Transformation through Enrollment Management

1. Transformation through Enrollment Management Lynette J. Olson & William A. Ivy Pittsburg State University

2. Pittsburg State University Regional public university founded in 1903 and governed by Kansas Board of Regents

3. Pittsburg State University • Located in a community of 20,000 in southeast Kansas • 7,200 students including almost 500 international students

4. Pittsburg State University • 300 full-time faculty • Over 100 academic programs through 4 academic colleges – A&S, Business, Education, Technology • Bachelors, masters and specialist degrees

5. Presentation Overview • Enrollment Management at PSU -- History, Structure, Development • Why EM focus? • Recruiting Challenges and Initiatives • Retention Challenges and Initiatives • Next Steps

6. Enrollment Management at Pitt State • Long interest in strategic EM planning (e.g. , contiguous county program in 1995) • Formal EM structure with chief enrollment officer established within Academic Affairs in 2007 • “Enrollment Management and Student Success” included administrative units formerly reporting to two VPs

7. EMSS Organization

8. Why focus on EM? • Demographics on SE Kansas • Kansas’ population +6% from 2000 to 2010, • 9 southeast Kansas counties generally considered to be Pitt State’s local service area -3% • continued decline is projected

9. New Freshman EnrollmentSE Kansas Compared with All Freshmen

10. Why focus on EM? • Increasing importance of retention • Retention above national average for institutional type • Nevertheless – uneven or declining retention over past 5 years

11. Freshman Retention Rate

12. Why Focus on EM? Increased reliance on tuition revenues

13. An EM Plan for Pitt State • Charge to EMSS when created included development of EM plan • EM Council formed with broad representation • Plan developed by topical working groups • Submitted to administration in September, 2009

14. Recruiting Initiatives • Gorilla Advantage expansion to Northwest Arkansas • Increase offerings through MSEP • Legacy Scholarship Program • Enhanced admission-based scholarships • Hobson’s Connect CRM • Diversity Recruiter

15. Retention Initiatives • Student Success Center Concept • Created partnership between First Year Programs and the Writing Center • Funded new positions - Student Success Counselor and Writing Center professional staff member through Academic Affairs tuition proposal, “Investing in the Present – Building for the Future” • Implemented Hobson’s Retain CRM (early alert pilot spring 2012) • Planning for future location within the Library

16. Retention Initiatives • First Year Programs • Revamped Freshman Experience course • Common topics required in all sections to help meet assessment mandate • Repository of teaching resources • Exploratory Studies sections • Linked courses with selected departmental introductory courses • Trained student assistants • Advisory Council to ensure faculty involvement

17. Retention Initiatives • First Year Programs • Developed Academic Success Workshops • Introduced tutoring in selected high risk general education courses • Implementing Peer Coaching for Exploratory Studies students on academic warning in second semester

18. Retention Initiatives • Writing Center • Relocated to the Library • Developed new mission statement • Increased professional and student staff • Created budget separate from English department • Expanded hours and online services added • Implemented online scheduling system with student tracking

19. Next Steps • Continue to increase visibility in expanded markets • Create the physical facility for the Student Success Center • Coordinate existing services (i.e. departmental tutoring, student disability services) for greater visibility and student access • Continue review of policies and processes that affect student success

20. Projected OutcomesMeasuring Success • Managed growth of new student population • Improved freshman to sophomore retention • Annual increases targeted in Performance Agreement with Kansas Regents • Improved student writing skills • Annual improvement in scores on writing skills assessment targeted in Performance Agreement

21. Discussion/Questions • Dr. Lynette Olson Provost and VPAA620-235-4113 lolson@pittstate.edu • Dr. William Ivy Associate Vice President, Enrollment Management & Student Success 620-235-4111 wivy@pittstate.edu