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NOVEMBER 9, 2000
The Enrollment Management Team (EMT) met at 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. on November 9, 2000.
Present for the meeting were Ruth Ann Balla, Sandra Close, Bill Cox, Lori Duke, Rebecca
Duncan, Gordon Folger, Ann Gleason, Sue Kearney, Carol Kercheval, and LaRose Spooner. Also
attending as a guest was Laura McLaughlin, Director of Academic Advising.
LaRose indicated that Ruth Ann will be leaving Meredith in December and thanked her for
her work on the EMT and throughout the campus. LaRose also reported on her attendance at
the American Marketing Association meeting, where there was an emphasis on integrated
marketing.
The minutes of the last meeting were approved. Carol provided a brief report on
applications from traditional-age students for fall 2001 (freshman numbers are up) and 23+
Program candidates for spring 2001(numbers of applicants are down). Sue reported that
graduate applications are running behind last year’s numbers. She also distributed a
corrected enrollment report for Fall 2000 (copy attached to official minutes) that
provides revised information about the number of new 23+ Program students who enrolled.
Laura McLaughlin presented a proposal currently under consideration by the Instruction
Committee that would raise the standards for good academic standing (copy attached to
official minutes). She pointed out that while GPA requirements would increase, the
proposal also calls for more tracking and support for those students who are in academic
difficulty. The plan calls for contracts to be signed by both students and faculty
advisers and would allow for holds to be placed on registrations of those who do not see
their advisers. The proposal also calls for the creation of an appeals committee. The EMT
discussed the proposal, the specific GPAs that would be required at the various levels of
credit hours, and the various support systems that are available. Sue pointed out the
importance of the requirement of a 2.0 prior to a student’s graduation date, as such
a policy is important for satisfying requirements for satisfactory academic progress for
federal student aid programs. While some questions were raised about the significant
increase in standards (e.g., from 1.35 to 1.70 for students with 1 – 25 credit
hours) and the effect it might have on student retention, the EMT agreed in general with
the desirability of raising standards for good academic standing.
LaRose distributed copies of the comprehensive report on the Money Walk project (a copy
attached to official minutes). She requested the members to review the report and to let
her know what they see as the highest priorities. Some areas mentioned briefly by the
group were residence halls, landscaping, tidying up, painting, and maintenance of
buildings. When the report is final it will be shared with the facilities consultant, the
Senior Management Team and Dr. Hartford. LaRose will also suggest that the SMT members
take a "Money Walk."
Sue led the group in a discussion of the multicultural recruitment recommendations, and
a number of suggestions were made for areas that need further attention. These included a
publication addressing diversity on the campus, good financial aid packages for all
populations bringing diversity to the campus, early awareness efforts, greater awareness
of the campus in general among minority populations, and re-consideration of some Meredith
traditions that may mitigate against building a climate of inclusiveness. Sue will
organize various recommendations that might need attention under three categories:
What gets students interested? What gets students to enroll? What keeps students here?
She will bring these back to the group for its review and approval before the
priorities are passed along to Dr. Hartford and the SMT.
As part of the discussion Ann reported on the forum that was held during the Campus
Week of Dialogue, expressing disappointment in the turnout. She indicated that students
need to be heard by those who need to hear what they have to say (e.g., SMT, Dr.
Hartford, class officers). She observed that the Association for Cultural Awareness and
the Student Life Committee could perhaps jointly sponsor another forum. On the positive
side six people from Meredith, including three students, attended the workshop at NCSU,
"A Room Full of Sisters: Weaving Our Lives." Meredith was one of the sponsors
for this event, which drew approximately 75 participants. She also mentioned that the
holiday dinner for resident students this year will have a holiday theme that incorporates
Christmas, Kwanza, and Jewish traditions. Sue suggested that it might be helpful to have
Stephanie Helms, the Director for Commuter Life and Special Services, attend one of the
EMT meetings to share her observations about ways the campus climate could be enhanced for
a more diverse population.
The meeting was adjourned.
Sue Kearney, Vice-Chair
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For additional information, please contact
Sue Kearney, Vice Chair of Enrollment Management Team, at 760-2364
Page created by Laura McClain, Enrollment Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
Last modified: August 23, 2000 |