Minutes of March 16, 1999 Meeting

The Enrollment Management Team met on March 16, 1999 at 9:30 a.m. The following members were present: Sharon Cannon, Sandra Close, Rebecca Duncan, Gordon Folger, Mary Johnson, Sue Kearney, Carol Kercheval, Jeannie Morelock, Allen Page, Philip Roof, and LaRose Spooner. Also attending as guest presenter was Ann Gleason, Director of Academic Advising.

In opening remarks, LaRose reported that the Senior Management Team has approved the establishment of a Summer School Task Force and that Mr. Taylor is putting together a committee. The minutes of the last meeting were approved, and the group agreed upon April 13th as the date of the next meeting.

Ann Gleason presented an update on the faculty advising program, including information about the number of freshman advisers (approximately 50) and their average advising load (typically 8 freshmen plus any continuing students) and about the training provided for faculty advisers. New advisers have a mandatory training session in the fall; continuing advisers have voluntary sessions throughout the year. This spring there is also a session for those who will be advising next year. Help is available during pre-registration, and the Advising Matters newsletter, which contains many tips, is published several times each year. Ann distributed copies of information from the Advising and Pre-registration Handbook for freshmen, the Advising Matters newsletter for faculty advisers, and minutes from the Retention Strategies Work Group in which several suggestions pertaining to advising had been recorded. Copies of these documents are attached to the official copy of the minutes.

Concerning the question raised by EMT earlier about gifted students who take less than an average course load, Ann acknowledged that this may sometimes happen. The key to good advising is for faculty advisers to learn enough about the student’s abilities and her academic/career interests to help work out a course program appropriate for that individual. A question was raised as to whether or not advisers receive enough information about their advisees. Rebecca pointed out that there have been situations in which a student took fewer hours because of the lack of space in desired classes and because of the level of frustration the student was experiencing due to that fact. Ann Gleason volunteered to do a study of the average course load for full-time freshmen, as compared to the average course load for all full-time undergraduate students.

In the course of discussion, the point was made that exploratory courses should be encouraged for students having scheduling problems as well as for those who are undecided. Two required areas in which lots of questions and concerns come up for students are in the areas of foreign language and western civilization. Ann mentioned that the Supplemental Instruction Program that is in operation this semester is providing some help in biology and psychology for students encountering difficulty.

On behalf of the EMT, LaRose thanked Ann for the excellent job she is doing in the position of Director of Academic Advising.

Various members of the EMT handed out written updates on the goals that had been assigned to their attention. (Copies are attached to the official minutes.) All members are to review these reports before the next meeting and come with any questions. Philip reported that the recommendation concerning the implementation of a credit card option for payment of tuition has been temporarily placed on hold due to the upcoming implementation of the new computer system.

Carol reported on the numbers of traditional acceptances and deposits received, which are running ahead of previous years. Also, responses to the SEARCH mailings, for which the services of an outside firm were procured, are ahead of last year’s numbers. Sandra distributed a retention report and withdrawal analysis for the 23+ Program. A copy of the report is attached to the official minutes.

Sue led a discussion of the Enrollment Planning Report and Recommendations, a report that she prepared at the request of Mr. Taylor and Dr. Spooner. A long-range planning version was submitted to Mr. Taylor and the Senior Management Team. That version includes a plan for establishing annual enrollment targets for reaching the enrollment goals that were stated in the Strategic Plan. It also raises a number of questions that will require an institutional response in order to know how to plan for the future. The SMT has determined that it would be inappropriate to respond to the questions until President Hartford and the Trustees have reviewed the Strategic Plan. However, it did approve the enrollment goals suggested for 1999-2000.

The EMT received a version of the Enrollment Planning Report and Recommendations that included the 1999-2000 goals, the recruitment plans of the various admissions offices, and the additional recommendations for reaching enrollment goals. The group began a discussion of the recommendations, and a few assignments were made under the topics that were discussed. All members are to review the recommendations for those that fall under their area and to come to the next meeting with a report on any strategies that are currently underway or accomplished and with comments about any of the suggestions that they do not feel can be accomplished.

Other matters that came up during the meeting concerned ideas for promoting Meredith College. Rebecca mentioned that Mount Olive College has recently placed a coupon in the ValPak mailer to call attention to its programs offered in this area. Sue mentioned the "Festival" fund-raising activity currently on WUNC-TV and suggested that in the future Meredith might assume responsibility for covering the phone bank for one night.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

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 Katie Toro, Enrollment Planning and Institutional Research
Last modified: April 6, 1999