News and Events

eLearning Brings Home 14 National Marketing Awards

by Lucy Worley, Media Relations Coordinator

Texas Tech University eLearning Director of Marketing, David Hankins, and Assistant Director of Marketing, Melissa Morrow, recently traveled to West Palm Beach, Florida, to attend the annual University Professional Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) Marketing and Enrollment Management Seminar (MEMS).

Each year, UPCEA draws hundreds to this marketing conference. Leaders in higher education marketing are able to come together to learn, collaborate and grow through professional development.

This year, David and Melissa attended to accept the 14 awards that both Worldwide eLearning and Texas Tech University Independent School District received from UPCEA. Every year, part of the MEMS conference includes an award ceremony for the schools that have submitted marketing pieces to be judged. Texas Tech was well represented this year, placing with two gold, eight silver and four bronze awards.

Newsletters, social media presence, catalogs, magazine ads and a YouTube ad campaign were just a few of the many pieces for which Texas Tech received recognition.

Beyond the award ceremony, there were other components of the conference that David and Melissa found rewarding. They took away many ideas they thought could be implemented to better market online programs at Texas Tech.

"The theme for this year's UPCEA MEMS conference was 'Inspire' and I really was inspired by the creativity and professionalism demonstrated by the presenters and attendees. I came home full of new ideas," Melissa said.

Both Melissa and David agreed that the standout session of the conference was Elizabeth Scarborough Johnson's "Branding: Development, Management, Strategy" session. Specific ideas about how to align marketing efforts under your university's already existing branding were some of the many helpful tips Johnson spoke about.

In addition to receiving new and creative ideas on how to streamline and organize marketing efforts, the networking at the conference was also a crucial part of the experience. "It was really helpful and refreshing being able to meet your counterparts at other universities and schools. These are the people who are out there doing what you are doing and facing the same challenges. The networking at this conference was key for me," David said.

Leaders at UPCEA stated, "MEMS has always been a place where ideas are freely exchanged," and encouraged conference attendees to "network with peers and share ideas that will help move your institution as well as professional and continuing education forward as a whole."

This conference proved to be an excellent resource to eLearning as they continue to provide the quality online education that Texas Tech is known for so that students truly can know that from here, or anywhere, it's possible.