Student recruitment process examined

The process for recruiting students was examined at the recent Faculty Senate meeting with a presentation from William Pierce, the director of undergraduate admission.

“We were once one large admissions office; we’ve now synthesized our admissions effort, each office has a director responsible for recruiting a specific student type,” he said. “My type specifically is the direct-from-high school market, that’s the traditional high school group.”

Pierce said this traditional high school group makes up “two thirds of the incoming class of students.”

His team recruits students they believe will be successful at UT and will graduate.

According to Pierce, one of the key aspects of recruiting prospective students is to build a relationship with them.

Pierce also said there are two different types of students that his branch of recruitment deals with: “well-prepared and typical.”

According to Pierce, the well-prepared students have higher GPAs — in the range of 3.5 and above — and an ACT score of 25 or higher, while the typical students have a GPA in the 3.2 range, and a ACT score of 22-23.

Senator Mike Dowd had concerns about how the honors programs was distinguished from the regular programs at UT.

“How do you differentiate the two programs specifically to the students: what is honors at UT?” Dowd said.

Peirce said the honors students are enrolled in honors courses “but they also receive the same services … in terms of support.”

The topic of how to increase student recruitment was also discussed at the meeting.

According to Interim Provost John Barrett, “there is a stronger recruiting tool in the faculty at the university. The more willing you are to get involved, the more success you will have.”

Barrett also said one of the most important things to do for prospective students is that you are committed to them, because then they will be more likely to commit to UT.