Longwood University Admissions Office Minority Student Recruitment Plan. The seven commitments of the student recruitment plan are:

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1 Admissions Office To meet its strategic plan objectives, Longwood s student recruitment plan will include strategies and activities to identify minority students early in the admissions process, to expose prospective students to role models on campus, to provide financial aid resources, and to extend admissions opportunities to students. The seven commitments of the student recruitment plan are: 1. To identify potential college-bound students in the early high school years to provide information and motivational programs to encourage earlier college planning and academic preparation. 2. To intensify student recruitment (locally and in predominantly minority high schools) and to facilitate entry of students into the admissions process. 3. To increase prospective student articulation with current Longwood students, faculty and staff. 4. To provide more effective admissions communications and to facilitate successful completion of the admissions and financial aid processes. 5. To overcome the college cost barrier by providing special incentive grants. 6. To identify potential 2-year college minority transfer students and then provide college information, transfer evaluations, and financial aid to encourage enrollment at Longwood. 7. To identify minority students who show college potential but whose SAT scores or high school performance is below our admission standards. Each one of the above commitments will have a planned set of activities which are described below. 1

2 Commitment 1 Research has strongly suggested that motivation and development of academic skills for college must begin in the formative years. A component of Longwood s plan will include contacting students in earlier school years. These activities will include: a) Sending admissions information and guidance material during the student s precollege years. b) Conducting pre-college information workshops in local and surrounding high schools. c) Conducting periodic workshops and symposia on-campus for area school/agency/community counselors. d) Coordinating activities with pre-college counselors network in Longwood s service area. The effectiveness of these activities will be measured through feedback from school and agency counselors with whom we will work closely. Commitment 2 An important component of attracting students to Longwood is acquainting them with our programs, services, educational and career opportunities. This requires frequent visits by Longwood staff to secondary schools to speak with students and visits by students to our campus. a) Intensifying recruiting visits to high schools with large percentages of minority students in our marketing area including Richmond, Lynchburg, Southside, Central and Tidewater Virginia. b) Encouraging visits to campus by Upward Bound, Project Discovery and Talent Search programs. c) Participating in special college/career programs for minority students in Virginia, i.e., NSFNNS and MEGAGENESIS. 2

3 d) Expanding our Open House programs for prospective students and parents for the purpose of providing information on admissions, financial aid, academic programs and student life at Longwood. e) Provide ongoing opportunities for local students to visit our campus through open houses, special campus activities, day visitation programs, etc. The results of these programs will be measured in terms of the number of inquiries, attendees at programs and applications received. We will seek feedback from school and agency counselors. Commitment 3 Students are justifiably anxious about the attitude, social climate and support services in the college community. Our strategy is to use our students and staff as strong communication links with prospective students. a) Designating at least one full time professional admissions staff member to work individually with minority students. b) Including in Admissions promotional material students, faculty, staff and alumni who will be reflective of the minority experience at Longwood. c) Increasing the volunteer service of Longwood minority students in the admissions process through letter writing, phone calls and hosting visitors. d) Increasing student awareness of support services and resource people on-campus through letters from the Multicultural Office and involvement of minority staff in admissions recruitment activities. e) Using a Minority Student Advisory Committee to assist in the admissions effort. This is a more difficult area to assess. We will track admissions results and use focus groups comprised of current and newly enrolled minority students. The effectiveness and appropriateness of publications and support services will be evaluated by these groups. Commitment 4 The admissions and financial aid processes can be intimidating and present significant barriers to students. Our strategy is to provide guidance material, timely communications, and assistance with financial aid forms and frequent personal follow-up with candidates and their parents to facilitate their entry into college. Specific activities will include: 3

