Rethinking Graduate Recruitment Weekends: Using Slack to Make Virtual Recruitment as Effective as In-Person Visits

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Minnesota shifted to a virtual graduate student recruitment weekend. Herein we report on a method to conduct a virtual recruitment weekend using the business communication tool Slack. We discuss our strategy to share both research culture and the departmental culture at the University of Minnesota with prospective students. Content creation, Slack channel curation, and a schedule of events is discussed. Additionally, comparisons to previous years acceptance rates demonstrated that the virtual recruitment weekend acceptance rates were statistically unchanged from previous years, indicating that a virtual recruitment weekend on Slack is as effective as an in-person recruitment weekend. Further advantages for using Slack for increasing diversity and decreasing environmental impacts of graduate recruitment weekends are discussed.<br>

Planning for Virtual Interviews: Residency Recruitment During a Pandemic

“…The University of Minnesota utilized this platform for graduate student recruitment during the pandemic with positive feedback from both faculty and applicants. 50 Prior to the interview, programs should provide digital resources that replicate the information traditionally provided in the interview day packet such as curriculum overview, schedules and post-residency career data. 27,32,46 This allows the applicants to familiarize themselves with the program in advance and ask meaningful questions.…”

“…The University of Minnesota utilized this platform for graduate student recruitment during the pandemic with positive feedback from both faculty and applicants. 50 …”