Recruitment, Retention, and Relocation: The College Arts Fair

Finding new, talented students to augment an arts program each year is challenging, at best. Recruitment can be especially problematic when the competition comes from nationally ranked state and private institutions. Problems are compounded when students flounder within the program and have no clear goal of what to do when they graduate with an associates degree in art. The College Arts Fair is a model event that tackles all of these concerns at once, with a three-pronged approach. Based on the concept of National Portfolio Day, this event has been used to recruit new students and guide current students on their journey to finish a bachelors degree, or even an MFA. This presentation will analyze how the College of Central Florida has used this annual event to make initial contact with area high school students, encourage current students in a path toward a bachelors degree, and establish connections with area high school art teachers and university arts programs. A variety of the pitfalls, adjustments, and best practices will be discussed for this award-winning approach to recruitment and completion.