Enrollment Management

BHSU is taking a number of steps to improve recruitment and retention with a goal of reversing a declining enrollment trend. As you know, tuition and fees are the primary funding source for the university so stabilizing and growing student credit hours is essential. The following is an overview of the initiatives currently underway as we move forward with our goals of increasing enrollment, enhancing retention, and stabilizing the budget.

A first initiative was to immediately address low retention rates that have fluctuated in recent years but have remained lower than our peers. A Retention Task Force was identified and this group has been working diligently to make a set of recommendations on improvements and changes that should be made to enhance retention of first year students (freshman to sophomore). Currently retention for this group is 65%; the recommendations are intended to improve retention to at least 70%. I’ve asked for this group’s recommendations by early January.

BHSU has also retained the services of Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL), a well-known higher education consulting firm, to create a long-term Strategic Enrollment Plan that will improve enrollment and retention. Among RNL’s initial recommendations were to conduct a Student Satisfaction Survey to measure overall satisfaction and priorities of current students. The survey is underway at this time.

There will be four phases to the Strategic Enrollment Plan:

1. Preparations and Data Analysis
2. Strategy Development
3. Goal Development
4. Implementation and Continuation

The framework has been established which includes a steering committee, a data team, and four working groups to consider areas of concern and explore possible opportunities. Those serving in each include:

Steering Committee:

• Chairs
  • Priscilla Romkema, VP for Academic Affairs
  • John Allred, VP for Enrollment Management
• Members
  • Corinne Hansen, Director of University & Community Relations
  • Kathy Johnson, VP for Finance and Administration
  • Pam Carriveau, Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs
  • Amy Fuqua, Dean for the College of Liberal Arts
  • Joe Rainboth, Director of Admissions
  • Cheryl Anagnopoulos, Professor of Psychology
  • Carrie Stringham, Assistant Professor of Management

BHSU RNL Action Planning Groups:

Financial Aid & Operations
John Allred, VP of Enrollment Management
Kathy Johnson, VP of Finance & Administration
Steve Meeker, VP of University Advancement
Gail Johnson, Student Financial Services

Financial Literacy
Brandon Bentley, Director of Business Services & Controller
Kim Nida, Assistant Director of Student Financial Services
Laura Prosser, Assistant Professor of Accounting

BHSU Recruitment Plan/Admissions/ Marketing Integration
John Allred, VP of Enrollment Management
Brock Anundson, Asst. Director of Athletic Events & Operations
Joe Rainboth, Director of Admissions
Laurel Simpson, Media & Design Assistant, Marketing & Communications

Admission Operations
John Allred, VP of Enrollment Management
Sherry Post, Senior Programmer/Analyst
Joe Rainboth, Director of Admissions

Experiential Teaching and Learning
Pam Carriveau, Asst. Provost
Trenton Ellis, Asst. Professor of Human Services
Jane Klug, Director of Student Life
Bobbi Looney, Asst. Professor of Management

Understand & Enhance BHSU Brand / Web
Greg Farley, Dean, College of Business & Natural Sciences
Corinne Hansen, Director of University & Community Relations
Gus Karinen, Coordinator of Web Development
Kristen Kilmer, Asst. Director of Marketing & Communications
Julie Olson, Adj. Instructor, School of Business
Tennielle Paden, Asst. Professor of Graphic Design

Develop a Retention/Re-Enrollment Plan
John Allred, VP of Enrollment Management
Whitney Bischoff, Professional Advisory
Pam Carriveau, Asst. Provost
Peggy Madrid, Asst. Director of Student Support Services
Urla Marcus, Director of American Indian Studies
Clarissa Thompson, Professional Advisor
Dana Weber, Professional Advisor
Kathleen Fitzgerald-Ellis, Director of the Student Success Center

Academic Program Portfolio
Skott Chandler, Asst. Professor of Mass Communications
Scott Clarke, Assoc. Professor of Digital Communications
Betsy Silva, Interim Dean, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Jeff Wehrung, Chair, School of Business

Geography and Partnerships
Kelly Kirk, Instructor of History / Director of Honors Program
Hans Nelson, Director of the Center for Hospitality & Business
Deb Wolf, Director of Educational Outreach, Sanford Underground Research Facility

Value of the BHSU General Education
Pam Carriveau, Asst. Provost
Abby Domagall, Assoc. Professor of Geology
Amy Fuqua, Dean, College of Liberal Arts
Colin Garnett, Asst. Professor of Mathematics
Kelly Kirk, Instructor of History / Director of Honors Program

For more details on the RNL process and recommendations, a web page has been established and will be updated as progress continues. Please review the details here. If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out to the Steering Committee or Working Group leaders. This is a campus wide effort. I’m confident that these initiatives will make a measurable improvement in both recruitment and retention for BHSU.