Student Recruitment, Enrollment and Retention
Recruitment and Enrollment
- Improve coordination across campus departments, and with faculty, that are involved in the enrollment process from recruitment through graduation, reviewing shared areas of support for diversity, equity and inclusion to address gaps and avoid duplication of resources.
- Overseen by: Julie Ferguson, Assistant Provost and Registrar; Michelle Maldonado, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs; Shannon Zottola, Vice President, Enrollment Management
- Item Status: Work in progress.
- Updates:
- Counseling and Human Services in PCPS is working with the VP of Enrollment Management and Admissions staff in increasing diversity across all of our CHS programs.
- Ongoing collaboration between Enrollment Management and the Multicultural Center aims to highlight and celebrate diversity among our student body in admission marketing materials. Admissions continues to work with Multicultural Center staff on marketing materials in the new Multicultural Center. Additionally, the Multicultural Center was open additional hours during New Student Orientation for Students of Color and First-Gen interest groups to gather.
- Revisit the diversity and inclusion goals that are part of the Strategic Enrollment Planning (SEP) process, reviewing and refreshing them, if needed, in light of our new Strategic Plan and this document.
- Overseen by:
- Item Status: Currently On Hold
- Updates:
- Create an area on the Admissions web site to share University and city/regional information and resources related to diversity and inclusion with potential and newly admitted students.
- Overseen by: Elizabeth Garcia, Executive Director, Office of Equity and Diversity; Shannon Zottola, Vice President, Enrollment Management
- Item Status: Year 2.
- Updates:
- Review existing financial support strategies for first generation and students of color, and others from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
- Overseen by: Shannon Zottola, Vice President, Enrollment Management
- Item Status: Work in progress.
- Updates:
- Review of financial support strategies has been a priority for the University and has been reflected in the financial packages offered to students, which contributed to an increase in the number of underrepresented and underserved students. The review noted that net cost was a significant barrier to enrolling underrepresented students at the University. Continued assessment and improvement of financial aid awarding methodologies is occurring to ensure that a Scranton education remains affordable for our neediest student. Cristo Rey partnership and the opening Doors Scholarships was also a recommendation as a result of this review.
- The University continues to work with Pell eligible students through the Book and Supply Program and partnered with Admissions in working with students from the Cristo Rey High School network.
- This is an ongoing initiative, and exploration of viable financial support strategies for underrepresented students occurs every year. One highlight of this work is the success of the Opening Doors Scholarship and corresponding partnership with the Cristo Rey High School network. The Book and Supply Award provides additional support for all Pell eligible students.
- Review existing admissions policies and procedures to identify best practices to connect with and support admission for underserved student populations.
- Overseen by: Shannon Zottola, Vice President, Enrollment Management
- Item Status: Work in progress.
- Updates:
- In addition to the assessment and improvement of financial aid awarding policies and impact on underrepresented and underserved students, the admission team is exploring best practices to attract and enroll a student body more representative of the world around us. Recent changes to increase financial aid opportunities among test optional candidates and use simplified language regarding the admission process promote increased access for underrepresent students.
- The Retention Office hosted a professional development opportunity for the University’s retention committee and other campus colleagues. The webinar is Latino/a students - Data Based Initiatives to Increase Enrollment, Retention and Support. Several other departments, including but not limited to, Financial Aid, Student life and Residence life and OED attended the professional development opportunity.
- The recent SCOTUS decision on Race and Admission mandates that race cannot be considered in any admission decision. However, other strategies to ensure support of underrepresented prospective students include: our first Counselor Fly-In designed to expose key influencers who support all students are familiar with The University of Scranton; additional college search names of diverse populations of prospective students purchased through the College Board and Encoura platforms; data informed recruitment travel to ensure visitation to high schools with diverse student populations; and increased virtual Financial Aid events to de-mystify the financial aid process.
- The Physical Therapy Department conducts ongoing tracking of student recruitment, enrollment, and retention as part of our accreditation reporting. In the coming year 23-24, they plan to review existing admissions policies and procedures to identify best practices to connect with and support admission for underserved student populations.