MTSU’s admissions recruiting team pursued an alternate route to recruit prospective students when its scheduled on-campus tour event was canceled because of coronavirus precautions.

The staff will conduct its first True Blue Spotlight, a livestream event, at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 26. It is a virtual happening for prospective students and their families to get as close of a look as is currently allowed of the Blue Raider campus.

To take part, visit www.mtsu.edu/live or go to MTSU’s Facebook page.

Dr. Sidney A. McPhee

This digital event replaces the canceled True Blue Preview day, scheduled for Saturday, March 21. It will feature Tyler Henson and October Henson, who are not related, as co-hosts and include an interactive real-time Q&A session, new campus tour videos and need-to-know information for incoming freshmen and transfers.

“True Blue Spotlight is yet another example of how we at MTSU are staying on course during this situation and never ceasing in our efforts to move our university forward,” MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee said.

“I appreciate the innovation and energy of our admissions and marketing teams in moving this outreach to a digital format,” McPhee added.

Linda Olsen

Undergraduate admissions Director Linda Olsen said her team “will be bringing MTSU to you. We hope you will join us as we help you explore what MTSU has to offer you.”

“This event will provide an opportunity for students to join our Blue Elite tour guides as they lead a campus tour and share their favorite locations on the MTSU campus,” Olsen added.

Deb Sells, vice president of student affairs and vice provost of enrollment and academic services, said there’s quite a buildup of excitement among admissions staff regarding the livestream event.

Dr. Debra Sells

“We hope both prospective students and our newly admitted students will join us to see some of the best of what MTSU has to offer,” Sells said.

“Our hosts for the event, October Henson and Tyler Henson, were both MTSU students and now, as part of our staff, are the folks that you’ll be working with through the admissions and registration processes,” Sells added. “They are old friends, will have great stories to tell and can’t wait to connect to our new students in this way.”

MTSU has more than 300 combined undergraduate and graduate programs.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)