There has been a lot of discussion lately about enrollment yield around campus. Students who visit a college and begin to get a sense of how they fit in not only are more likely to choose that college, they also will be more motivated to succeed and more likely to persist to graduation. It all starts at the beginning. Just like spring.
Since 2006, Hudson Valley has hosted one or two events for students accepted for the fall and their parents. They visit us in late winter or early spring, when the campus is not at its best particularly. In the course of a Saturday morning, the accepted students and their parents become strongly convinced that Hudson Valley is their best choice. They meet people that will be helpful during the registration process. They sample the food. They tour the campus. They attend workshops on the transition to college, being an engaged student, and paying for it all.
These students not only enroll at rates way above the average (84 percent vs. 50 percent), they stay. They complete their degrees and certificates. Yes, they are a bit more motivated than the average student because they spent a cold weekend morning here. They (and their parents and whoever else tags along) also are natural ambassadors for the college in spreading the word about the strong academics, student support services and activities they have discovered during that visit.
Almost 3,000 invitations have gone out for Hudson Valley 101: An information session for accepted students and parents. This year, the event will be held on Saturday, March 31 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. in the Siek Campus Center. For information, please visit www.hvcc.edu/hudsonvalley101 or contact Kevin McNeelege at h.mcneelege@hvcc.edu.
Hudson Valley 101 works because of the reliable and cheerful efforts of many individuals and offices on campus. If you are interested in helping out in some way or have other comments and suggestions, please use the contact information above.
Published: Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:50:15 +0000 by h.mcneelege