Dancing with Your Campus Stars: Elevating Campus Partnerships for a Better Event Experience

Author

Michelle Wu, CCEP
Assistant Director for Campus Visits, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

​Recently, I held our signature admitted student event at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  This all-day Saturday program brought over 1,800 admitted students, along with their families, to campus to meet and engage with the university through sessions with their admitted college (of which there are 11), a resource fair with 30+ campus units, and numerous open houses, housing tours, dining opportunities, and campus tours.  To say the least, this event requires collaboration and coordination across campus for several months - hundreds of students, dozens of faculty members, and countless staff contribute to the planning and execution of the day’s events.
 
As a former competitive ballroom dancer, I think of the campus partnerships event planners cultivate as similar to those I formed on the dance floor.  In order to compete successfully, you must understand, communicate with, and trust your dance partner.  This applies to the conference world - there are numerous campus partners with whom you must develop strong relationships for smooth events and happy clients.

​I find dance concepts connect well with the strategies that build these critical relationships, and there are four I highlight for event planners.

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