Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management 2nd Annual Progress Report

In contrast to “admissions,” enrollment management has been defined as:  “unswerving focus on the longitudinal care and comprehensive education of students” (Keller, 1991, p. 3)  “comprehensive process designed to help an institution achieve and maintain the optimal recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of students…” (Dolence, 1993, p. 8)  “ includes the identification, attraction, selection, encouragement, registration, retention, and graduation of targeted student segments” (Huddleston, 2000, p. 65))

Five Strategic Plan Goals:  Develop & Implement a Comprehensive EM Plan  Develop Student Mix for Program Completion  Strengthen & Develop Academic Programs  Strengthen Retention, Graduation, & Placement  Integration of Student Support Services

AAEM Strategic Planning Implementation Team Membership:  Howard McCauley*  Terry Smith  Mark Linder  Gene Eulinger  Angie Beam  Bob Klostermeyer  Richard Porr  Carolyn Brose  Joanne Katz  David Arnold*  Martin Johnson  Jeanne Daffron  Judy Grimes  Jim Barger  Kristy Hill

AAEM Work Phases:  Nine Planning Teams comprised of 75 Faculty & Staff  Creation of “Assets & Aspirations” Strategic Plan in 2003  Transition to AQIP Student Engagement Action Project & Forums  2004 work with Noel-Levitz on tactical/operational Annual Recruitment Plan

9 Planning Teams:  High Ability Students  Returning Adult Students  Transfer Students  Students of Color  International Students  Marketing & Public Relations  Continuing & Professional Education  Assessment, Evaluation, & Benchmarking  Institutional Resources & Capacity

Assets & Aspirations:  Incorporated Planning Team Reports  Reviewed Action Items  Posted on Website  Basis of Enrollment Management Consulting Request for Proposals

AQIP Action Project:  transitioned from “enrollment management” to “student engagement” ” as a developmental process beginning with the market research to support the marketing/branding of an “engaged learning community” to prospective students; data to continuously improve enrollment management practices; and creation of an engagement space master plan.

AQIP Student Engagement Goals:  increase applications, yield, and retention of student cohort groups identified in Western’s Enrollment Management Strategic Plan  increase student engagement as directly measured by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and indirectly by improved retention rates

NSSE Student Engagement Dimensions:  Level of academic challenge  Enriching educational experiences  Student-faculty interaction  Active and collaborative learning  Supportive campus environment

Student Engagement projects:  Enrollment Management  Learning Communities  Citizen Scholar (American Democracy Project)  Foundations of Excellence  L-E-A-D Initiative

AY Campus Student Engagement Forums:  A series of five well-attended campus forums were held during AY (i.e., between 100 and 200 faculty, students, and staff). One was associated with the a site visit and workshop about the National Learning Community Project, two sessions involved guest speakers from the Foundations of Excellence Project, John Gardner and Edward Zlotkowski, who addressed first year programs and service learning respectively, and two involved identifying campus student engagement strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats at Western

Two Components of Fall 2004 Noel-Levitz Partnership:  Market Research  Annual Recruitment Plan

Noel-Levitz Market Research:  Findings from Research Conducted by Noel- Levitz  Focus Groups with Current Students, May 2004  Telephone Survey of Fall 2004 Admitted Applicants  Findings from Noel-Levitz Review of Retention- related Research Conducted by MWSC  Student Satisfaction Inventory (2001, 2003)  National Survey of Student Engagement (2003)  College Student Inventory (2003)

Noel-Levitz Recruitment Plan:  Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats  Goal Selection  Setting Targets  Compilation of Key Enrollment Strategies

Questions, Comments, & Discussion