NetworkiNg Software Pitchto the DePartmeNt of Slavic & euraSiaN StuDieS + the ceNter of ruSSiaN, eaSt euroPeaN & euraSiaN StuDieS

D S E S + C R E E E SC O N N E C T

Table Of COnTenTs

Who We Are

Purpose & Scope: Strengthening Ties

Product Details: Building a Network

Department Identity & Branding

Current Online Outreach Analysis

Research & Survey Data Insights

Platform Performance: Needs & Capabilities

Platform Optimization: Home Page & Profile

Platform Optimization: Opportunities & Body of Work

Platform Optimization: People

Implementation: Barriers & Opportunities

Suggested Benchmarks

Final Words

Methodologies

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WHO WE AREN2 & Partners is comprised of a group of TexasMedia students at The University of Texas at Austin. Our team is consumer obsessed, data driven and technology propelled. We have cultivated a community comprised of top notch talent, with a diverse but well-rounded knowledge base in consumer research, media and creative advertising.

OUR METHODWe are immersed in our consumers’ vision of the world, obsessed with the data we gather and informed by the insights revealed. We translate those insights into strategies, carefully prototype ideas and execute them into tangible forms. Attention to detail is our cornerstone. Telescope thinking and microscope execution is our foundation.

OUR INSPIRATIONWe understand you– like DSES & CREEES, TexasMedia also represents under 1% of the UT population. As a small entity within a large college and an even larger university, we know how to create and maintain a close-knit network of students, alumni and faculty. We hope to spread our expertise to departments such as DSES, helping you build a strong, connected department.

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PurPOse & sCOPe: sTrengThening Ties

Small department, passionate students, big goal: Strengthening relationships with alumni.

END RESULT: A strong network of alumni, students, and faculty that features new opportunities, bodies of work, and personal connections.

Analyzing current alumni outreach

initiatives and goals

Pulling insights from survey data conducted with current students

Matching department needs to the unique

capabilities of DSES + CREEES Connect

Optimizing DSES + CREEES Connect to meet

department goals and needs voiced by students

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This software is born from the AdGrad & PRGrad platform, which is designed to connect advertising students, faculty, and alumni via three main capabilities– “People”, “Jobs”, and “Portfolios”.

However, we realize the path of each student differs based on their major. We have redefined these features to fit the needs of the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies. The capabilities will evolve into “People”, “Opportunities”, and “Body of Work”.

PrOduCT deTails: building a neTwOrk

students

faculty

alumni

organizations

Our platform,optimized for

DSES & CREEES.

OPPORTUNITIES

Study abroad

Internships (domestic and abroad)

Networking events

Funding opportunities (scholarships, grants,

fellowships etc.)

Job postings

Professional development

BODY OF WORK

Published work

Thesis papers

Resumes

PEOPLE

Profiles for students, faculty and alumni

Contact information,

current jobs and location, links to personal websites

and LinkedIn profiles

Networking opportunities

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DSES + CREEES Connect is an online platform for alumni, students and faculty of the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies to build professional relationships, display bodies of work, and discover new opportunities.

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“The Department's mission is to further excellence in our various disciplines. This means that we:

Provide quality undergraduate instruction in our language and literature programs and interdisciplinary area study courses;

Support study abroad experiences both for graduate students and undergraduates;

Advance knowledge in our research fields of Slavic and Eurasian languages, literatures, cultures, area studies, and linguistics; andPrepare graduate students for both public and private sector careers.”

deParTmenT idenTiTy & branding

MISSION STATEMENT LOGO & COLOR SCHEME

CURRENT ONLINE PRESENCE [WITHIN UT ECOSYSTEM]DSES & CREEES both have their own websites, although both feature a lot of the same information and have the same basic layout.

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CurrenT Online PresenCeCurrenT Online OuTreaCh analysis

A recurring issue across the department’s online presence is inconsistent updates and outdated information. The multiple listservs, newsletters, and emails available muddle the delivery of information.

Our software would give you an avenue to change this. DSES + CREEES Connect allows faculty, students, and alumni to collaboratively update a single network with information as opportunities arise.

FUNCTION / FEATURE LIMITATIONS

“ALUMNI” TAB ON CREEES

WEBSITE

“UNDERGRADUATE” TAB ON

CREEES WEBSITE

“THE FORUM”BLOG

Graduates encouraged to “stay connected with

DSES & CREEES”

A student must subscribe to two listservs to stay up to date with events and opportunities within

the department

Instructs students to reach out to a specific person for information

about “using your degree”

Alumni success stories page

Information about potential career opportunities and study abroad programs

Job and internship listings

Funding and research opportunities

Forum and conference invitations

No formalized process for alumni to stay connected

Different listserv subscriptions clutter inbox and emails could be

deleted or sent to spam

Opportunities are funneled through one person responsible

for dispersing all information

Depends on the department to frequently create content and

update stories

Information is scattered and impersonal

Although information is more consolidated, the blog contributes to fragmented

communication

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researCh & survey daTa insighTs

93%of undergraduate

of respondents said100%

Plan to secure a job related to another

major or area of study

Plan to secure a job related to the field of Russian & Eurasian Studies

The department is small, but student passion and desire for information will drive them to connect with each other and alumni, facilitated through DSES + CREEES Connect.

