As the future workforce of the Greater Dubuque region begins their higher education journeys, the 2024 Student Welcome Letter Campaign sought to ensure they feel welcomed and valued. This campaign, a collaboration between Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh and City Council, and all local higher education institutions, plays a key role in fostering a strong connection between students and the community.
Phase 1 of the campaign included mailing 1,277 physical letters to new and transfer students across six institutions, including Clarke University, Emmaus Bible College, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), Loras College, University of Dubuque, and Wartburg Seminary. The letters, sent to students' home addresses, introduced Dubuque as a welcoming place to live, work, and explore. Along with the welcome letter, students received information about programs such as Work That Works, a job matching initiative designed for students, and the Jule Fee Waiver, which offers free public transportation for college students.
Phase 2 took the campaign digital, reaching a broader audience through targeted email outreach. Over 4,350 emails were sent to new, returning, and international students. By collaborating with career services offices, the campaign reached students at Clarke University, Emmaus Bible College, NICC, Loras College, and the University of Dubuque. The email outreach achieved an impressive 98.7% delivery rate, with nearly 60% of recipients engaging by opening the email.
Links within the email provided students with access to key resources, including the Dubuque Regional Airport website for information about the return of commercial air service, details about the Jule Fee Waiver program, and details about upcoming events in the YOU can be great here Community of Colleges series. The campaign achieved 303 total clicks on these resources, highlighting student interest in learning more about the opportunities available to them in Dubuque.
The success of this year’s effort is a testament to the collective impact of the participating institutions and community partners. Special thanks go to the student engagement offices and leaders at each institution for their help in facilitating and promoting the campaign.
“These students are the future workforce, innovators, and community leaders who will shape the Greater Dubuque region. Our commitment to making meaningful connections with them now is essential to ensuring they feel welcomed, valued, and inspired to stay in our community after graduation,” said Rick Dickinson, President & CEO of Greater Dubuque Development Corporation.
With the 2024 campaign complete, Greater Dubuque looks forward to continuing its engagement efforts through the robust 2024-2025 YOU can be great here Community of Colleges event series and ongoing outreach aimed at retaining talent in the region.
For more information about our annual student welcome letter efforts, contact Nic Hockenberry, Director of Workforce Programming at 563-557-9049 or nicolash@greaterdubuque.org.