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Edu-casting

UA financial aid staff using podcasts to catch students

A hip, high-tech gadget is helping administrators at the University of Arizona spread the word to students about financial aid.

Esther Cuellar, administrative associate for client services for the school's office of financial aid and scholarships, said the idea arose from seeing the trademark white earphones all over campus.

"Everywhere we would see students walking around with an iPod. We thought, 'Hmmm,
maybe we can use it to get information out to them,' " she says.

That was how OFSA on the Air podcasts were born. The 30-minute programs were launched last November and feature a new topic each month. The subjects are available a month before key financial aid or scholarship deadlines. Podcast subjects include financial aid basics, scholarships, FAFSA information and financial aid information for parents.

"The shows are geared toward what's upcoming. Students see what they need to do as far as admissions or applications," Cuellar says.

Sponsors got behind the concept and agreed to send information to all Arizona high schools to reach out to incoming freshmen. The free podcasts are available on iTunes and Cuellar says that she has gotten inquiries from people in foreign countries.

"They are asking how we did it and they want to do it too," she says.

A student survey given before creation of the podcasts indicated that they would listen to a half-hour information session on topics if it were readily accessible and convenient. A committee of staff members offered their expertise and a scriptwriter composed the wording and made sure the content was clear and easy to understand.

After evaluating this trial period, she hopes the program will expand to include an interactive session similar to instant messaging, where students can ask questions and get live answers from personnel. So far, feedback has been positive, particularly on the scholarship program, Cuellar says.

"We're hoping Hispanic students are getting the information. They are among the ones we are trying to reach - students who think they can't go to school and they can," she says.