Groups look to raise university’s minority enrollment
Groups formed to increase minority enrollment and improve marketing strategies.
By Antoinette Vega
Staff Reporter

Two groups of administration officials were formed this semester by Chancellor Michael Ferrari to focus on attracting more minority students to the university.

A marketing task force will brainstorm ideas on various ways to portray the university while another group will look at the incoming students and evaluate strategies to target future students, Ferrari said.

“This year there was an increase of applications from Hispanic students, yet the enrollment did not increase,” Ferrari said. “The groups will evaluate why this happened and establish better ways to increase all enrollment.”

William Koehler, vice chancellor for academic affairs, said he established a working group that includes officials in the academic, admissions, financial aid and housing departments. The group will monitor the demographics of incoming students, application flow and financial aid distribution, Koehler said.

“The group is a management tool to improve recruitment efforts,” Koehler said. “It will compare data from last year to this year to meet students’ needs more effectively.”

Koehler said the group task force includes Patrick Miller, director of enrollment management; Ray Brown, dean of admissions; Michael Scott, director of scholarships and financial aid; Leo Munson, associate vice chancellor for academic support; Thomas Oliver, director of freshman admission and Roger Fisher, director of residential services.

Brown said the group is actively pursuing minority students to improve the value of a student’s education.

“Minority enrollment for incoming students is the lowest it has been in five years at an estimate of 14 percent,” he said. “It will benefit students in the future to be exposed to a variety of ideas, faiths and traditions from minorities.”

Larry Lauer, vice chancellor for marketing and the chairman of the marketing task force, said they will review the effect advertisements and publications have on enrollment.

He said 15 to 20 members will be chosen during the next two weeks and will include representatives from admissions, extended education, athletics, schools and colleges, students, faculty and staff.