Ohio college uses infomercials to prod students
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AKRON, Ohio (AP) — A university in northeast Ohio is trying humorous, infomercial-style videos to push students to graduate on time.
The Finish In Time, or F.I.T., effort at the University of Akron urges students to take at least a 15-hour course load. The video messages sent by email show co-hosts who dance awkwardly, raise their voices and make comments such as craving “an extremely large burrito.”
They also get across the benefits of saving money and leaving school with less college debt.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports that the school hopes what a marketing official calls the “cheeky, not preachy” approach connects with students.
There are benefits for the school since state funding is linked to six-year graduation rates.
The school’s graduation rates have been around 40 percent or below in recent years.