Grassroots Publicity. Proven, Low- or No-Cost Ideas for Adult Education Programs.

This booklet describes 20 inexpensive or no-cost techniques for increasing enrollment and student completion rates in adult education programs. Outlined in the guide are the following techniques or activities: refining class logistics; sponsoring liaisons; designing registration packets and recruitment fliers and writing press releases, radio public service announcements, and letters to prospective students; establishing an English-as-a-second-language (ESL) self-help group; writing a multilingual flyer; sponsoring a student-of-the-year award; advertising on a fast-food placemat; planning an adult education week; designing in-house presentations to acquaint staff of local agencies with available adult education programs; implementing a bring-a-friend-to-class program; using graduation exercises as an opportunity to enhance public relations; using resource persons from local college marketing or advertising classes; obtaining celebrity endorsements; maintaining ongoing contacts; sponsoring an open house; and using packaged public relations. Each activity description includes information about the goals, time requirements, cost, and procedures of the activity as well as a discussion of its relative strengths and weakness and additional recommendations for expanding on the basic implementation procedures outlined. (MN)