2008 Woodie Awards
University increases high school recruitment
Megan Weiland and Vic Brotzman
Issue date: 1/15/08 Section: Campus
As the application deadline for the class of 2012 rapidly approaches, Laurie Koehler, director of Miami University's Office of Admission, is focusing on three main words: excellence, access and diversity.
"We've been working hard to ensure that we are recruiting for excellence, getting information out about our Honors and Scholars Program and providing access in more areas," Koehler said.
In her report to the board of trustees, Academic Affairs Trustee Lolita McDavid said several changes to recruitment and applications had been made and the Office of Admission would be "stepping up" its efforts for transparency and efficiency. She added that Miami is moving toward making its applications available only online.
To do this, Koehler said the office has increased its recruitment efforts through several partnerships across the country and worked to incorporate parents in the decision-making process.
"We've tried to ensure that our recruitment practices are more inclusive to families," she said. "We created the Ohio tour, which is a series of programs across the state with evening programs so families can be involved. If we only do high school visits we find that parents are often left out."
Additionally, the Office of Admission has teamed up with the Associate Vice President for University Communications Dionn Tron and the Office of Institutional Research to summarize and highlight Miami's standing in the National Survey of Student
Engagement (NSSE).
"Miami does exceptionally well (in the survey) if you were to compare us to other institutions," Koehler said. "But it's much easier for students to pick up a magazine and read a number rather than sifting through the NSSE data, which is not as cut and dry, so we're looking to see how we can best highlight Miami's assets."
Koehler added that the application process is taking more time this year because Miami has added a supplement.
"We made the change to encourage more serious applicants and to use this as a vehicle to express Miami's values," she said.
"We've been working hard to ensure that we are recruiting for excellence, getting information out about our Honors and Scholars Program and providing access in more areas," Koehler said.
In her report to the board of trustees, Academic Affairs Trustee Lolita McDavid said several changes to recruitment and applications had been made and the Office of Admission would be "stepping up" its efforts for transparency and efficiency. She added that Miami is moving toward making its applications available only online.
To do this, Koehler said the office has increased its recruitment efforts through several partnerships across the country and worked to incorporate parents in the decision-making process.
"We've tried to ensure that our recruitment practices are more inclusive to families," she said. "We created the Ohio tour, which is a series of programs across the state with evening programs so families can be involved. If we only do high school visits we find that parents are often left out."
Additionally, the Office of Admission has teamed up with the Associate Vice President for University Communications Dionn Tron and the Office of Institutional Research to summarize and highlight Miami's standing in the National Survey of Student
Engagement (NSSE).
"Miami does exceptionally well (in the survey) if you were to compare us to other institutions," Koehler said. "But it's much easier for students to pick up a magazine and read a number rather than sifting through the NSSE data, which is not as cut and dry, so we're looking to see how we can best highlight Miami's assets."
Koehler added that the application process is taking more time this year because Miami has added a supplement.
"We made the change to encourage more serious applicants and to use this as a vehicle to express Miami's values," she said.
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