Turning Point | Photo by Cheyenne Waddell | Edited by Jessica Fugett | The Wright State Guardian
At the Faculty Senate meeting on Jan. 27, Wright State University President Dr. Susan Edwards spoke of changes in marketing for the university such as increasing its budget and a new plan.
Dr. Edwards is very hopeful that the university can increase the retention lines (recruitment, retention, and relationships.) She wants to start recruitment as early as middle school and wants our student body’s help to convince students that WSU is where they belong.
In the past two years, Wright State's enrollment has decreased by 23 percent. There are three reasons why students leave the university: financial, cultural and personal reasons, according to Edwards.
“We haven't put ourselves out there in terms of presence, which just reinforces the public’s perception that we are closing like we’re not open for business,” said Edwards. “Therefore people are not sending their children to Wright State because they believe that we aren’t going to be viable moving forward.”
WSU has received an increase in the marketing budget and plans to advertise on billboards all over the area.
WSU is searching for a new chief admissions and recruitment officer for the university. This position consists of reporting to admissions, transfering offers of financial aid, international recruitment, and College Credit Plus (CCP), according to Edwards.
Interim Provost Dr. Douglas Leaman jokingly said that he was stepping down as vice president of research innovation search chair because he lost a lot of sleep from it. He hopes that someone can fill his spot as soon as possible.
WSU is planning to have a new college opening in fall of 2021. It’s still a work in progress but Dr. Leaman believes that by winter of next year, Wright State should have the final structure and details completed. They’re working very cautiously on this project; it’s been 35 years since we’ve had something like this at the university, according to Leaman.
$25,000 was funded for recruitment (Faculty Initiated Recruitment Program) by administration thanks to the faculty priorities committee who will allocate these rewards, according to Edwards.
