Jackson State University’s Welcome Center staffers attended the second annual L.I.G.H.T.S. forum recently at Mississippi State University.
L.I.G.H.T.S., an acronym for “Learning Information While Gaining Helpful Training on Visitor Services,” is a free workshop that was conceptualized by JSU last year. It provides staff development training to individuals at welcome centers who are tasked with introducing guests, such as potential students and their parents, to their institutions. The yearly gathering is open to professionals at public, private and community colleges throughout Mississippi.
Gwen Caples, director of the JSU Welcome Center, said, “As the founder of the L.I.G.H.T.S. Workshop, it gives me great pleasure to see us coming together from throughout the state to learn new ideas and strategies for enhancing the campus visit for prospective students, alumni and friends at our respective schools. L.I.G.H.T.S. provides participants the opportunity to network and share best practices, as well as improve customer relations that will hopefully enhance student enrollment and increase participation in campus activities. It provides interactive and valuable training for new and veteran visitor services professionals.”
A steering committee comprised of statewide academic representatives worked for several months to plan the meeting sponsored by MSU and JSU. Guest speaker was Mandi Stanley, an alumnus of MSU and certified speaking professional.
This year, participants from 14 institutions attended the workshop:
- Delta State University
- Jackson State University
- Mississippi State University
- Mississippi Valley State University
- University of Mississippi
- University of Southern Mississippi
- Belhaven University
- Rust College
- Tougaloo College
- Tulane University
- East Mississippi Community College
- Jones County Junior College
- Meridian Community College
- Northwest Mississippi Community College
During the workshop, Caples discussed how JSU began the JSU Welcome Center; Cristi Stevens, coordinator of MSU’s Welcome Center – along with recruitment and admissions professionals – provided an overview of its facility; and representatives from Belhaven and Northwest Community College shared insight about their campus tours.
The workshop also included a speaker from the Greater Starkville Development Partnership; a student panel discussing its tour experiences; and a forum on “best practices for visitor services.”
JSU desires to see all campuses live up to the state’s reputation for Southern hospitality.
“Our goal is to ensure that every visitor is treated with excellent customer service so that they will be encouraged to share their positive experience with others and return to the campus to either enroll, volunteer, make a financial contribution or attend university events,” Caples said. “We target admissions, recruitment, welcome center, customer service professionals and others who are involved with planning and implementing campus visits.”
Finally, Caples said, “Our goal with L.I.G.H.T.S. is to move the event each year to allow individuals an opportunity to visit other campuses throughout the states to learn new ways to enhance information and visitor services.”