ENROLLMENT PLANNING TEAM
MINUTES
APRIL 11, 2007
Present: Mr. Andrew Hendrix, Dr. Braden Hosch, Mr. Corey Feraldi, Dr. Deb Kladivko, Dr. Deidre Martin, Mr. Deri Wills, Dr. Ed Callen, Mrs. Gail Ratchford, Mr. Glenn Shumpert, Ms. Gwen Ashley, Mr. Randy Duckett, Ms. Stephanie Foote, Dr. Tom Mack, Mr. Tony Ateca, Mrs. Vivian Grice
The meeting began at 2:02 pm with Randy Duckett asking Dr. Braden Hosch to present an Enrollment model that the Strategic Enrollment Planning Action Team (SEPAT) has been examining. Dr. Hosch stated that while several members of EPT may have already seen the model he was going to approach it in regards to Undergraduate Degrees earned at USCA. His presentation included a handout “Current Trajectory Scenario – Degree Production & Enrollment Model (2007)”.
Ø Non-Native students (transfer students) have been declining over the past 5 years at about 7% between 2002-2006 and is probably related to tuition increases.
Ø This model has been accurate in predicting enrollment within 1% over the past five years.
Ø Dr. Hosch feels this model is good enough to make good decisions toward our goals.
Dr. Hosch then turned the meeting over to Corey Feraldi, chair of the Freshman Admissions Action Team and Andrew Hendrix, Director of Admissions who serves as the resource person for this action team who shared a presentation along with handouts.
Corey stated that the Freshman Admissions Action Team has been working with SEPAT based on the Enrollment model. In looking at the Enrollment trends and projections it is evident that several needs must be addressed to attract an increased number and quality of freshman students.
Increase the merit scholarships to the 75 highest ranking freshmen.
Merit scholarships to the next 75 very good students.
Purchase a Constituent Resource Management system (CRM)
Add an additional position – Another Processor
Marketing staffer with an admissions focus.
Overall increase in marketing.
English, Math, Biology, Sociology, Psychology and History
Classroom space may be okay
Faculty/Staff maxed out
Housing needs for students
Growth scenarios of 2%, 3% and 5 % were discussed which Dr. Tom Mack stated that a 5% growth raises an alarm bell and Dr. Ed Callen was concerned about the classroom space as we seem to be close to being maxed out.
Randy Duckett explained that these are all issues that we need to discuss in order to plan for future growth over the next 10 years.
Corey and Andrew opened the floor for discussion.
Randy asked if the team had considered the impact of additional academic programs. Dr. Mack stated that Dr. Ozment has given the Academic Council a charge to consider several possibilities, which include: 1. new academic programs 2. online/hybrid courses 3. other new delivery methods.
Dr. Hosch suggested everyone keep in mind the projections from FAAT do not take into account the negative trendline transfer enrollment is experiencing. Also, he reminded the group that there are only so many high school graduates yearly in South Carolina who have the class rank and standardized test scores that meet our requirements.
Dr. Callen asked if anything systematic/strategic was being attempted to stem the tide of transfer enrollment declines. Randy and Andrew replied that nothing strategic was being done, only minor tactical changes.
Glenn Shumpert asked about the transfer particularly of Aiken Tech students in their AA/AS programs which lead to the 4-year universities and whether or not those students were continuing on to USC Aiken. Dr. Hosch stated that through the course of some collaborative research with his ATC colleagues, it appears that many more of these students are opting to go into the workforce rather than completing a bachelor’s degree. Randy suggested that additional efforts will need to be studied and implemented in order to see a reversing of the downslide of transfers – pointing to what other institutions are doing to expand “bridge” opportunities with the 2 year colleges.
Dr. Callen inquired about the possibility of enrolling some number of the 1,500 students for whom USC Columbia has deferred admission to the Spring. Andrew replied that while we may end up enrolling a fairly small number, due to a number of factors, this is not a group that we give highest priority.
Dr. Callen commented on the trend we’ve seen over the past few years of a declining summer enrollment and whether this issue may correlate to some of the reasons behind our transfer declines. He also asked if this topic should be one for EPT’s consideration/action. Randy and Braden replied that while the issue should be considered by EPT, they have concerns about the number of issues the EPT could effectively pursue at one time. Randy suggested that rather than creating a new action team, that perhaps a current team may be charged with the transfer and/or summer school issues.
The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
Submitted by Gail Ratchford and Andrew Hendrix