Weathering the Enrollment Storm Part 1 Averett University Danville, VA Averett University Danville, VA Presenter: Stacy Gato, Vice President for Enrollment Management

Agenda I.Higher Education Today II. Overview of Averett University 1. Location 2. Quick Facts 3. Honors III. Where and How to Begin 1. Leadership 2. Responsibility 3. Meetings 4. Team Collaboration IV. Working Smarter Not Harder 1. What are you and your school already doing? 2. What data do you collect? 3. What data do you use?

Higher Education Today “The outlook for four-year US colleges and universities in 2015 remains negative, as is it is for community colleges that issue revenue bonds, says Moody's Investors Service. Among the four-year colleges, a major pressure will be slow growth in tuition revenue, while declining enrollment is driving the negative outlook among community colleges.” Global Credit Research - 01 Dec 2014

Higher Education Today

Overview of Averett University Danville, VA

6 Quick Facts

Averett University Honors Traditional Undergraduate Endorsements 1.In their recently released report, U.S. News and World Report recognized Averett University as a top tier regional college that moved up in the rankings to 23 from Averett University was rated as one of the eleven best colleges in Virginia by Colleges of Distinction. 3.For the first time, The Princeton Review ranked Averett University as one of the “Best in the Southeast” in The Princeton Review's "2014 Best Colleges: Region by Region." 4.The website StateUniversity.com has ranked Averett University #3 in Virginia for campus safety. 5.Affordablecollegesonline.org (AC Online) has identified the Virginia colleges and universities with the greatest lifetime return on investment – ranking Averett as 23 rd out of 28 public and private institutions in Virginia. According to AC Online, graduates from these schools enjoy the largest earnings gap between non-degree holders over 30 years, and earn more on average than graduates from other Virginia schools.

8 Where, and How, to Begin?

9 … and starts with the leadership. It starts with leadership at the top – the President. “Nothing is more important than recruitment and retention with our students at the center of all decisions.” ~Tiffany Franks, President It must be embraced throughout the Leadership Team. “It’s not really about playing in each other’s sandboxes. Aren’t we all in the same box but maybe in different corners?” ~Aaron Howell, Vice President for Business and Finance It takes a University…

10 Vice President for Enrollment Management is responsible for: Creating strategies in partnership with all service and academic areas to increase enrollment by focusing specifically on admissions and retention for all Averett University students. It is also crucial that this position and associated strategies remain flexible and nimble to lead and adapt to new information immediately. It takes a University, but who is responsible?

11 o Developing collaborative marketing plan with partner o Identifying/monitoring success of prospective student communications from inquiry to matriculation o Initiate data review/action plans by collaborating with service and academic areas to determine any at risk behaviors that require interventional retention activities for continuing students. Basic Enrollment Functions

12 Meetings that already take place o Early Alert o Risk Management o Academic Policies (Academic probation, dismissal) o Academic Advising o Admissions o Student Affairs/Housing and Residential Life o Ad hoc meetings with the Registrars Office and the Financial Services Team Meetings that Change a Culture

13 Team Collaboration Enrollment Management Committee Charter Purpose The committee purpose is to create a best practice enrollment management environment and serve as an advisory body to coordinate and guide ongoing progress in enrolling and retaining students. This includes review of student experience, analysis of student outcomes, management of student expectations, and establish opportunities and communications consistent with allocated resources in support of the mission, vision, values and strategic plan of Averett University by championing: 1.Enrollment review and analysis of trends and actions 2.Retention goals and plans for interventional activities 3.Data-driven decision-making processes and action plans for enrollment and retention

Traditional Student Retention Student Centered

Working Smarter Not Harder

What are you and/or your school already doing?

Working Smarter Not Harder What data are you collecting? What data do you use? HINT for Future Success: Deficiency vs. Appreciative

ApplicationsAdmitsAdmit VisitsDeposits Compared to 2014Up 17.3%Up 20%Up 34%Up 15.4% Compared to 2013Down 5%Down 6.8%Down 10%Up 2.7% As of March 27, 2015 Traditional Student Recruitment 7-year Comparison n As of 3/27/2015 Traditional Student Recruitment 7-year Comparison n As of 3/27/2015

Traditional Student Recruitment Today

Traditional Student Recruitment Goal: 330

Official Spring Snapshot as of January 23, 2015 *”Traditional GR” not tracked separately until In years prior the numbers were included in “Traditional” 2015 Spring Enrollment Headcount and 4-yr Comparison

Tracking Students

Spring 2009Spring 2010Spring 2011Spring 2012Spring 2013 Spring 2014 Spring 2015 Eligible to Return Returned in Spring % Retained 88% 90%91%86% 87% All Fall Traditional Undergraduate Students Retention Fall to Spring Freshmen Retention Fall to Spring Semester Spring 2009Spring 2010Spring 2011Spring 2012Spring 2013 Spring 2014 Spring 2015 Eligible to Return Returned in Spring % Retained 79%84% 87%80%70%88% Official Spring Snapshot as of January 23, 2015 Six Year Fall to Spring Persistence

Thank you! Please Attend Part 2! Thank you! Please Attend Part 2! Stacy Gato Vice President for Enrollment Management (434)