Location
West Lafayette, Indiana
DOI
10.5703/1288284316837
Abstract
While enrollment in engineering programs is generally strong nationwide, maintaining or increasing enrollment in Engineering Technology programs at smaller regional campuses can be challenging. The problem appears to be multi-faceted, with the rising cost of education and a strong regional job market two of the likely factors that are keeping students from pursuing a college education. This paper presents a summary of the initial work done at a Statewide location of a large national university to redesign how we engage and recruit students from our surrounding counties. Our eventual goal in redesigning the processes is to leverage our ability to connect directly with local high schools, prospective students, and the parents of prospective students. In the paper, we briefly describe our prior recruitment activities, provide an overview of our newly-developed recruitment model and the philosophy that underpins our redesigned strategy for outreach and recruitment as a whole, and present an initial review of data that are being collected for assessing the effectiveness of our efforts. The central element of this initial work is the redesigned recruitment event aimed at helping us better connect with prospective students. The event emphasizes the importance of campus visits by local high school students, informative hands-on activities, and relationship-building with local high school staff and administrators. The goal of this initial work is to test the approach of direct engagement and to gauge interest in our programs, our location, and overall interest in attending college for the students who participate in the events. This initial assessment will in turn inform us how to continue to improve the overall strategy over the next two to four years.
A Redesigned Engagement and Recruitment Strategy forEngineering Technology Programs at a Regional Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana
While enrollment in engineering programs is generally strong nationwide, maintaining or increasing enrollment in Engineering Technology programs at smaller regional campuses can be challenging. The problem appears to be multi-faceted, with the rising cost of education and a strong regional job market two of the likely factors that are keeping students from pursuing a college education. This paper presents a summary of the initial work done at a Statewide location of a large national university to redesign how we engage and recruit students from our surrounding counties. Our eventual goal in redesigning the processes is to leverage our ability to connect directly with local high schools, prospective students, and the parents of prospective students. In the paper, we briefly describe our prior recruitment activities, provide an overview of our newly-developed recruitment model and the philosophy that underpins our redesigned strategy for outreach and recruitment as a whole, and present an initial review of data that are being collected for assessing the effectiveness of our efforts. The central element of this initial work is the redesigned recruitment event aimed at helping us better connect with prospective students. The event emphasizes the importance of campus visits by local high school students, informative hands-on activities, and relationship-building with local high school staff and administrators. The goal of this initial work is to test the approach of direct engagement and to gauge interest in our programs, our location, and overall interest in attending college for the students who participate in the events. This initial assessment will in turn inform us how to continue to improve the overall strategy over the next two to four years.
