How Purdue University Manages Orientation for 8,000+ Students Using Mobile Technology and Gamification
Join us for a live webinar on June 1, 2025, where we'll explore how Purdue University orchestrates one of the largest university orientation programs in the country—serving 8,000+ students across a 4-day experience powered by mobile technology, gamification, and a team of 700+ trained volunteers.
Executing orientation at this scale might sound chaotic, but Purdue's Boiler Gold Rush proves that massive can feel intimate and structured can feel fun. With 600,000+ app sessions, a 75% opt-in rate (despite orientation being optional and paid), and a 95% reduction in printed materials, their approach is a masterclass in large-scale student engagement.
**What You'll Learn**
Craig Johnson, Director of Orientation Programs at Purdue University, will reveal the strategies behind their success, including:
- How to plan a year-round orientation operation with campus-wide partnerships
- Balancing highly structured programming with flexible, choose-your-own-adventure exploration
- Gamification tactics that turn attendance into friendly competition among teams of 1,500–2,000 students
- Implementing and driving adoption of a customized mobile app for complex schedule coordination
- Recruiting, training, and managing 700+ student volunteers
- Using data and surveys to measure belonging and continuously improve the program
**Who Should Attend**
- University orientation directors managing large-scale welcome programs
- Student affairs professionals coordinating multi-day on-campus experiences
- Event planners balancing structure with attendee flexibility and choice
- Higher education leaders implementing mobile technology for student communication
- Campus program coordinators recruiting and training large volunteer teams
**Featured Speaker**
Craig Johnson serves as Director of Orientation Programs at Purdue University, overseeing programs at both the West Lafayette flagship campus and Indianapolis location. He leads a full-time team of nine professional staff and coordinates 700+ student volunteers to facilitate the flagship Boiler Gold Rush program serving 8,000+ students annually.
Register now to learn how Purdue achieves extraordinary engagement at extraordinary scale—and how you can apply these strategies to your own programs.
Executing orientation at this scale might sound chaotic, but Purdue's Boiler Gold Rush proves that massive can feel intimate and structured can feel fun. With 600,000+ app sessions, a 75% opt-in rate (despite orientation being optional and paid), and a 95% reduction in printed materials, their approach is a masterclass in large-scale student engagement.
**What You'll Learn**
Craig Johnson, Director of Orientation Programs at Purdue University, will reveal the strategies behind their success, including:
- How to plan a year-round orientation operation with campus-wide partnerships
- Balancing highly structured programming with flexible, choose-your-own-adventure exploration
- Gamification tactics that turn attendance into friendly competition among teams of 1,500–2,000 students
- Implementing and driving adoption of a customized mobile app for complex schedule coordination
- Recruiting, training, and managing 700+ student volunteers
- Using data and surveys to measure belonging and continuously improve the program
**Who Should Attend**
- University orientation directors managing large-scale welcome programs
- Student affairs professionals coordinating multi-day on-campus experiences
- Event planners balancing structure with attendee flexibility and choice
- Higher education leaders implementing mobile technology for student communication
- Campus program coordinators recruiting and training large volunteer teams
**Featured Speaker**
Craig Johnson serves as Director of Orientation Programs at Purdue University, overseeing programs at both the West Lafayette flagship campus and Indianapolis location. He leads a full-time team of nine professional staff and coordinates 700+ student volunteers to facilitate the flagship Boiler Gold Rush program serving 8,000+ students annually.
Register now to learn how Purdue achieves extraordinary engagement at extraordinary scale—and how you can apply these strategies to your own programs.
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