Students will:

1. Research and write an assessment of their findings of the community’s online reputation
2. Present their online assessment to the community via virtual presentation
3. Develop an online communication plan based on their research findings and the feedback from the community
4. Pitch the online communication plan to the community virtually
5. Develop an implementation plan and provide deliverables for the community
6. Present the final implementation plan virtually to the community points of contact

Research Assessment

The research assessment documents and tracks all of the methods and ways that students collected data on the community’s reputation. The reputation is NOT what the community is trying to communicate, but what is showing up in the news, on social media, in search engines, and other places about the community.

Communication Plan

The students create a communication plan based on their research and the feedback from the community to identify what areas the community wants to focus their efforts and how best to go about those efforts.

Implementation Plan

The students develop an implementation plan of how to improve the focus area(s) of the community and how to sustain the improvement in those areas.

Deliverables

Deliverables may include press releases, social media guides, search engine optimization guide (SEO), website guidance, event planning assistance, flyers, and other promotional materials.

Presentations

Student present to their assigned community three times. The first virtual presentation is on the research assessment findings. The second virtual presentation is the communication plan. The final in-person presentation is on the implementation and sustainability plan.

Communities must be willing to:

• Attend at minimum three meetings outlined below. Beyond the three-meeting minimum, additional meetings can take place based on student and partner needs.
  • The first meeting would take place virtually during week 2 of the semester (mid to late January for spring semester and late August/early September for the fall semester). Specific dates will be based on Purdue’s academic calendar and will be determined for each semester closer to that time. At this meeting, the students will present their online research assessment of your community. After the meeting, you will complete a short survey on the information presented. This will allow us to capture what you have learned about your community’s online presence and the quality of facilitation of this step of the program.
  • The second would take place virtually during week 4 of the semester (early to mid-February for spring semester and mid to late September for fall semester). Specific dates will be based on Purdue’s academic calendar and will be determined for each semester closer to that time. The students will present their campaign pitch to your community and you would be able to offer feedback as they move forward with the implementation plan. After the meeting, you will complete a short survey on the information presented. This will allow us to gather information about your learning experience during the feedback process of your community as well as the quality of facilitation of this step of the program. This information will be used to enhance this step of the program.
  • The third meeting would take place virtually during the final week of the semester (late April to early May for spring semester and early December for fall semester). Specific dates will be based on Purdue’s academic calendar and will be determined for each semester closer to that time. The students will present their final campaign and implementation plan for your community. After the meeting, you will complete a short survey on the information presented. This survey will allow us to gather valuable information about your overall experience with the program, but also acquire information as we follow-up with your community after the program.
• Identify one main and one secondary point of contact (POC) for all email communications.
• Receive at least one email per week from the students.
• Respond in a timely manner with accurate information to all student questions and content and provide approval of plans and deliverables when necessary to ensure the success of the campaign.
• Identify key personnel who will implement the work within the community. For example, if the community decides to focus on social media, there needs to be a designee at the community level to utilize the social media deliverables, such as a search engine optimization guide or engaging Facebook posts, which the students develop. Or, if the community focuses on improving websites, there needs to be a designee at the community level who can make and/or oversee the changes and improvements the students recommend. Specifics will also be determined based on what focus the community wants the students to take.
• If the community does not like anything within the plan, the students will work to correct it.
• Students will not be responsible for purchasing materials agreed upon in the plan. For example, if students develop a brochure for community, then the community is responsible for the cost of printing the brochure.
• Students will be allowed to use any work they develop as part of the iFront Door program in their professional portfolios when job searching and interviewing.