SIUE Campus Visits Include Growing Number of High School and Community College Advisors
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hosted two one-day conferences that served as a warm welcome for area for more than 50 high school counselors and 30 community college professionals. The University offered detailed data, testimonials and an open forum to assure attendees that recent high profile enrollment news includes well-defined pathways to student success and steadfast strides in institutional performance.
For the high school counselor's session on Oct. 2, Director of Undergraduate Admissions Samantha Ray assured the crowd, “You may hear the term ‘your largest first time freshman class, and what does that mean?’ We are still committed to these small class sizes for your students, despite growth at the university.”
Led by Kelly Brooks and interim Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management Kevin Wathen, EdD, campus partners presented extensive information on the application process (free), Summer Success Program (free plus earned college credit), and the mandate that all first-time, full-time students must live on campus if they graduated from high school within 12 months.
Jen McPherson, PhD, director of New Student and Family Programs, described SIUE START, an initiative that meets students where they are during the application processes and provides assistance from advising and registration through enrollment.
Director of Academic Success Kelly Atkins, EdD, elaborated on the Summer Success Program, which offers students a five-week residency prior to first year courses where students earn six credit hours—all at no cost.
“Summer Success also experienced record enrollment for the University,” said Atkins. “Last year we had 115 students. Now to appreciate that number, you have to know that we started at 15 students back in 2013. So we are growing. We are currently seeing 300 students.”
Student panelist Shalamar Burl, a transfer student majoring in construction, shared with the high school counselors, “I would suggest making sure all of your students feel like they belong, even in high school. Like people say ‘it starts at home.’ It starts in high school too. If kids understand they belong around the group of people that they’re with in their high school and that they have a voice before college, then they can come to college with that same spirit or attitude and pull from that.”
The day ended with an in-person tour from Chris Gordon, PhD, School of Engineering.
For the Oct. 8 community college visit, the admissions team added a college table fair with tabling from the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Health and Human Behavior, School of Engineering, School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy.
“We added an academic college fair so community college advisors could meet with representatives from our academic colleges, gather materials to take home with them and ask their individual questions about our programs,” said Samantha Ernst, assistant director of Admissions for Transfer Recruitment, Central Illinois. “I would say the highlight was our transfer student panel which was also new this year. The advisors loved hearing about their experience and advice they can give to their students interested in transferring to SIUE.
Interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Kevin Wathen, EdD added, “I love hearing the stories of students who found their way to SIUE with the help of a community college counselor. The guidance and encouragement these counselors offer can help students see a path forward and give them the confidence to take the next step. I’m grateful for the work they do and for the chance to keep strengthening our partnerships in support of students.”
PHOTOS: SIUE Admissions team leads high school counselors program; Student panel with Shalamar Burl speaking; Interim VC for Enrollment Management Kevin Wathen, EdD, speaks at community college program; Samantha Ernst leads community college program
