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Q&A with Max James 75

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Click Photo to Enlarge Max and his wife, Carol (second from right), hosted an ORU recruiting event in 2007. Also pictured is Trinnin Olsen (left), the Southwest Territory Manager for Undergraduate Admissions, and Jacquelyn Brydon 06.

What brought you to that initial Austin café Coffee Talk? I have always loved ORU and believe in the university, its mission, and faculty, and I want it to succeed. It seemed like a very simple way to help.

Why did you get further involved by opening your home for future events? I thought that if parents and potential students could have a personal contact of someone that went to ORU, that would add credibility to the "marketing" literature. I thought if I could possibly answer questions...it would be a small way to help.

How was the in-home event? The event went well. We only had a couple of students and their parents show, which was fine. We were able to answer their specific questions and give them a personal touch with the university. I think one of the most difficult things to overcome is [not knowing] someone else who is attending ORU or will be attending with them. Even though I am years removed from attending ORU, I hope that I can be a "link" towards someone making that connection to ORU.

In what other ways do you participate in student recruitment, e.g., place materials in your church? Give an impromptu testimony to a high school student? Speak at a local Christian school? Show up at recruiting events? I haven't done much of this except show up at the recruiting event. I did recently go to a banquet for graduating seniors at a church in a nearby city. I manned a table with ORU literature and gifts for the graduates.... Most of them had already decided where they were going to attend....I do think it was a positive connection with the youth leadership, though.

What do you say to potential ORU students? Do you tell them your experience, give them ORU's Web address? I mostly tell them of the great experience it was for me -- that I made friends that are still my friends today. Some I haven't seen for over thirty years but I stay in contact once or twice a year. I tell students about the dedicated faculty and staff who care not only about them getting an excellent education but [who also care to] help them along the way and help prepare them for life! I tell parents that compared to most schools, ORU is a safe place to send your children. I tell them that ORU is an accredited university with real credentials, not an off-the-wall accreditation.