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Running head: Critical Issues Admissions and the Economy

Critical IssuesAdmissions and the Economy


April 6, 2015
Kirstie Harsha
Georgia Southern University

Critical Issues Admissions and the Economy

Critical Issues Admissions and the Economy

As the Director of Admissions at Georgia Southern University, the economy plays a huge
role in recruiting, accepting, and enrolling students to our institution every year. The Office of
Admissions works primarily with prospective students and transfer students to gain acceptance to
the university. Recruiters are having to travel more than ever before to spark interests in Georgia
Southern University and to hopefully have the student meet all the admissions requirements
(Grade Point Average and SAT/ACT test scores) and apply for admission. The processing staff
members of the Office of Admissions then have to input all LEAD cards (that the recruiters had
students fill out) as well as input all applications, transcripts, senior schedules, letters of
recommendations, and official College Board test scores before a student receives an admission
decision. My decisions on recruiting staff, travel time, and processing time is determined by the
economic status monthly, quarterly, and yearly. I make decisions daily that impact the Office of
Admissions and the status of Georgia Southern University.
The Economy
Over the last ten years working in the Office of Admissions and the last 2 years as the
Director of Admissions, I have seen the economy go up, down, and back up again. The economy
dictates how much money the Office of Admissions spends on recruiter travel, new hires, and
many other aspects in our office. As the economy fell in 2007, we had to make cuts on recruiting
to some extent. We hoped in the future that we could add more funds to recruiting.
Declining EconomyThe Great Recession 2007-2009
The time period in which the economy declined sharply (2007 2009) became known as
the Great Recession (The Great Recession). In the Office of Admissions, we were also affected
by the decline in the economy, both personally and professionally. The Director of Admissions
K. Harsha

Critical Issues Admissions and the Economy

before I took over, Sarah Smith, had to make a tough decision to cut back slightly on recruiter
travel time. We had to make this decision because Georgia Southern University as a whole had
begun to suffer from the economic downturn. While we did have to cut back slightly on
recruiting, our recruiters did an amazing job bringing in more students than the previous years. In
2007, 8,090 high school students applied to Georgia Southern, 3,669 of those students were
accepted, and 2,579 of those accepted enrolled at Georgia Southern University. The fiscal year of
2007-2008 was even better than the previous. Transfer student numbers excelled too. 1,317
transfer students applied to Georgia Southern, 1,057 of those students were accepted, and 879 of
those accepted enrolled at Georgia Southern University (2007-2008 Factbook). The Office of
Admissions did not anticipate that this many students would apply and enroll with the downturn
of the economy. In 2008, 8,620 high school students applied to Georgia Southern, 4,335 of those
students were accepted, and 2,600 of those accepted enrolled at the institution. The last fiscal
year of the Great Recession proved to be even better than the previous two years. The number of
transfer students applying increased from 2007. 1,462 transfer students applied to Georgia
Southern, 1,145 of those were accepted, and 914 of those accepted enrolled at Georgia Southern
University (2008-2009 Factbook). In 2009, 9,214 high school students applied to Georgia
Southern, 5,154 of those students were accepted, and 2,981 of those accepted enrolled to the
institution. Again, the number of transfer students applying went even further up. 1,619 transfer
students applied to Georgia Southern, 1,320 of those students were accepted, and 1,080 of those
accepted enrolled at Georgia Southern University (2009-2010 Factbook). While we did have to
make cuts at the end of 2007 and beginning of 2008, we were able to make a decision to increase
recruiter travel time when the number of applied, accepted, and enrolled students increased each

K. Harsha

Critical Issues Admissions and the Economy

year. We had only hoped that our enrollment number would reach that high, but never expected
them to once the economy took a turn for the worst.
Prospering Economy
The recession did not take as much of a toll on the Office of Admissions as we had first
anticipated. The number of applications, acceptances, and enrollments steadily increased as the
economy improved from the Great Recession. The years following 2009 were also prosperous. In
2010, 9,817 high school students applied to Georgia Southern, 5,493 of those students were
accepted, and 3,101 of those accepted enrolled at Georgia Southern University. Transfer student
applications increased yet again. 1,674 transfer students applied to Georgia Southern, 1,341 of
those were accepted, and 1,033 of those accepted enrolled at Georgia Southern University (20102011 Factbook). 2011s numbers were no different than the previous trends. In 2011, 10,495 high
school students applied to Georgia Southern, 4,919 of those students were accepted, and 3,000 of
those accepted enrolled at Georgia Southern University. While beginning freshman application
were down, transfer numbers were up. 1,857 transfer students applied to Georgia Southern, 1,507
of those were accepted, and 1160 of those accepted enrolled at Georgia Southern University
(2011-2012 Factbook). The fiscal year of 2012 application numbers dropped slightly, but the
enrollment numbers went up. In 2012, 9,974 applied to Georgia Southern, 4,922 of those
students were accepted, and 3,037 of those accepted enrolled at Georgia Southern University. We
are not sure why the number of application fell by approximately 500 because all recruiting
decisions were kept fairly similar. Yet again, transfer application and enrollment were up in 2012.
1,726 transfer students applied, 1,423 of those were accepted, and 1,083 of those accepted
enrolled at Georgia Southern University (2012-2013 Factbook). As each year improved and the
number increased, we were able to put more money into recruiter traveling, Open House events,
K. Harsha

