By Travis DeNeal 35

(Editor’s note:This is the second part of a four-part series analyzing recruitment and retention policies of the eight SIUC colleges in light of the University’s overall increase in enrollment. The first part of the series can be read on-line at https://www.dailyegyptian.com.

SIUC’s on-campus enrollment increased by 45 students this semester, stopping a decline in enrollment since 1992. The second part of the series analyzes two colleges whose enrollment increased this semester. One college uses a departmental approach to recruitment and retention, while the other uses a centralized method.)

Two college administrators say student support is the linchpin of their recruitment and retention policies reflected by this semester’s increase in enrollment, even though the colleges approach the policies differently.

Enrollment in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts rose from 1,982 to 2,041 this semester, an increase of 59. College of Education enrollment increased from 2,495 to 2,531, an increase of 36.

Candy Evans, associate dean for academic services, says departmental and general recruitment and retention policies within CASA made its enrollment increase possible.

We’ve had several activities that have been successful, Evans said. We will continue with these activities and make changes in some of them to further promote recruitment and retention.

Evans said her college departments are working cooperatively with Admissions and Records to recruit new students.

Though much recruiting done by her college is department-specific, the entire college is also represented in some recruiting efforts.

We have a field representative for the college, and that particular individual is responsible for assisting all of our departments with their efforts, like visits to community colleges, she said.

The representative also visits high schools that request a CASA presentation for its seniors.

Evans said several faculty members from different departments visit Illinois high schools and speak to student groups. Faculty members of the college are greatly involved with recruiting and then retaining those students.

The College of Education also actively recruits at the high school and community college level, although recruiting is done for the college as a whole rather than for specific departments.

Jacquelyn Bailey, College of Education’s student services director, said her college is increasing its focus on recruitment and retention even though its enrollment increased this semester.

By hiring a recruitment and retention coordinator, the college hopes to unify its approach toward getting and keeping new students.

Under that umbrella, faculty members will be assigned within each department to work on recruitment and retention, Bailey said.

Even though departmental work will be done to center on getting new students and keeping them, the college’s efforts will continue to emphasize the entire college rather than specific departments.

Bailey said the College of Education has been trying to increase its visibility at Illinois community colleges. Potential new students from the community colleges are then contacted by the college.

Last year, the process involved calling students, she said. We had faculty-to-student and student-to-student calls, which worked well.

Both colleges try to retain students by offering extensive student support programs.

After a student is enrolled in CASA, he or she is contacted by the department with a welcome letter and is contacted by telephone later in the semester, Evans said. The telephone call serves as a way to find out if a student needs help with any aspect of school.

A mentoring service exists in the Information Management System Department, which Evans said provides a faculty member to serve as a guide for new students.

Individual programs, such as dental hygiene and court reporting, have student mentoring programs as well.

The student support programs show the level of care the college has for its students, Evans said.

Students feel like they are a part of the University when you reach out and offer opportunities for help, she said. If you set the stage for them to feel like a part of the college and University as a whole, then they will stay.

CASA also publishes its academic handbook, which details important college dates, scholarship opportunities and general requirements for degree programs.

The college also offers a one-hour course for students who have difficulty with course work. The course teaches time management skills and ways to deal with the stress of a tough semester.

Tutoring programs also exist within each department. The structure of the programs vary, but are either peer or faculty tutoring.

Students also are encouraged to join at least one of the 26 organizations within the college, Evans said.

The College of Education’s student support programs are similar.

Bailey said her college pays particular attention to students whose grades are slipping.

We offer various times for workshops on improving study skills, which are geared toward students with academic probationary status, she said. The workshops help the students find the proper major or niche here.

Peer tutoring is available for struggling students, and peer mentoring was added this fall.

Another new program in the College of Education is its Education 100 class for students whose grades are suffering.

We look very carefully at studying aspects like how to manage time, how to study and take notes, how to read textbooks and how to take tests, she said. We also spend time talking about what got us in this position.

Bailey said she enjoys working with the class.

It’s a lot of fun for me, and we’ve had some really good success, she said. We had one student who went from suspension to the dean’s list.

A new advisement plan has been developed by the college to ease registration for the recent influx of non-traditional age students. Evening advising is offered 12 nights of the semester between 4:30 and 6:30.

Both colleges also are seeking to foster peer support within respective majors.

For example, CASA’s architecture students have their own residence housing floor. Evans said the perceived success of the housing floor program will be implemented by other departments within her college.

College of Education will have an education-major floor next semester designed to beget student-to-student support.

The faculty will do an outreach program, and the floor will be study-group issue oriented, Bailey said.

Evans said the key to boosting enrollment within her college and keeping the students interested has relied on cooperation within the college.

It takes a lot of people working very actively within the college and working very actively with our students, she said.

Bailey said that by supporting students, her college will continue to grow.

We try to provide the best education for our students by offering help from the first time we contact the student through employment, she said.

In Thursday’s Daily Egyptian, part three of this series will analyze two colleges that have had modest increases or decreases in enrollment in the past five years, and what those colleges are doing to boost enrollment.