Marketing for the ADGISA and MGISA Programs
In the early years of the ADGISA program, I worked with our program coordinator to promote the program and I was able to provide technical answers for prospective students and technical assistance for the marketing people. One rainy weekend, I created a paper Dymaxion globe layout on a whim, which was then printed and sent out with an information package to Geography program chairs nationwide.
Cut-out dymaxion projection globe that was distributed Canada-wide in 2009 (printed size is 11″x17″)
In, 2011, an administrative change caused the loss of our program coordinator. I took on the role of social media coordinator, and started the group on Facebook where previous, current, and potential future students could mingle, and where I could informally answer questions about the program.
A more focused effort involved continuing the monthly GoToMeeting webinars, where we gave a live formal presentation about the program, different options, courses offered, employment prospects, tuition costs — basically answering all the questions that had been repeatedly asked by students in the past. The webinar allowed students to ask detailed questions, allowing them to assess whether the program was the right one for them.
Nanaimo News Bulletin article on ADGISA program, April 21, 2009 (click to zoom).
After leaving my full time position, I was asked to return to Vancouver Island University to perform some marketing for the ADGISA program. Enrolments had declined and there were few staff to pick up the marketing work that the program coordinator had done previously, so I agreed to come back on contract to work towards boosting enrolments.
Some of the initiatives that I undertook included:
- to ensure that our program was advertised or listed in program directories on a large number of GIS websites;
- to write articles promoting the program, such as the one that appeared on the GoGeomatics website;
- to continue hosting webinars for prospective students;
- to rewrite and redesign the ADGISA website, and to write the website for the MGISA program in a similar style; and
- to promote the programs on Facebook.
After this short, intense effort, enrolments had increased again to an acceptable level, so the marketing was discontinued.
Lunch and Learn Presentations
While I was working on my Ph.D., I provided several presentations for the VIU “Lunch and Learn” series.
- Sept. 26, 2017: The Place in GIS Project: Modelling Place Attachment in Colliery Dam Park and Beyond
- Oct 2, 2012: Measuring a Sense of Place in Colliery Dam Park, Nanaimo