St. Cloud State University

Public Relations: St. Cloud State University’s Higher Learning Commission Accreditation

Professor Lisa Heinrich’s 2006-2007 public relations classes got some real-world experience right here on campus this year when they created a campaign to raise student awareness of St. Cloud State University’s Higher Learning Commission Accreditation.

St. Cloud State goes through the accreditation process every 10 years. Professor Heinrich’s fall and spring PR Cases and Campaigns classes planned, budgeted, created, executed and evaluated a campaign to inform students about the accreditation team’s visit and what Higher Learning Accreditation means. Their campaign included a media kit, a letter to the editor in University Chronicle and a flierthat was so professional former St. Cloud State President Roy Saigo wrote them a personal thank-you note.

Their campaign was successful. According to their surveys, student awareness of accreditation rose from 17 to 50 percent fall semester and 27 to 70 percent spring semester.

Most important, working on the campaign was valuable for Heinrich’s students, who got to apply their classroom learning to a real PR campaign.

“We do a lot of hypothetical scenarios. Actually completing it has been a great experience – knowing things go wrong and being able to adapt,” said Laura Hoffman ‘07.

Professor Heinrich put together a packet of all the materials for her students to include in their work portfolios to show prospective employers.

Sample Release

Contact: Dr. Lisa Heinrich - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel. 320/308-4925
Home Phone: 651/227-8619
Email: llheinrich@stcloudstate.edu

SCSU CLASS PROMOTES STUDENT AWARENESS OF ACCREDITATION
SCSU’s Unique Effort to Involve Students in the University’s HLC Accreditation Review

SCSU students in Communications 438-538, Public Relations Cases and Campaigns, are conducting a campaign to increase students’ awareness of the university’s upcoming accreditation review in preparation for the site visit April 16-18.

The Students Appreciate Accreditation Week will be April 2-6. Students dressed in red t-shirts will distribute information and prizes. Fliers, posters, buttons and candy will inform students about why university accreditation is important to them. A similar campaign in the same class last fall increased student awareness from 17% to 50%.

Class instructor Dr. Lisa Heinrich said the SCSU effort to involve students is unusual if not unique among institutions participating in Higher Learning Commission accreditation. When the class surveyed around 500 students regarding their awareness of the upcoming review scheduled in April, 80 percent indicated they did not know about it. Communications students have been involved in the entire scope of the campaign: planning, organizing, creating and executing.

All colleges and universities can choose to submit to rigorous reviews by accrediting organizations applicable to their programs. These organizations’ teams of professionals and educators base their evaluations on how well the school prepares its graduates for employment and advanced degrees. Accreditation is a guarantee that a program has met the highest national standards.

For more information on Accreditation go to http://www.stcloudstate.edu/hlc

Sample Script

University Television Station
April 3, 2007

Anchor Introduction Script

Many students simply pass by the kiosks in Atwood…however this week there is one kiosk that could effect every student.

Reporter Jena Pearson headed over to this booth to learn about accreditation.

Reporter Package Script

Accreditation…one word that determines many things for a campus like St. Cloud State…and yet many students know little about the affects of this word.

This year mass communications students decided to change this. One of these students is Nick Nelson.

SOT-Nick Nelson, SCSU Public Relations Senior

Being an accredited university allows St. Cloud State to receive federal financial aid…get accredited majors and minors…and participate in NCAA athletics.

Next week a seven person team will come to campus to make recommendations about SCSU for next year’s accreditation process. Mass Communications professor Dr. Lisa Heinrich says students can have input in this process.

SOT-Dr. Lisa Heinrich, SCSU Professor

And to increase the incentive to learn about accreditation…student can win prizes.

SOT- Nick Nelson, SCSU Public Relations Senior

This is Jenna Pearson for UTVS News.

