Minutes of April 13, 1999 Meeting
The Enrollment Management Team (EMT) met on April 13, 1999 at 9:30 a.m. Present for the
meeting were Ruth Ann Balla, Sharon Cannon, Sandra Close, Rebecca Duncan, Gordon Folger,
Mary Johnson, Sue Kearney, Carol Kercheval, Jeannie Morelock, Philip Roof, and LaRose
Spooner, Chair.
The minutes of the last meeting were approved. Philip circulated a written report, to
be added to the progress reports on EMT goals that are part of those minutes, on the
investigation into the use of credit cards for payment of student fees. For various
reasons, the College will need to wait until the new Datatel system is operational before
implementing such a payment option. LaRose reported on meetings taking place this week
with the informal groups that are discussing strategies for working with high ability
students and issues of inclusiveness.
Enrollment reports were provided by Carol, Sandra and Mary. Deposits from traditional
students, especially freshmen, are running ahead of recent years. The residence hall
capacity for freshmen has been defined as 420 for Fall 1999. Thirty-three Teaching Fellows
have been offered the opportunity to enroll, and the admissions office is expecting at
least 30 to accept a place in the Class of 1999. In the 23+ Program, 53 new
students and approximately 180 continuing students have already pre-registered for the
fall term. Sandra reported that many women in their 20's are attending the information
sessions, and that many prospects have learned about the program from their friends.
Pre-registrations for graduate students currently number 61 for Summer I Term, 57
for Summer II Term, and 77 for Fall 1999.
Ruth Ann provided an update on the Datatel project, reminding the EMT that general
ledger and accounts payable are to go live on July 1 and that admissions will go live in
the fall. In its new location in Noel House, Technology Services will offer a Technical
Development Center for faculty; also, the computer lab in Ledford Hall will be upgraded.
Ruth Ann expects to have a proposal about laptops for students ready for Dr. Hartford when
she arrives; Fall 2001 would be the earliest time that such a plan, if approved, could be
implemented. Ruth Ann also discussed her experiences in offering an on-line graduate
course this semester, commenting on the pros and cons of this type of instruction for both
the student and the instructor. She will talk with Dr. Page and with the Instruction
Committee about what might happen with this kind of instructional delivery system at
Meredith.
Jeannie distributed copies of the special edition of the Meredith Magazine that
announces Dr. Maureen Hartford as President-Elect of Meredith College. This publication
has been mailed to over 16,600 people/institutions/organizations, and additional copies
are available should anyone need extras for specific audiences. Jeannie also reported on
the Special Olympics contract and her feeling that Meredith has gotten a "plum"
in hosting the festival and the entertainers that it will provide for the public. This
event will give Meredith much visibility.
Gordon commented that she will serve as a representative from the independent college
sector on the Pathways Committee, which will be working on a post-secondary, web-based
career development program to be funded by the State of North Carolina. Also, one can find
out more about Meredith's alumnae networking project by accessing alum.meredith.edu
on the web.
Sue led the EMT in a continuing discussion of the recommendations contained in Enrollment
Planning: Report and Recommendations. She circulated a summary of discussion that took
place at the last meeting and there were comments about progress made since that time on a
few of the recommendations. The new topics addressed were ways to improve
freshman-to-sophomore retention, strategies for enhancing the overall persistence rate,
ideas for publicizing Meredith's summer school more broadly, and efforts to increase
minority student enrollments. It was announced that Mr. Taylor has appointed a task force
on summer school, as requested by EMT, and that there will be a summer orientation program
for students of color who have been admitted for 1999-2000.
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for May 4th at 9:30
a.m.
Sue Kearney
Vice Chair |