SUMMARY

Board of Trustees

Ad Hoc Recruitment and Retention Committee

July 16, 2009

Members Present:  Mr. Gil Ziegler, Chair, Mr. Bill Bernard, Dr. L. Garnet Lewis, Ms. Cindy Paavola, Dr. Douglas Roberts

The Recruitment and Retention Committee was called to order at 1:08 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the July 8, 2009 meeting were approved as published or electronically submitted.

Review of Progress To Date

Mr. Bernard provided an overview of the Committee’s discussions thus far, including: 

• Enrollment numbers for new and returning students
• Transfer student Articulation Agreements
• Beginning discussions on four-year graduation rates 
• Marketing perspective

Mr. Bernard provided an enrollment update from an Orientation deposit perspective as well as registration and credit hours to date.  Orientation sessions have been completed with the exception of the fall make-up session. 

Mr. Bernard provided an update on freshman and transfer application numbers.  The impact of U.P. high school graduation levels was discussed.

Ms. Paavola provided a summary of the recruitment process: 

• Time-funnel
• Purchase of Pre-ACT and ACT lists
• Admissions counselors live in their respective geographical regions
• Multiple-year web revisions
• Web-based financial aid interactive tool
• Newly developed recruiting pieces for military
• International college fairs
• Publications designed specifically to address questions for parents
• Focus groups

Marketing strategies related to demographics were discussed.

The role of high school teachers as alumni of NMU was discussed.

Mr. Bernard reviewed information on Admissions’ liaison role with Alumni.

Mr. Bernard provided information related to Michigan community colleges.  NMU is seeing transfer students with increased transfer credits.  Mr. Bernard summarized the implementation process for Articulation Agreements and information relative to the MACRAO Agreement and proviso that requires additional coursework to fulfill our liberal studies requirements.  The Committee may consider recommending a review of policies concerning the transfer of credits attached to the MACRAO Agreement.

Offsite programming was discussed.

Recommendations to Move Forward

The Committee will continue to review enrollment and discuss four-year graduation rates.

The Recruitment and Retention Committee will reconvene via teleconference following the beginning of the fall semester.

The meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m.