Spring Break
Returning students bolster UMKC's admissions rate
Jessie Burche
Issue date: 6/2/08 Section: News
Freshman enrollment is up 26 percent this year as of May 1 at the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU), according to an MU news bureau press release.
UMKC enrollment is also up for the 10th year in a row, but not for freshman students.
Enrollment is up 30 percent for the fall semester, according to Jennifer DeHaemers, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management.
"It's primarily returning students," DeHaemers said. "New student enrollment has only been open a month."
In order to enroll at UMKC, freshman have to attend an orientation. There has only been one so far this summer, so accurate freshman enrollment numbers are not available. However, there are 150 to 200 new students enrolled thus far at UMKC, according to DeHaemers.
DeHaemers attributes students returning to several components.
"Students are pleased with their overall experience on campus," DeHaemers said. "It's also the economy. People tend to turn to education in a bad economy. People are thinking 'I want to get my degree finished and not drag it out.' … They want to finish [their degree] and get into the workforce."
The effort to increase enrollment began 14 years ago, DeHaemers said, when UMKC began to promote itself and recruit students.
"When you try to get a message out, people hear it," DeHaemers said.
As director of admissions for 11 years before beginning her current position, DeHaemers saw UMKC's enrollment strategy first-hand.
Two parts of this strategy were to pay more attention to student services and to add more on-campus housing.
"We're losing fewer students. They're not leaving as much as they used to," DeHaemers said.
In July 2006, the admissions process was changed to make admissions faster and smoother. The admissions office implemented a new imaging system for applications and transcripts. Any paper documents sent through admissions is scanned, and then admissions officers use the electronic file to make their decision, according to DeHaemers.
"The turnaround time used to be three weeks [for admissions]; now it's one week," she said.
DeHaemers also believes implementing Pathway in the admissions office and for students has made enrollment much easier.
"Students can enroll in classes on their own time now," DeHaemers said.
jburche@unews.com
UMKC enrollment is also up for the 10th year in a row, but not for freshman students.
Enrollment is up 30 percent for the fall semester, according to Jennifer DeHaemers, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management.
"It's primarily returning students," DeHaemers said. "New student enrollment has only been open a month."
In order to enroll at UMKC, freshman have to attend an orientation. There has only been one so far this summer, so accurate freshman enrollment numbers are not available. However, there are 150 to 200 new students enrolled thus far at UMKC, according to DeHaemers.
DeHaemers attributes students returning to several components.
"Students are pleased with their overall experience on campus," DeHaemers said. "It's also the economy. People tend to turn to education in a bad economy. People are thinking 'I want to get my degree finished and not drag it out.' … They want to finish [their degree] and get into the workforce."
The effort to increase enrollment began 14 years ago, DeHaemers said, when UMKC began to promote itself and recruit students.
"When you try to get a message out, people hear it," DeHaemers said.
As director of admissions for 11 years before beginning her current position, DeHaemers saw UMKC's enrollment strategy first-hand.
Two parts of this strategy were to pay more attention to student services and to add more on-campus housing.
"We're losing fewer students. They're not leaving as much as they used to," DeHaemers said.
In July 2006, the admissions process was changed to make admissions faster and smoother. The admissions office implemented a new imaging system for applications and transcripts. Any paper documents sent through admissions is scanned, and then admissions officers use the electronic file to make their decision, according to DeHaemers.
"The turnaround time used to be three weeks [for admissions]; now it's one week," she said.
DeHaemers also believes implementing Pathway in the admissions office and for students has made enrollment much easier.
"Students can enroll in classes on their own time now," DeHaemers said.
jburche@unews.com
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