DSU Advancement Office adds call center
DSU Dialers now call from one room
The Dakota State University Advancement Office has a new
way to reach potential donors. An eight-station call center has
been added for the “DSU Dialers” phonathon team.
“This is the first year that we’ve been able to have
all of the callers together in one room, which has helped
tremendously,” Tracy Frederick, Phonathon Director said. “In
the past the dialers used individual offices to make calls, so
they were all separated.”
Before they ever pick up a phone, the dialers go through a
three-hour training session in which they receive background
information about the university and a briefing on why contact is
made with alumni and friends asking for their support. In addition
to that, each caller goes through a five-minute training session
each night before calling.
“I made sure the callers understood why we do this and
what the monetary support is used for so they in turn can educate
the alumni and friends they talk to,” Frederick said. “The
student supervisor (Karen Hildebrand) or I have a five-minute
session with them to go over questions any of them might have or
to remind and update them on certain issues.”
Renae Ranschau from Ellsworth, MN is in her second year as
a DSU Dialer. She says this year is more organized than in years
past.
“A lot of work has been put into it this year,”
Ranschau said. “It’s more organized.”
Ranschau likes the new set up this year and being able to
talk to fellow dialers. She says the addition of the call center
has made it fun.
“It’s better being around others,” she said. “You
see others having fun and that gives you more motivation.”
DSU Dialer Adam Hafner, a junior from Mitchell says the
atmosphere is great and he likes being around other callers.
“Having a group keeps the atmosphere light,” he said.
“It’s nice not being all by yourself, having a group
mentality.”
Along with being in a group setting to make the night
better, forty local businesses have provided prizes for the
dialers for contests.
“I was very overwhelmed with the support from local
businesses,” Frederick said. “We give prizes away during
nightly, weekly and semester long competitions. These prizes make
each night of calling exciting and fun.”
Having the call center and additional training have also
increased donations to the university. During last year’s
phonathon callers averaged $2,000 per week. Callers this year are
averaging that same figure per night. Credit card donations are
also up from previous years.
“We’re up in credit card donations 99 percent,”
Frederick said. “These are great. They fulfill the gift
instantly, saving DSU postage and processing costs.”
Dialers call Sunday through Thursday nights throughout the
Fall and Spring Semester.
A total of 14 students work in the call center. Other
dialers are Karen Hildebrand (student manager) of Morden Manitoba,
Canada; Hillary Wiese of Ortonville, MN; Maggie Lorenz of
Parkston; Kendra Stokke of Platte; Amanda Dorman of Garretson;
Kayla Ratcliff of Gillette, WY; Beth Lange of Sibley, IA; Jill
Degan of Mitchell; Megan Dye of Kingman, AZ; Christina Jensen of
Watertown; Angela Thede of Wayne, NE and Tony Snethen of Winner.
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