Students and visitors are invited to interact wtih 'pop-up' installations on the campus highlighting key aspects of the UD experience, such as this one celebrating Blue Hen spirit.

Bringing the UD experience to life

Article by Carlett Spike Photos by Evan Krape and UD's Social Media Ambassadors April 12, 2019

UD Decision Days become shareable moments

Decisions, decisions…all around the country prospective college students are facing that critical moment that will determine their next step toward the future: where to go to college. For most colleges and universities in the United States, May 1 is the deadline for students to accept offers of admission for fall 2019.

The University of Delaware is expecting thousands of eager potential Blue Hens to come to campus once again during its annual “Decision Days” and is pulling out all the stops to let students know that this is a place where inspiration and possibility define the student experience.

From campus walking tours to open houses to block parties, focused information sessions and student testimonials, visitors to campus are invited to learn firsthand about the many dimensions of the UD experience that can enrich the next four years of their learning and development.

The impact of research is the focus of one of the six 'pop-up' installations around the campus April 12, 13 and 27.

This year, UD is adding a new dimension of experiential flavor to the event to help spark excitement among its potential flock of first-year students. The Office of Communications and Marketing is partnering with Enrollment Management to create six “pop-up” installations featuring key aspects of the UD experience. These include global learning, research, spirit, creativity, community and choosing your future. Prospective students will be able to step into these “moments,” take a photo and imagine what their future might look like if they choose Delaware.

Any visitors or UD community members are encouraged to take photos at each of the pop-ups and share them on social media. Custom Snapchat filters and hashtags #UDBigIdeas and #UDWelcome will be active and available for the students and their families to share their special moments. To learn more about the University of Delaware and all that it has to offer, visit udel.edu/Ideas.

The thematic backdrops are popping up in six locations across campus, including outside of Trabant University Center, the North Green, the UD Bookstore, Memorial Hall, Kirkbride Lecture Hall and Perkins Student Center.

Blue Hens celebrate the opportunities to make a difference in the communities they serve.

Global learning is an important part of the UD experience.

UD's creative culture is always sparking new ideas. The next big idea could be yours.

CC Spruill, a UD senior majoring in exercise science, said she was delighted to see the pop-ups on campus. The theme of “choosing your future,” complete with a blue post and interchangeable gold street signs, related most to her UD journey, she added.

“When I came to Delaware, I thought I was going on one path,” Spruill said. “Because of the school and how amazing it is, I was able to go on multiple paths and find where I finally want to end up in life.”

Spruill chose UD with dreams of pursuing a career in physical therapy. Although her interests shifted, she was able to keep her major and now wants to be a physician's assistant. After graduation, Spruill will work at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and would like to apply for graduate programs the following year.

Where will your journey take you?

The pop-ups are live Friday, April 12, and Saturdays, April 13-27. While the main thrust is to generate energy and interactive engagement with the University’s visiting audience on Decision Days April 13 and 27, the Friday activations are available for current students, faculty and staff to also participate in the celebratory moment of UD possibility and pride.

These pop-up experiences are the latest expression of the larger branding refresh across the University to unify the voice and feel of the various colleges and departments that make up UD. The rollout began last summer with a few key projects, including banner wraps on UD’s buses and some buildings, as well as updates to digital sites and marketing material.

For one pop-up, an airplane set with two window seats and a suitcase is located in front of the North Green. In 1923, UD became the first U.S. institution to offer a study abroad program. For many Blue Hens, traveling abroad is one of the major highlights of their University experience. That was the case for first-year student Ted Fein who spent his first semester in Rome through the World Scholars program.

“I took really fun classes,” Fein said. “I took an art history class that was taught on site. We walked around Rome and took a field trip to Pompeii.”

He said that’s why he most related to the global-learning themed pop-up.

“It was a really cool experience,” Fein said. “I’m glad to promote it on campus with the Instagram walls because I want everyone to have as good of an experience as I did.”

Visitors, students and community members are encouraged to visit the pop-up booths, take photos and share them on social media: #UDBigIdeas and #UDWelcome.