88%

1. Possible career paths

2. Current job landscape

3. Internship opportunities

of the students who reached out to alumni thought it was helpful for: 50%of the students have not

reached out to alumni60%

DSES & CREEES STUDENTS ARE SEEKING:

Funding (scholarships, grants, etc.)

Internships

Networking events, speaker series

Study abroad opportunities

Graduate school lists and reviews

Other (alumni contacts, study help)

94%

88%

63%

56%

56%

6%

double majors

This data is based on respondents of an online survey distributed to current graduate and undergraduate students in DSES & CREEES.

of undergraduate36%

12%

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Of the students planning to enter the workforce (graduate & undergraduate):

go to graduate schoolrespondents plan to

respondents are

online plaform likethey would use an

DSES + CREEES Connect

PlaTfOrm PerfOrmanCe

NEEDSCAPABILITIES

Consolidation and organization

Strong connections between alumni, students

and the department

Funding for study abroad, programs, research,

publishing

Career Search

Graduate School Search and Reviews

Information on networking events and speaker series

A way to display work to potential employers

Singular entity website of knowledge

Formalized way to keep up with alumni; helping

people network and stay connected

Listing opportunities in cohesive, user-friendly interface through the homepage live feed

Student profiles to host work

DSES + CREEES Connect has a unique set of capabilities to meet specific needs of the Department of Slavic & Eurasian Studies and its students.

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HOME PAGE

PROFILE PAGE

PlaTfOrm OPTimizaTiOn

Live feed of new opportunity posts

Recommendations for new connections

Real-time user counts

Profile status

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OPPORTUNITIES

BODY OF WORK

PlaTfOrm OPTimizaTiOn

Quick visualization of bodies of work submitted by all users

Preview of opportunity listings

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PEOPLE [LIST]

PlaTfOrm OPTimizaTiOn

PEOPLE [BY LOCATION]

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imPlemenTaTiOn

BARRIERS OPPORTUNITIES

Cost of platform software

Most job leads come from organizations and individuals outside the

DSES & CREEES network

The department has a small number of students and a

weak connection to alumni

Sponsorships from organizations such as the Association for Slavic, East European & Eurasian Studies, East View Information Services and the Russian & East European Institute

Designate a person to act as a connection point between the department and outside entities, posting job leads on DSES + CREEES Connect

DSES + CREEES acts as a close-knit network that engages both current students and alumni. Social media and email newsletters can be used to spread the word about the network, highlighting the benefits of having access to an exclusive network of individuals with a common area of study

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Because 100% of survey respondents affirmed they would use an online platform like DSES + CREEES Connect, we believe the following benchmarks are obtainable for the department.

SHORT-TERM GOALS : FIRST MONTH100% student profile creations with a completion rate of at least 50%

50% faculty profile creations with a completion rate of at least 50%

5% alumni profile creations with a completion rate of at least 50%

40 "Opportunities" postings

LONG-TERM GOALS : FIRST YEAR100% student profile creations with a completion rate of at least 75%

100% faculty profile creations with a completion rate of at least 50%

40% alumni profile creations with a completion rate of at least 50%

Average of 60 "Opportunities" postings per month

Over time, the digital connections between students and alumni of DSES & CREEES will help increase alumni participation in events and recruiting on campus.

suggesTed benChmarks

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final wOrds

DSES + CREEES Connect will effectively meet the needs of the department by building professional relationships, displaying bodies of work, and enabling students to discover new opportunities within their field of study.

Our analysis of existing alumni outreach and survey data results revealed unmet student needs within the department – a deeper connection between students and alumni as well as a central, organized source of information. Based on these findings, our team optimized the unique capabilities of DSES + CREEES Connect to meet the most important department needs.

Through the implementation of the DSES + CREEES Connect platform, N2 & Partners and the advertising department hope to develop a long-lasting partnership with the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies.

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D S E S + C R E E E SC O N N E C T

meThOdOlOgy

A Qualtrics survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 21 students from the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies. While the sample does not represent the entire community, 40% of current students responded to the survey, distributed through the department’s social media channels.

An interview with the department was also conducted to gather information. Jenica Jones, Undergraduate and Events Coordinator, and Tamara Kowalski, Communication Coordinator, provided insights on the department’s mission and challenges.

A second interview was conducted with Mary Dunn, an Advertising P.h.D. student, to gather additional insights on AdGrad & PRGrad’s functionalities and its relevance to graduate students.

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