Minutes of September 8, 1998 Meeting

The EMT met at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 1998. Present for the meeting were Ruth Ann Balla, Sharon Cannon, Sandra Close, Rebecca Duncan, Gordon Folger, Mary Johnson, Sue Kearney, Mary Kate Keith, Carol Kercheval, Jeannie Morelock, Allen Page, Philip Roof, and LaRose Spooner, Chair.

Comments were shared about the "Pops in the Park" concert held on campus Sunday evening and the resulting free media coverage that Meredith received. Jeannie Morelock reported that the monetary value of the time devoted to airing the Meredith video clip during the broadcasts on UNC-TV stations and WRAL-TV was approximately $900,000.

Sue Kearney distributed a corrected copy of the minutes of the last meeting which provided appropriate wording to reflect that the special EMT committee headed by Gordon Folger has been looking at experiential learning, and not just at internships. Sandra Close was asked by LaRose Spooner to head the special EMT committee that will look at Transfer Recruitment, as no one was designated for this role at the last meeting.

An updated report on enrollment was circulated by Sue Kearney. The numbers indicate that Meredith should have a record enrollment in Fall 1998, as 2,605 students were registered as of September 1, with 2,401 undergraduates and 204 graduates. Sue reminded the group that the numbers will drop a little by the time the official enrollment report is done on October 1. Given the fact that the number of full-time undergraduate students, the credit hours for part-time undergraduates, and the total hours for graduate students are all ahead of projections, the budget will definitely be met. The numbers of new students that were enrolled through the various admission offices are still being verified, and a report is forthcoming.

A question was raised about when a 23+ Program student is eligible to be classified. In the discussion that followed, it was determined that a look needs to be taken to be certain that the policy and procedures pertaining to the confirmation of admission to the College are clearly stated and implemented. This process will be important both for VA audits and for the SACS review. Sue Kearney was asked to include that item on the agenda for the special undergraduate admissions committee appointed by Mr. Taylor.

LaRose Spooner reported on the schedule for the presentation of the I2000 Strategic Plan to the Board of Trustees and for the release of the report to the Meredith community.

Ruth Ann Balla provided an update on the status of the campus-wide computer information system. A contingency contract with Datatel has been signed for the installation of Colleague software, and Ruth Ann and Bill Wade have recently attended a training session on project management. Provided the Board of Trustees approves the contract at its September 25th meeting, representatives of Datatel will be on campus in mid- to late-October for a kickoff for the project. Committees will be formed to work on the project, which will have a two-year implementation cycle.

Ruth Ann Balla also reported that the College has signed a contract with ApplyYourself LAM Technologies, Inc. to place Meredith's applications for admission on-line so that a student can submit her application electronically. The traditional admission, 23+ Program and graduate school applications will all be on-line. A student filing an e-application will only need to print out the signature page and to attach her application fee for mailing. All other items can be submitted electronically.

Sharon Cannon provided a brief report on the College Student Survey, which was jointly planned and administered in Spring 1998 to graduating seniors by her office and the Office of Enrollment Planning and Institutional Research. Discussion was postponed until a written copy of the report is available for EMT members, but several items from the survey results fed into the consideration of various topics. One of those items was the response students gave to the question of what services would have made the Meredith experience more successful and/or satisfying; 49.8 percent indicated the desire for a more flexible meal plan. As Sharon has been asked to head up a special EMT committee to examine food service options, this survey provided timely feedback. Sharon provided an e-mail report prior to the EMT committee that conveys some changes that ARA has made this semester to extend the hours during which breakfast and lunch are available to students, as well as the reasons why a meal card for a resident student cannot be accepted at the Bee Hive. She reported that her committee will include a representative from the SGA Student Life Committee (who will be responsible for any student survey/feedback), student representatives from RHB, WINGS, and AMC, Dr. Mary Johnson, Bill Wade, and Thad O'Briant.

Mary Johnson reported for the EMT Staff Recognition Committee, indicating that the committee will be making a recommendation to the EMT in the near future concerning a standing Staff Affairs Committee. Two Staff Recognition Awards (SRAs) of $2,000 each will be awarded at the staff luncheon on December 10th. An application will be finalized this month and information will be circulated. The SRAs will be funded this year either through Creative Ideas (an application is being filed) or through contingency funds. As indicated in the minutes for July 15, eventually the College would want to have an endowment that would fund the staff awards. Once the staff award process is finalized, the Staff Recognition Committee will turn its attention to promoting a campus-wide personal service attitude. The committee is considering a survey of all employees concerning what they consider to be an "ideal manager," with some follow-up discussions to be held with managers to help them know how exemplary personal service might be more fully modeled and encouraged in others.

Mary Johnson also reported for the EMT Summer Programs Committee. She has asked Shera Hube, Karen Sampson and Martha Harrell to serve with her on this special committee. Madra Britt will be brought in as needed. (Neither Sue Kearney nor Carol Kercheval will be involved in this committee, as reported in the minutes for August 25th.) Sandra Close provided comments on the afternoon session with Dr. Bernice Sandler, which was also attended by EMT members Sue Kearney and Allen Page. Dr. Sandler offered comments on the tensions that exist between traditional and non-traditional students and between faculty and non-traditional students, on the potential risks inherent in creating a separate school/structure for the non-traditional market and in capping that population, and on the attractions that child care services and housing options might have for non-traditional students. She suggested that Meredith might want to do some research to compare itself with other women's colleges to help determine what makes Meredith distinctive.

LaRose Spooner indicated that discussions in her department had focused on the need for attention to the appearance of the Rotunda, where so many visitors to the campus frequent. That area is inviting when art exhibits are in effect but can be very cold and impersonal at other times. She will assume responsibility for spearheading efforts to see that Rotunda is always decorated in such a way that it will be warm and inviting to visitors.

Sue Kearney reported that the Retention Strategies Work Group has been appointed and that a list will be circulated to EMT members with the minutes. She also asked the group to give some consideration to the fact that 1999 will be Meredith's 100th year of operation and to ways that information might be used to best advantage in the recruitment of students. Also, it was pointed out that the senior class of 1998 will be the 100th class to graduate, as the first commencement was held in 1902. Jeannie Morelock was asked to head up efforts to examine how these historic events might be publicized and maximized in enrollment efforts and in the lives of students who are/will be in these centennial classes.

Gordon Folger informed the EMT that she, Mary Kate Keith, Ruth Ann Balla and Jeannie Morelock are cooperatively presenting a proposal to the Creative Ideas Committee that would fund the purchase of an alumnae network that is web-based. If approved, this software would allow alumnae with web access to tap into the data base for information about alumnae in various careers, geographic areas, etc.

Jeannie Morelock reminded the group that the Presidential Search Committee is holding "listening sessions" on September 14 and 15 for anyone who wishes to present ideas and suggestions regarding Meredith's new president. Anyone wishing to speak should call Sharon Woodlief to be entered on the agenda.

Agenda items that were identified for the next EMT meeting, to be held on October 6, include a report from Carol Kercheval on application patterns for enrolled freshmen, a report on reasons for withdrawal from the College by Sharon Cannon, and a discussion of the CSS Survey results. Anyone having items to add may notify LaRose Spooner. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

Sue E. Kearney
Vice-Chair

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Sue Kearney, Vice Chair of Enrollment Management Team, at 760-2364
Page created by Katie Toro, Enrollment Planning and Institutional Research
Last modified: November 5, 1998