee.
PROGRAM DETAILS AND LOGISTICS
You are responsible for notifying participants about any pertinent details or logistics about your event.
Your e-mail should contain the following information:
map indicating how to get to the program site
where to unload
tram/shuttle service availability
a parking permit, if necessary
whether unloading personnel (students) and/or equipment(carts, dollies, etc.) will be available
when campus representatives can begin to set up
table accommodations, access to electrical outlets, food service availability, and the extent of refreshments that will be made available, i.e., water, coffee, etc.
estimated attendance from local middle and/or high schools
overnight accommodations and restaurant suggestions (for out of area colleges)
a “day of” person, phone number (mobile suggested) and email address to contact for further information, upon arrival, or in case of cancellation or delay
whether your college can accommodate materials sent in advance and how the representative can access the materials
CAMPUS REPRESENTATION
Most colleges and universities will send one person to your event though some may bring additional representatives. If there is a limitation on the number of representatives at your event this should be communicated well in advance of your event.
Campuses may be represented by another campus using the “buddy” system”. This should be communicated beforehand when the buddy system will be used.
Unregistered representatives may show up unannounced. Having extra tables available to accommodate them is encouraged. If the campuses that show up unannounced are from the UC, CSU, or AICCU systems, please notify the Statewide Coordinator.