UNC enlists study abroad students, alumni abroad as recruiters

Study abroad students may soon have the chance to recruit foreign high schools students with the help of international alumni.

With the help of UNC administrators, the global university committee of student government is currently working to create an international admissions ambassadors program.

Mckay Roozen, co-chairwoman of the committee, said the program will help to cost-effectively recruit abroad — especially for a money-pinched admissions office.

“The current situation is that there aren’t a whole lot of funds to go abroad and try to physically recruit,” Roozen said.

“This is a way for the university to save money by using students as a resource who are already going to be there.”

Roozen said students who study abroad will be able to apply for the position and network with alumni in foreign destinations.

She added that these alumni will be able to facilitate connections with the best high schools to target the highest caliber applicants.

The benefits of this program would include a higher percentage of international applicants and greater prestige abroad.

Executive Associate Provost Ron Strauss said previous international recruitment was predominantly word-of-mouth and alumni presentations.

“This wasn’t a bad thing, but it’s not formal outreach,” Strauss said.

Like campus admissions ambassadors, Strauss said international ambassadors will most likely not receive pay compensation.

He added the program will offer other incentives for student involvement.

With more than 3,700 alumni living abroad, Daniel Lebold, director of development for global education, said his office hopes to continue cultivating alumni networks abroad — both for recruitment and for potential University funding. Lebold said the highest concentrations of alumni abroad live in Canada, the United Kingdom, China and India.

He noted these alumni hot spots will likely be the first areas targeted for building formal networks.

“We have to start small and work our way out,” Lebold said.

“We can’t build networks where we don’t have the capacity to sustain them.”

Lebold said strengthening UNC’s relationship with these individuals will help on multiple levels.

He said creating and sustaining alumni networks abroad could also help another subset of students — recent graduates.

He said alumni could provide internship and job opportunities, as well as social support.

“There are a lot out there,” Roozen said about international alumni. “They’re a resource that’s sort of untouched.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.