Anchor Tag Script

For more information about the accreditation process here at SCSU or about how you can help…go to www.stcloudstate.edu/hlc

Graphic on screen FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.STCLOUDSTATE.EDU/HLC

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Public Relations: St. Cloud State University’s Higher Learning Commission Accreditation

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	A-Z Index \| News \| Library \| Technology \| Support St. Cloud State \| St. Cloud State University Home Admissions Academics Student Life About SCSU Athletics Alumni & Friends The Department Undergraduate Programs Graduate Program Student Organizations Student Work Advertising Campaigns Public Relations Campaigns Radio Broadcasts Global Connections Alumni Public Relations: St. Cloud State University’s Higher Learning Commission Accreditation Professor Lisa Heinrich’s 2006-2007 public relations classes got some real-world experience right here on campus this year when they created a campaign to raise student awareness of St. Cloud State University’s Higher Learning Commission Accreditation. St. Cloud State goes through the accreditation process every 10 years. Professor Heinrich’s fall and spring PR Cases and Campaigns classes planned, budgeted, created, executed and evaluated a campaign to inform students about the accreditation team’s visit and what Higher Learning Accreditation means. Their campaign included a media kit, a letter to the editor in University Chronicle and a flierthat was so professional former St. Cloud State President Roy Saigo wrote them a personal thank-you note. Their campaign was successful. According to their surveys, student awareness of accreditation rose from 17 to 50 percent fall semester and 27 to 70 percent spring semester. Most important, working on the campaign was valuable for Heinrich’s students, who got to apply their classroom learning to a real PR campaign. “We do a lot of hypothetical scenarios. Actually completing it has been a great experience – knowing things go wrong and being able to adapt,” said Laura Hoffman ‘07. Professor Heinrich put together a packet of all the materials for her students to include in their work portfolios to show prospective employers. Sample Release Contact: Dr. Lisa Heinrich - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tel. 320/308-4925 Home Phone: 651/227-8619 Email: llheinrich@stcloudstate.edu SCSU CLASS PROMOTES STUDENT AWARENESS OF ACCREDITATION SCSU’s Unique Effort to Involve Students in the University’s HLC Accreditation Review SCSU students in Communications 438-538, Public Relations Cases and Campaigns, are conducting a campaign to increase students’ awareness of the university’s upcoming accreditation review in preparation for the site visit April 16-18. The Students Appreciate Accreditation Week will be April 2-6. Students dressed in red t-shirts will distribute information and prizes. Fliers, posters, buttons and candy will inform students about why university accreditation is important to them. A similar campaign in the same class last fall increased student awareness from 17% to 50%. Class instructor Dr. Lisa Heinrich said the SCSU effort to involve students is unusual if not unique among institutions participating in Higher Learning Commission accreditation. When the class surveyed around 500 students regarding their awareness of the upcoming review scheduled in April, 80 percent indicated they did not know about it. Communications students have been involved in the entire scope of the campaign: planning, organizing, creating and executing. All colleges and universities can choose to submit to rigorous reviews by accrediting organizations applicable to their programs. These organizations’ teams of professionals and educators base their evaluations on how well the school prepares its graduates for employment and advanced degrees. Accreditation is a guarantee that a program has met the highest national standards. For more information on Accreditation go to http://www.stcloudstate.edu/hlc Sample Script University Television Station April 3, 2007 Anchor Introduction Script Many students simply pass by the kiosks in Atwood…however this week there is one kiosk that could effect every student. Reporter Jena Pearson headed over to this booth to learn about accreditation. Reporter Package Script Accreditation…one word that determines many things for a campus like St. Cloud State…and yet many students know little about the affects of this word. This year mass communications students decided to change this. One of these students is Nick Nelson. SOT-Nick Nelson, SCSU Public Relations Senior Being an accredited university allows St. Cloud State to receive federal financial aid…get accredited majors and minors…and participate in NCAA athletics. Next week a seven person team will come to campus to make recommendations about SCSU for next year’s accreditation process. Mass Communications professor Dr. Lisa Heinrich says students can have input in this process. SOT-Dr. Lisa Heinrich, SCSU Professor And to increase the incentive to learn about accreditation…student can win prizes. SOT- Nick Nelson, SCSU Public Relations Senior This is Jenna Pearson for UTVS News. Anchor Tag Script For more information about the accreditation process here at SCSU or about how you can help…go to www.stcloudstate.edu/hlc Graphic on screen FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.STCLOUDSTATE.EDU/HLC Student Projects Advertising SCSU students win award with Coke campaign Broadcasting Tibetan Monks Sand Art Podcast Broadcasting 40 years of KVSC sports Public Relations Higher Learning Commission Mass Communications (contact information) 720 4th Avenue South - St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301-4498 Page Revised: 09/15/2008 Phone: (320) 308-3293 © 2009 St. Cloud State University Site Map \| Map & Directions \| Contact SCSU \| Accreditations St. Cloud State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer. St. Cloud State University is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.