April 20, 2020
From Vice Provost Karen Goos: An Enrollment Management Update
Dear K-Staters,
While I have not had the chance to meet everyone individually, I wanted to share my deep appreciation for your hard work, rapid response to change and flexibility during this unprecedented time. The character and commitment shown over these past six weeks only confirms what I have already learned about the K-State community: Our engaging, mission-driven and student-centered campuses are what makes this such a special place. During this time, I wanted share the most recent updates from enrollment management.
Admissions and Recruitment
To focus on the health and safety of future Wildcats and the entire K-State family, we have suspended in-person daily visits to campus. This includes regular campus visits, transfer visit days, Admitted Wildcat days, All-University Open House, Discover K-State days, April and June orientation and enrollment, as well as Wildcat Warm-Up. That said, in an effort to continue to connect with future students and families during this time:
- New Student Services, Admissions and our academic colleges are collaborating to host virtual events and daily campus visits. Additionally, we have developed a virtual resources webpage to allow students to gain as much information about K-State as possible. We appreciate your partnership in encouraging students to consider this alternative to visiting in person to learn more about campus and get their questions answered. Students can register for these virtual events and access these resources online.
- A university team is moving quickly to create an engaging online orientation and enrollment experience for new students in June. Understanding the financial constraints many students are experiencing, we have reduced the cost for this experience. We know that an online orientation cannot replace the immersive experience provided by visiting campus and we understand that a structured, on-campus transition to the university is vital for many students. To meet this need, we are developing a new Wildcat Warm-up experience in August.
Questions about these changes to our visits and events can be directed to New Student Services by emailing events@k-state.edu.
Financial Assistance
Our students are concerned about their health, transitioning to a remote learning environment and successfully completing this semester. We want to ease unexpected financial burdens and provide the support they need. In an effort to do this:
- We have developed an emergency aid website and referral form. This site serves as a one-stop-shop to navigate several resources for students in need. Students, faculty and staff are invited to alert the Office of Student Financial Assistance of any such financial emergency by completing and submitting the online financial intervention referral form. We will assess the student's eligibility for the most appropriate fund. Please be aware that this referral form does not replace the K-State Proud application process.
- The university has completed the application for the federal CARES Act emergency financial aid grant. A minimum of $6,343,277 will be distributed among students who have additional expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care expenses. The Offices of Enrollment Management and Student Financial Assistance are working quickly to develop a process for students to request consideration for emergency financial aid related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. Once the funds are available, we will communicate the process to apply.
- Additionally, we are pleased to share that Powercat Financial continues to provide individual financial counseling sessions remotely to assist students during this time.
Enrollment and Registration
A rapid response was necessary to ensure the health and safety of our campus community. The university understands we are all adapting to a new way of doing daily business. As a way to provide additional flexibility, K-State has made several accommodations to registration and enrollment for the spring 2020 and summer 2020 semesters. Our registrar's office is working to facilitate good communication and has developed a website to answer some of the frequently asked enrollment and registration questions. This site will continue to be updated as any additional decisions are made.
Enrollment Management Restructuring
In December 2018, a new university strategic enrollment management structural framework was announced and implemented effective July 1, 2019. At the time of the announcement, it was recognized that the shifting of units into the new structure was a first step, and as new SEM leadership and expertise was in place, additional restructuring might be necessary. I have spent several months working with Provost Taber, Vice President Thomas Lane, Vice Provost for Student Success Jeannie Brown Leonard and the leaders and staff of the units reporting to me, including New Student Services, Undergraduate Admissions, International Recruitment and Admissions, Student Financial Assistance, and Powercat Financial. We are ready to move forward with a phase two restructure focused on Enrollment Management units to be effective July 1, 2020.
The Offices of New Student Services, International Admissions and Recruitment, and Undergraduate Admissions will be combined and strategically realigned as the Office of Recruitment and Admissions. This creates a unified structure for all activities associated with recruitment and outreach activities and admissions processes for domestic and international undergraduate students. We are beginning the hiring process for an executive director for recruitment and admissions position (repurposing the director of New Student Services vacancy). Bryon Williams, who has served as the interim director of New Student Services since July 1, 2019, will return to his work location in Kansas City in the role of assistant director for college access and community outreach. We are thankful for Bryon's outstanding leadership and service during this time of transition.
In addition, the Kansas State College Advising Corps, or KSCAC, will move from the Office of Student Success to the Office of Enrollment Management, reporting to me. This move of KSCAC allows for the alignment of efforts to increase the college-going culture in high schools and access to the shared networks affiliated with college search. Powercat Financial will move from Enrollment Management to the Office of Student Life, reporting to the Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students. The student support provided by Powercat Financial will be amplified through closer collaboration with existing student success and well-being initiatives in Student Life units.
You can see these changes and additional details in the revised organizational charts (PDF).
As we continue to experience a rapid rate of change in the enrollment management environment, coupled now with the impacts of the COVID-19 response, we want to maintain our focus on the important work of attracting, enrolling and supporting students. As we adjust to our new normal in the coming months, we will continue to make progress on our strategic enrollment strategies, such as building our brand in new markets, developing a fully integrated future student communication and recruitment strategy, streamlining the student experience, and increasing affordability. Our goal for enrollment management is to build a collaborative, data-informed effort to strengthen recruitment and retention. I look forward to collectively building a brighter future for K-State and cannot wait until we can do that together on campus.
Until then, stay safe and go 'Cats!
Karen Goos
Vice Provost for Enrollment Management