Reviving Rural County Recruitment Moderator: Clarissa Casper, Admissions Counselor, University of Illinois at Springfield Clarissa Casper, Admissions Counselor, University of Illinois at SpringfieldPresenters: Jonathan Elugbadebo, Senior Admission Counselor, University of Illinois Jonathan Elugbadebo, Senior Admission Counselor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign at Urbana-Champaign Tressman Goode, Assistant Director of Admission, Illinois College Tressman Goode, Assistant Director of Admission, Illinois College Rebecca West, School Counselor, Massac County High School Rebecca West, School Counselor, Massac County High School Leslie Goines, School Counselor, Massac County High School Leslie Goines, School Counselor, Massac County High School Session: D-27 Audience: Secondary, Postsecondary

Essential Questions: Why are we here? Why are we here? What are major challenges with Rural County Recruitment? What are major challenges with Rural County Recruitment? What are some effective ways to engage rural students in the recruitment process? What are some effective ways to engage rural students in the recruitment process?

Rural Definition(s) Rural – of or relating to the country and the people who live there instead of the city. Rural – of or relating to the country and the people who live there instead of the city. - Merriam-Webster

Rural Definition(s) Retrieved from :

Rural Definition(s) Retrieved from : * -- Star indicates State Public Universities

Why are we here? Compelling U.S. interest to ensure that all people have access to a quality education. Compelling U.S. interest to ensure that all people have access to a quality education. Compelling State interest to recruit and enroll the best underrepresented students. Compelling State interest to recruit and enroll the best underrepresented students. 60 million Americans live in rural, or nonmetropolitan areas. 60 million Americans live in rural, or nonmetropolitan areas. Students from rural populations have low postsecondary attendance and completion rates. Students from rural populations have low postsecondary attendance and completion rates.

Challenges Undermatching Undermatching High-achieving low-income students choose to attend local, non- selective colleges & universities High-achieving low-income students choose to attend local, non- selective colleges & universities Perception of size, cost, or selectivity as a barrier to access higher education Perception of size, cost, or selectivity as a barrier to access higher education Limited Resources Limited Resources Some rural high school students do not have superb school counselors who will go above and beyond to advocate for them Some rural high school students do not have superb school counselors who will go above and beyond to advocate for them Some students and families do not understand the importance of higher education nor the options Some students and families do not understand the importance of higher education nor the options Decrease in Rural Populations Decrease in Rural Populations Colleges & universities may elect to give up on recruiting in rural counties Colleges & universities may elect to give up on recruiting in rural counties

Small Group Activity Split into small groups Split into small groups Take 5 minutes to brainstorm effective ways to engage rural students in the recruitment process: Take 5 minutes to brainstorm effective ways to engage rural students in the recruitment process:

Possible Solutions Early Outreach Early Outreach Going to them instead of having them come to campus Going to them instead of having them come to campus Assisting families through financial aid and scholarship process Assisting families through financial aid and scholarship process Being more than just their “admission” counselor Being more than just their “admission” counselor Consortium Travel Consortium Travel Similar colleges and universities travel as a group to different locations Similar colleges and universities travel as a group to different locations Collaborate with Community Colleges Collaborate with Community Colleges Pathway programs Pathway programs Peer Recruitment Peer Recruitment Using currently enrolled students to travel back to their high schools Using currently enrolled students to travel back to their high schools Word of mouth Word of mouth

Possible Solutions Alumni Volunteers Alumni Volunteers Alumni database by high school or county Alumni database by high school or county Alumni working in rural counties Alumni working in rural counties Collaborate with School Counselors Collaborate with School Counselors College Nights College Nights Parent/Teacher Conferences Parent/Teacher Conferences Collaborate with Professional Organizations Collaborate with Professional Organizations IACAC IACAC Downstate Illinois Admission Counselors (DIAC) [ Ended in 2013] Downstate Illinois Admission Counselors (DIAC) [ Ended in 2013] Social Media Social Media

Social Media

Possible Solutions Scholarships Scholarships Virtual College Fairs Virtual College Fairs College Week Live College Week Live Telecounseling Telecounseling Task Forces Task Forces Rural County Task Force Rural County Task Force Public Sporting Events Public Sporting Events Professional, Amateur, or Local Professional, Amateur, or Local State Fairs State Fairs College Day/Night College Day/Night

Public Sporting Events

State Fairs

Salient Quote “ I think U of I does seem big and too far off for a small town kid. I think a college rep coming here would be nice though – I can’t think of a representative ever coming here, which would make the students feel like they were worthy. Maybe students from small towns could also come, or at least you could have a video where students from small towns talk about how they’ve done and maybe how small town life has even helped…But, if no one ever does a college talk here, then of course the kids will feel unwelcome…A rep could do a tour of all of the schools in [our county and the neighboring counties] to make it worth it.” “ I think U of I does seem big and too far off for a small town kid. I think a college rep coming here would be nice though – I can’t think of a representative ever coming here, which would make the students feel like they were worthy. Maybe students from small towns could also come, or at least you could have a video where students from small towns talk about how they’ve done and maybe how small town life has even helped…But, if no one ever does a college talk here, then of course the kids will feel unwelcome…A rep could do a tour of all of the schools in [our county and the neighboring counties] to make it worth it.” - Mrs. MacKenzie Dixon High School Spanish Teacher

Massac County HS College-going culture

Massac County HS College-going culture

Massac County HS No Excuses University (NEU) – No Excuses University (NEU) – Network of elementary, middle, and junior high schools across the U.S. that promote a comprehensive model of college readiness Network of elementary, middle, and junior high schools across the U.S. that promote a comprehensive model of college readiness Based on 2 principles: (1) Every child has a right to be prepared to attend college, and (2) Responsibility of school officials to develop exceptional systems that make that dream a reality Based on 2 principles: (1) Every child has a right to be prepared to attend college, and (2) Responsibility of school officials to develop exceptional systems that make that dream a reality

Massac County HS Culture of Universal Achievement – All staff believe the following : Culture of Universal Achievement – All staff believe the following : Every student will be proficient or advanced in reading, writing, and math. Every student will be proficient or advanced in reading, writing, and math. The academic accomplishment of every student is an obsession The academic accomplishment of every student is an obsession The school can neutralize many challenges that students bring to the classroom The school can neutralize many challenges that students bring to the classroom Student achievement is the number one topic of conversation Student achievement is the number one topic of conversation A maverick spirit must lead the way A maverick spirit must lead the way There are no excuses for poor effort There are no excuses for poor effort Adding computers to classrooms Adding computers to classrooms Help students register for ACT, apply to college, and more! Help students register for ACT, apply to college, and more!

Works Cited & References for further review U.S. Census Data – U.S. Census Data – American Education Research Association – American Education Research Association – The Effects of Rurality on College Access and Choice – geAccessandChoice/tabid/15453/Default.aspx The Effects of Rurality on College Access and Choice – geAccessandChoice/tabid/15453/Default.aspx News-Gazette Article – News-Gazette Article – -town-students- has-become-big-challenge-ui.html -town-students- has-become-big-challenge-ui.html No Excuses University – No Excuses University –