4 a) Sending information about Longwood to minority students on social life, community involvement, support services, and financial aid. b) Sending personalized follow-up letters at crucial stages in the admissions cycle, i.e., inquiry, application deadline, financial aid deadline, and deposit. c) Review of pending files weekly to facilitate application completion rates. Commitment 5 - The four year cost at Longwood is about $60,000 and rising yearly. For many families this is a real barrier to higher education. Longwood s strategy is to use its financial aid resources to maximize the funds available to low-income families with more emphasis on grants in the first two years of college. Other financial strategies will include: a) Maintaining the minority aid program at current funding, or if possible, higher levels. b) Maintaining the percentage of minority students receiving institutionally controlled aid and, if possible, increase the number. c) Continuing a special Admissions Incentive Scholarship program of $100,000 used primarily for student recruitment, increasing if possible. d) Attempting to meet full need of low income minority students with emphasis on grants for the first two years of study. e) Seeking additional funding, where possible, from state, federal and private sources. Commitment 6 - The Virginia Community College system is a major source of students wishing to further their education at a 4-year public college. These students needs are different from freshmen in terms of admissions and financial aid. Our strategy is to provide special admissions counseling for transfers and to do it as frequently as possible, at the 2-year college site. Recruitment will include: 4

5 a) Marketing the statewide articulation agreement between Longwood and community colleges to increase transfer opportunities. b) Intensifying recruitment through on-site visits to service area community colleges, including admissions on-site evaluations, where possible and program presentations. c) Developing Outreach Recruitment programs to attract non-traditional and adult students who may have some higher education through military or other work experience. The effectiveness of our efforts will be measured in terms of higher numbers of students contacted (and who enroll) and a survey of students who choose not to enroll. Commitment 7 It is essential that other measures of potential to succeed in college be used for selection of candidates. Many good minority applicants may have had inadequate high school preparation or have not scored well on standardized tests, such as, the SAT. Selected students will be offered an admissions opportunity through our PLUS program which includes counseling and academic skill development. Commitment to Admissions Policies and Practices for Entering Other Race Students The Longwood admissions decision is based on high school work, grade point average, strength of curriculum, rank in class, and SAT scores. Students who do not meet minimum standards are evaluated by the Faculty Admissions Committee. This Committee gives careful consideration to other factors which may indicate potential for academic success; motivation of student, counselor recommendations, and personal circumstances. The Committee has three options for admitting students: a) Regular Admissions The student s high school record meets Longwood s standards for admissions and SAT combined score is within Longwood s minimum acceptable score range for that academic year. b) PLUS Program A special admissions program for students who do not meet the above conditions for regular admissions, but have been judged as possessing potential to complete the Longwood curriculum. Students are required to participate in a full academic support and advisement program during their freshman year. c) Special Admissions This category is for students who do not meet all regular 5

6 criteria but who are judged by the Admissions Committee to have at least one strong indicator of academic potential, i.e., high school courses or above average grades or higher aptitude scores, etc. These students are admitted into Longwood without condition of completing the PLUS program. They receive guidance in course selection and can seek tutorial and counseling services if needed. 6

7 Summary of Recruitment Activities 1. Sending admissions information and guidance material to students in their precollege years. 2. Conducting periodic workshops and symposia on-campus for area school/agency/ community counselors. 3. Improving coordination with Upward Bound, Talent Search, Project Discovery, NAACP, EEO programs, and school counselors through visits and written communications. 4. Maintain a pre-college counselors community network in Longwood s service area. 5. Producing and widely disseminating brochures which feature students, faculty, staff and alumni that will be reflective of the minority experience at Longwood. 6. Increasing student awareness of support services and resource people on-campus through letters from Multicultural Affairs Office and involvement of minority staff in admissions recruitment activities. 7. Sending information about Longwood and additional information prepared especially for minority students on social life, community involvement, support services and financial aid. 8. Review pending files weekly to facilitate application completion rates. 9. Seeking additional financial aid funding, where possible, from state, federal and private sources. 10. Developing Outreach Recruitment programs to attract non-traditional and adult students who may have some higher education through military or other work experience. 11. Pre-college admission presentations in area high schools. 12. Student recruiting in high schools and at special minority college fairs. 13. Sponsoring overnight visits. 14. Maintaining, and where possible, increasing the financial aid to minority students. 15. Student recruiting in community colleges. 16. Continuation of designated Admissions Incentives Grants. 7