Critical Issues Admissions and the Economy

and Scholars Day events. I think that this was one of the best decisions we could have made for
the Office of Admissions. As our events got larger, Georgia Southern has been able to recruit
more students especially from high ability schools. This decision made the Georgia Southern
average SAT/ACT scores increase which in turn increased the interest of other high ability
students to Georgia Southern University. With the increase in student population, higher
SAT/ACT scores, and more funding for events, Georgia Southern has been able to compete with
highly ranked universities in the state of Georgia.
Current Economy
We, in the Office of Admissions, feel like we are in a good place with the economy right
now. For the fiscal year of 2013 2014, we saw our number dip slightly. 9,527 students applied
to Georgia Southern, 5,152 of those students were accepted, and 2,953 of those accepted enrolled
at Georgia Southern University. Transfer application and enrollment numbers were at an all-time
high in 2013. 1,733 transfer students applied to Georgia Southern, 1,398 of those were accepted,
and 1,031 of those accepted enrolled at Georgia Southern University (2013-2014 Factbook).
Although the enrolled numbers dropped from the previous year, the Office of Admissions staff
did indeed meet the goal that was set in August of 2013. The recruiting staff has been traveling
weekly to try to get last chance graduating high school seniors to apply and be accepted to
Georgia Southern University. Our numbers are looking good in comparison to the previous years
and the goal set in August of 2014. As a whole, the Office of Admissions is set to meet and
hopefully exceed the current enrollment numbers. The increase in acceptance and enrollment has
gained Georgia Southern University national recognition. U.S. News has ranked Georgia
Southern as one of the best national universities and number 228 in High School Counselor
Rankings (U.S. News Best College Rankings).
K. Harsha

Critical Issues Admissions and the Economy

Future Admission Prospects


We are very hopefully that this fiscal years numbers (2014-2015) will also meet the goal
set forth in August of 2014. Currently, we are on track to meet our goal, but we still have two
more months before the application deadline ends. Many decisions have been made in hopes to
meet our goal. As the Director, I have increased Spring recruitment travel. Each recruiter attends
high school college fairs weekly to get the attention of those high school seniors who have not
applied to Georgia Southern or who have not yet made a commitment to any university. From the
previous mention of SAT/ACT scores increasing, we have steadily increased our average
SAT/ACT scores of those who have been accepted. As of 2010, the SAT average score was 1106
and the ACT average score of 23. Both of these scores are above the minimum required scores
for admission. As of the end of the fiscal year in 2014, the average SAT score was 1113 and the
average ACT score was 24. By the end of this fiscal year, we would like to surpass the 2014
score averages.
In-State Recruitment
We have broken up the state of Georgia into five territories, each with its own recruiter.
From all the counties within the state, the top five with the most students enrolled at Georgia
Southern are as follows: Gwinnett, Bulloch, Fulton, Cobb, and Chatham. Each territory has a
goal that we hope they meet. As a whole, we have set an enrollment goal, and that goal is much
more important to meet than the individual territory goals. Each year we look at the number of
students being accepted by county and territory and make decisions on how much recruiting time
is needed. Much of the recruiting involves overnight travel by the recruiter, so the budget is
taken into account when travel is needed.

K. Harsha

Critical Issues Admissions and the Economy

Out-of-State Recruitment
A large portion of the out-of-state recruitment takes place in Florida, South Carolina,
North Carolina, and Virginia. Stephen Warner is the Coordinator of Out-of-State Recruitment. He
organizes all high school visits and college fairs for all other 49 states. When a student from a
state that is not close in distance to Georgia is interested in the application process, Stephen
contacts a Georgia Southern alumnus. The alumnus works directly with the student to apply to
the university and gives advice/guidance on their decision. Of all 50 states in the United State of
American, 49 of the states are represented on Georgia Southerns campus. We make decisions
daily on when and where to recruit from out-of-state.
International Recruitment
Ron Jones, Assistant Director of International Recruitment, contacts students daily that
do not reside in the United States. The top five international countries that are represented on
Georgia Southerns campus are as follows: Nigeria, India, China, Honduras, and Canada. More
than 100 countries are represented on Georgia Southerns campus. We are very proud to have
representation from around the world on our campus! I, as the Director, have decided in the last
few years to increase the international recruitment. Ron travels monthly to other countries who
have students that are interested in attending Georgia Southern University.
Conclusion
I have had the chance to implement many changes to the Office of Admissions and I am
very proud of the increase in enrollment, SAT/ACT scores, and recruitment that has taken place
over the last several years. I look forward to many more prosperous years that I have at Georgia

K. Harsha

Critical Issues Admissions and the Economy

Southern University. I see much potential in the coming years for the institution and hopefully
more national recognition to be gained.

Resources

K. Harsha

Critical Issues Admissions and the Economy

2007-2008 Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from


http://em.georgiasouthern.edu/osra/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/fb0708_web.pdf.
2008-2009 Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from
http://em.georgiasouthern.edu/osra/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/fb0809_web2.pdf.
2009-2010 Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from
http://em.georgiasouthern.edu/osra/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/fb0809_web2.pdf.
2010-2011 Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from
http://em.georgiasouthern.edu/osra/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/fb1011_web.pdf.
2011-2012 Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from
http://em.georgiasouthern.edu/osra/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/fb1112.pdf.
2012-2013 Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from
http://em.georgiasouthern.edu/osra/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/fb1213.pdf.
2013-2014 Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from
http://em.georgiasouthern.edu/osra/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/fb1314.pdf.
The Great Recession. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from
http://stateofworkingamerica.org/great-recession/.
U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/georgia-southern-university139931/overall-rankings.

K. Harsha

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