Enrollment consultant discusses USU’s figures
Faculty and administrative officials met Tuesday with an enrollment consultant to discuss Utah State University’s recruitment and retention figures.
Consultant Kent Hopkins is the associate vice president of Noel-Levitz, an enrollment management company which has been consulting with USU for several months.
The most important moves faculty and administration can make to improve enrollment and retention are those that will improve the academic environment of the school, he said.
“One of the most common things students ask for is more information about academic programs,” Hopkins said.
He said department heads should respond directly to student inquiries.
“Research shows that prospective students should be contacted from six to nine times,” he said.
Faculty in the audience voiced concern about difficulty meeting the needs of current students, with low faculty-to-student ratios and funding.
The problems are complicated, Hopkins said, and a lot of information must be gathered before realistic goals and benchmarks can be identified.
-lara@cc.usu.edu
Kent Hopkins of Noel-Levitz gives a presentation on the importance of early recruitment Tuesday afternoon in Old Main. (Photos by Angelie Christensen )