Kent State’s National Student Exchange (NSE) is a study away program available for any undergraduate student enrolled at the university who has sophomore status or higher. NSE gives students the ability to study away for a semester or one academic year at any of the program’s schools.

Primary and secondary research revealed NSE faces a lack of awareness, excitement and participation among the Kent State student and faculty population. During interviews with freshman psychology, biology and business management students, these key audiences expressed interest in the program. However, the students said certain obstacles would keep them from participating.

We created a two year plan that includes objectives, strategies and tactics filled with print and digital media, along with small and large scale face-to-face tactics. Through print and digital media, we planned to encourage these students to participate and create awareness of the program. We advised a partnership with groups associated with specific majors to help promote NSE events and build a relationship with each key audience. Finally, to include the entire campus and show any student is a good fit for the program, we drafted larger scale events that will encourage students to participate in fun activities and inform them about NSE. If implemented, the two year plan will increase the annual average of Kent State NSE participants to 30 by February 2016, and to 55 by February 2017.