JCJC’s PTK gets students to “Commit to Complete” | Schools

The following is a press release from Jones County Junior College:

Jones County Junior College’s International Honor Society Phi Theta Kappa is getting sophomore students to “Commit to Complete” this week as part of its Honors in Action Project and the national Graduation Initiative. This will take place January 23-25 in various campus buildings beginning at 7:30 a.m. each day through 1:30 p.m.

JCJC students will be signing a large banner pledging to commit to graduate vs. transferring without a degree. At the May graduation, one student who made the pledge will win a $2,500 scholarship in a drawing. JCJC students will earn an extra chance to win the scholarship by playing games during halftime at Thursday’s PRCC vs. JCJC Men’s Basketball game around 9 p.m.

The Jones County Junior College Marketing Department partnered with the college’s Rho Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society on its college Honors in Action project, “The Tassel’s Worth the Hassle” which is also part of PTK’s 4C’s initiative: Community College Completion Corp.  Both programs correspond with the national goal of the President in his American Graduation Initiative to improve graduation rates by 2020.

This project consists of both internal and external marketing campaigns aimed at boosting the graduation rate at Jones in unique ways involving both the faculty and students. Promotional items created included stickers with the logo, book marks with inspiring messages, a million dollar bill with Bobcat Graduate and a huge vinyl sign for students to sign showing their commitment.

The JCJC PTK advisors and student officers worked with the JCJC Marketing Department to assist with implementation of the PR campaign campus wide and community wide. The project involved print, web and broadcast media, and a skit to explain the goals of the campaign.

Students and PTK advisors dressed in graduation gowns and moved the large sign to various spots on campus to share the message: The Tassel is Worth the Hassle.  Most JCJC students learned the importance of graduating vs. transferring during this campaign.  One measurement tool of its success includes JCJC’s graduation numbers rising significantly to warrant two ceremonies for the first time.

At the PTK Regional convention the “Tassel’s Worth the Hassle” was the reason Jones’ was recognized as one of 2011’s Top 25 College Projects. The project also earned an international award and helped to win two other related honors.  The PTK student president and PTK advisor that coordinated the ‘Tassel’ project were also asked to present the project to the 1,280 chapters in the international honor society at its international conference recently.  The JCJC marketing department created the PowerPoint presentation that was shown at the convention. The PTK adviser presenting at the convention said this project will be a model for other chapters internationally.