Bates Voices strategy

30-45 seconds (1-2 sentence) answers to several standard, overarching questions.

How

Permissions

To be recorded on camera at beginning of shoot.

• Hi I’m <name> and I’m working on behalf of Bates today.
• Do you give me permission to record you talking today and to post this video publicly on the Web?
• Do you give permission to record in this room/building/space?
• How do we spell/pronounce your name?

Questions

Moments of learning and discovery

• During your time at Bates, can you tell me about a moment that stands out as memorable and meaningful? (Imagine it’s two years from now. What will you remember from the experience?)
• Can you tell me about something significant or surprising you’ve learned as a result of your Bates education?
• Can you tell me about an area of scholarship, research, or service you uncovered which would be ripe for future investigation by Bates people?

Essence of the Bates experience

• Can you tell me what Bates means to you?
• How have you changed as a result of your Bates education?
• What skills, characteristics, and values did you develop at Bates that you think are critical to your career?
• For employers: Can you speak to the value of hiring liberal arts majors?

Sustaining the Bates connection

• How do you stay in contact with Bates people?
• For volunteers: When and why did you start volunteering for Bates?

Advice for future Bates people

• What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about coming to Bates (as a student, employee, contributor)?
• What would you like potential students to hear about Bates?

Style

Bates people talking, directly to camera. If cuts are needed, we’ll use a white flash. Shoots can (and should) be in multiple settings; that actually reinforces the idea that Bates is a state of mind, no matter the physical setting. Try to change screen direction regularly.

Target audience

• Accessible to a general audience
• Intelligent, interesting people

[Update: questions from Bates alumni added 2/9/10]