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© 2008 PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative www.podi.org Best Practices in Digital Print Case Study
 Boise State University Makes a Great First Impression on New Students
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Project: Boise State University Makes a Great First Impression on New

Students
Vertical Market: Education
Business Application: Direct Marketing/Loyalty

New and transfer students heading off to Boise State begin their experience
with an Orientation session. Assuring a positive initial experience is key to
building a long-term relationship with students. In that perspective, the
University takes the challenge seriously. It has developed personalized
Orientation invitations, full of individualized information, maps, and
directions, and designed to make that first visit to campus for students and
their families easy and enjoyable.

Program Objectives
• Provide each student the information he or she needs to navigate the
campus easily and attend the correct Orientation program without
problems

• Communicate students’ personal schedules, agendas, and activities so

they will be better informed about the Orientation program and specific
program components that will assist with the student’s overall transition
to the university

• Direct students to the most convenient parking areas and provide dated
guest parking permits

Significant Results Reported by User

• Increased positive experience of first-time students reinforcing the belief
that they have made the right choice in choosing to attend Boise State

• Fewer lost, late, and unprepared Orientation attendees

• Significantly enhanced customer service through timely and

personalized program confirmations

• Increased overall program attendance and awareness

Best Practices in Digital Print Case Study www.podi.org © 2008 PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative
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Description
Boise State University mandates incoming students attend an Orientation
session. But for new students, sometimes even finding the campus is a
challenge. Navigating it, finding the right location for their specific sessions,
and identifying the closest parking lot can be confusing and potentially ruin
a first experience with the university.

The University’s goal was to assure students started their course of study and
participated in Orientation without the stress or confusion normally
associated with transitioning to college. Therefore, Boise State needed to
identify a method to prepare students for their Orientation program.

Orientation programs are held throughout the year, in two different

locations on campus, each with different parking opportunities. Some new
students are from the local area, others from out of town. Agendas and
schedules are specialized to address each student’s prior academic
experience, program of study, and the involvement of their families.

Making sure each student received correct information, a personalized

program agenda, appropriate maps and directions, and the right parking
permit—all in an accurate, timely and personalized manner—led the
University to a digital solution.

© 2008 PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative www.podi.org Best Practices in Digital Print Case Study
 Boise State University Makes a Great First Impression on New Students
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Before moving this project to digital technology, the Orientation invitation

production process offered limited speed, economy, and flexibility. A fixed
number of full-color offset pre-print shells were created ahead of time and
then personalized as needed, using only black variable text.

This approach resulted in occasional shortages or overruns of shells. Using

digital technology, Boise State Printing and Graphics Services (PGS) prints
only the amount needed, and can turn them around within a day of
receiving the appropriate lists.

“Digital printing technology was the perfect solution allowing us to easily

disseminate information for complex orientation programs to entering
students in a personalized, understandable, efficient, and exciting format,”
said Rob Dennis, Associate Director of New Student and Family Programs.

The new communications also have greater relevance and are far more
colorful and inviting. The new pieces were designed specifically to optimize
1-to-1 marketing opportunities by the Printing and Graphics Services
Department’s own talented graphic design staff. Variables include the
student’s name, address, and date and time of orientation; the location and
map (or maps); the parking permit for the correct lot; and the Orientation
schedule and agenda. The use of heavyweight paper makes the piece easy to
keep and carry for on-site reference. The attached parking permit is
perforated and die cut to fit around a rear-view mirror.

Best Practices in Digital Print Case Study www.podi.org © 2008 PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative
 5
Lists of attendees are downloaded by PGS twice a week in Excel format,
brought into the XMPie uProduce database, output as PDFs, and
automatically queued for printing on the EFI Fiery-driven Xerox iGen3
digital production press. The scoring and die cutting is all done in advance,
and the sheets are available immediately to run through the press.

The final tri-fold brochure is mailed out several days or several weeks before
each scheduled Orientation.

Boise State University has received extremely positive feedback from

students and families about the Orientation brochures. As one of the first
direct communications between the University and new students, it makes a
terrific first impression and gives students all the information they need to
have a fun and productive introduction to their new campus.

© 2008 PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative www.podi.org Best Practices in Digital Print Case Study
 Boise State University Makes a Great First Impression on New Students
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Client Boise State University

New Student & Family Programs
www.boisestate.edu
Offering more than 190 fields of interest, Boise State is the largest university in
Idaho, with an all-time state enrollment record of approximately 19,000
students.

Print Provider & Boise State University Printing and Graphics Services
Agency www.boisestate.edu
Printing and Graphics Services (PGS) provides Boise State University and Idaho
state agencies with cost-effective graphic communication products and services.
Its purpose is to be a major contributor in the dissemination of information—
faster, at lower cost. PGS is a full-service solution provider offering relevant
marketing expertise utilizing digital, offset, copying, and wide-format printing
capabilities.

Hardware EFI Fiery-driven Xerox iGen3 digital production press

EFI Print MIS Solution PrintSmith, PrintSmith Site and EFI prepress workflow
Software Originally produced with XMPie uDirect. Now using XMPie uProduce.

Target Audience Undergraduate students

Date Ongoing

Best Practices in Digital Print Case Study www.podi.org © 2008 PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative