WWU PRSSA CHAPTER
OUR STORY
Winter break of 2023 year marked the beginning of an exciting and challenging chapter for a group of journalism students at Western Washington University. Originally established in 2016, the WWU PRSSA Chapter had gone dormant during the pandemic, but a chance discovery of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) ignited the group's passion to bring the Western chapter back to life.
Starting from scratch, the students had just $500 in funds and a handful of outdated accounts to manage. With an outdated chapter constitution and numerous digital platforms, the team had no idea where to begin or if their peers would even be interested in their efforts. But, after learning about the 2024 PRSSA Leadership Assembly, the students saw an opportunity to connect with fellow chapters, and PRSSA National and network with professionals, all contributing to mapping out a revitalization process.
Attending the PRSSA Leadership Assembly in Seattle was a turning point. The event ignited our excitement for the Chapter’s relaunch, and connecting with industry professionals and other PRSSA Chapters provided invaluable insights. One of the highlights was the Chapter roundtable event, where we exchanged ideas and best practices with students from across the country. As we counted down the days until the spring quarter, our eagerness to officially launch the WWU PRSSA Chapter grew stronger.
With our launch approaching, we knew that social media would play a crucial role in engaging with students. As the social media and communications coordinator, one of our team members quickly identified Instagram as the most effective platform for reaching our audience. Drawing from both coursework and officer roles, they developed a strategic communication plan, created a style guide, and designed visually appealing content to enhance our online presence. Within the first two months of relaunching the Chapter’s Instagram, we saw a 200% increase in overall engagement—a promising start to our journey.
As we planned for the spring quarter, we discussed how many events we wanted to host. Initially, we considered hosting just one or two events, unsure of what student engagement would look like. However, as the quarter progressed, we finalized a quarterly calendar featuring nine events, including four PR agency tours and sessions with industry professionals. The students’ enthusiasm exceeded our expectations and motivated us to continue pushing forward.
Promoting our events and building awareness of the Chapter on campus became a top priority. We worked tirelessly to build rapport with professors, send newsletters to departments, put up informational posters, and talk about the Chapter in our classes. These efforts paid off, as more and more students became aware of and interested in joining PRSSA.
To further engage our members on Instagram, we created recap reels of agency tours, interactive content, and member spotlights. Additionally, by partnering with PRSA National Headquarters, we received 11 complimentary memberships, which we raffled off at events. This initiative helped us increase membership and demonstrate the benefits of joining PRSSA early on.
Revitalizing the Chapter from the ground up was daunting at times, but the reward of student engagement made it all worthwhile. Our involvement in the WWU PRSSA Chapter’s revitalization efforts significantly deepened our understanding and application of public relations techniques and strategies. Throughout the quarter, we found joy in applying our knowledge and devising communication strategies to excite and engage students.
By the end of the school year, we met with a student from another university who was diligently working to revive her school’s Chapter. As we recounted our revitalization process and shared what had worked for us, we realized how far we’d come. Just six months ago, we were in her shoes, and now we had a reestablished Chapter that was stronger than ever and poised for continued growth. We felt honored to share our journey and contribute to the supportive family environment that PRSSA embodies.
The journey to revitalize the WWU PRSSA Chapter was one of determination, collaboration, and growth. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited for the future of our Chapter as we continue to build on the foundation we’ve set.