Enrollment Management Advisory Committee Strategic Proposals
 

 

Proposal #1:  Recruitment

 

Strategic Area III: Recruit, retain and graduate a vital and diverse student body that ensures the College’s leadership in women’s education

 

1. Please submit a brief narrative description of the proposed request that addresses the following criteria:

 

Description of the proposal including title of Task Force and proposal.

 

EMAC Recruitment Proposal

 

Saint Mary’s College, the President and the President’s Cabinet should mandate the development of a campus wide initiative to expand the efforts to recruit students with diversity being a primary goal.

 

Research trends in recruitment efforts will be identified and the current marketing message will be examined.

Design or adjust current marketing efforts to reflect these findings.

Focus on the talents and skills of SMC employees outside of the Admission Office in recruitment efforts.

Identify faculty members or administrators fluent in Spanish to communicate with Hispanic families where English is a second language.

Utilize the athletic department more extensively in the recruitment of student athletes or to promote life outside the classroom.

Bring high school leaders to campus to work with Student Government for a day conference.

Continue in efforts to reorganize Fall Day/Spring Day/Accepted Day to include inside the classroom experiences and other academically focused programs.

Make College tours at times when activity is high and prospective students can identify social opportunities.

Hold College overnights around Midnight Madness.

Start tours at times when classes are changing so current students are visible.

Include tour stops at Intramural events or varsity sporting events when appropriate.

Identify new buildings and their impact on social life (student center) or academic life (new academic building).

Concentrate significant resources on recruitment in Indiana and other regional areas the research shows as a vital applicant pool. 

Target areas of minority populations.

 

Justification for the proposal.

                        i.  Why is this activity particularly important to the College?

It is essential that the entire college commit to the active recruitment of new students, especially students of color.  As has been illustrated graphically in the last few years, the issue of enrollment is of crucial concern to all constituents of the college.

 

                        ii.  What would be the impact if this proposal is not funded?

 

 Many of the ideas cited in this proposal require no additional funding.  Funding is required for the following:

 

(c) Focus on the talents and skills of SMC employees outside of the Admission Office in recruitment efforts

 

If interested faculty or administrators are recruited for this effort they must be compensated for their time, either by a course release or by stipend.  Further, the time spent in recruitment activities should be deemed valuable in considerations of tenure or promotion.  If this proposal is not funded a pool of talented and energetic individuals outside the admissions office will not be identified.

 

Relation of the proposed program to strategic plan.  Related to specific                 action detail.

            Addresses Strategic initiative 3.2.2.3-- Develop the Enrollment                          Management Plan

           

            D.        Specific outcomes of the proposal.

                        i. What results do you anticipate? 

                                    Increased number of qualified applicants

                                    Increased number of applicants of color

                                    Increased enrollment

 

                        ii. How will you assess your results?

                                    Number of applications

                                    Selectivity

                                    Yield

                                    Diversity statistics

 

2. Please attach a list of significant items in each of these categories needed by your proposal:

    

A. Capital Equipment

Position(s)       

One course release for four faculty members interested in travelling/corresponding with prospective students and their families.  The duties would be spread over two semesters with a 3-3 teaching load.       

 

Compensation for staff/administrators as determined by the cabinet.                  

C. Telecommunications                                                                                                

            D. Contractual services                                                                                    

E. Materials and supplies                                                         

Travel              


Proposal #2:  Retention

 

Strategic Area III: Recruit, retain and graduate a vital and diverse student body that ensures the College’s leadership in women’s education

 

1. Please submit a brief narrative description of the proposed request that addresses the following criteria:

 

Description of the proposal including title of Task Force and proposal.

 

                        EMAC Retention Proposal

 

Saint Mary's College currently holds an 85-87% retention rate which is significantly higher than the national average.  In order to maintain this level and enrich the experience of all SMC students it is recommended that a “College 101” class be created and required of every first year student during her first semester. 

 

In this class students will focus on two primary issues, life in the classroom and life outside the classroom.  These adjustment issues are directly related to the happiness and retention of the students.  It is anticipated that students taking this course will form a relationship with other students in class and with the person teaching the class, thus creating a support system necessary for students to feel connected to the College.

 

The class addresses the academic skills needed to be successful at SMC.

Writing skills

Study skills

Time management

Class participation and attendance

Addressing a problem in the classroom

Taking exams

Ethical issues

The class addresses the life skills needed to be successful at SMC.

Living with a roommate

Being away from home and responsible for yourself

Alcohol and other social choices

Student leadership

Diversity

Sexual Assault

Choosing a life plan

This is a non credit class, graded as Pass/Fail.

Maximum of 20 students per section.

A variety of faculty and administrators would teach the class.

Faculty from a variety of disciplines

Faculty with a strong interest in teaching this class

Administrators such as Directors of Residence Life, Counseling and Career, Multicultural Affairs, Student Activities, if interested

Each person would be paid $500.00/section taught for the semester.

Class would be held one day a week for 50 minutes.

 

It is also expected that the new Student Center and Academic Building will have a positive impact on student happiness and retention.  These facilities will be state of the art and meet the changing demands of incoming students.  The Student Center is expected to create an environment that promotes social interaction and opportunities for student leadership.  The Academic Building is expected to give students the best facility to learn, explore and discover new opportunities in their field of study.  These facilities should be used as much as possible in the recruitment and retention efforts of the College. 

 

Justification for the proposal.

 

                        i. Why is this activity particularly important to the College?

All discussions of retention by the Enrollment Management Advisory Committee have centered around issues of student morale on campus: roommate problems, conflict management, general readiness for the college experience.  This course would provide a built-in support system for every first year student. It would enable the College to better serve the needs of the students by tracking their progress and assisting them when necessary.

                                   

                                    ii. What would be the impact if this proposal is not funded?

It would be impossible to establish a course of this nature without adequate compensation for the individuals involved.

 

Relation of the proposed program to strategic plan.  Related to specific action detail.

            Addresses Strategic initiative 3.2.2.3-- Develop the Enrollment Management Plan

           

            .           Specific outcomes of the proposal.

                        i. What results do you anticipate? 

                                    Higher rate of retention

                                    Higher degree of happiness with those who persist at the College.

 

                        ii. How will you assess your results?

                                    Retention statistics

                                    Surveys

 

2. Please attach a list of significant items in each of these categories needed by your proposal:

    

A. Capital Equipment

B.  Position(s)  

            Stipend of $500 X number of sections (up to 20 students per class)

C. Telecommunications                                                                                                

            1. Contractual services                                                                                                            
            2.  Materials and supplies         

D.  Copying expenses                                      

E.  Travel