II. Enhancing the Student Experience Through Enrollment Growth and Student Support
The goals for this priority are creating a campus culture of all personnel as new student recruiters and a campus culture that re-recruits students. Focuses include targeted program recruiting, connecting prospective students with current students at recruiting events, emphasizing the value of a Christ-centered education, increasing scholarships for returning students, and expanding HPU’s culture of student support. This priority is led by Mrs. Kristina Penland, University Registrar, and Mrs. Ciera Ray, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Director of Field Education in Social Work
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HPU launched a Center for Student Success last summer, led by Dr. Wendy McNeeley. The Center began serving students in fall 2023, and added a full-time Academic Coach in spring 2024. The Center had 190 student visits in the 2023-24 academic year, and has had 220 visits in the fall semester alone. The Center is being funded through a Department of Education grant for $3 million dollars, recently awarded to the University. Plans for spending the first installment, primarily in expanding and remodeling the Center facilities in Walker Memorial Library, are underway.
This fall, the task force presented Dr. Hines with a proposal for a Student Advisory Council. The members of this council have been selected (two males and two females from each class level) and have met twice with Dr. Hines.
The task force also presented Dr. Hines with a proposal for an Exit Interview process for students who withdraw from the university or fail to return. The approved survey will be used this semester.
During the spring and fall semesters, the Office of Admissions and representatives from this priority have worked with the Deans Council on best practices for recruiting. Information Technology Services launched the new myGateway portal on September 27, 2023, and expanded the Deans access to recruiting and retention data. Deans are currently discussing enrollment goals for their programs. To assist in in recruiting, the Office of Marketing and Communications is developing academic brochures and information sheets to be used by academic offices as well as Admissions.
To increase access to counseling and preventative services for our students, the residence halls have conducted two to three group discussions on mental health each semester. A new part-time counselor and a counseling intern are being hired for the spring semester.
In 2023-24 thanks to Dr. Meinecke and his team’s hard work, HPU raised over $3.2 million for student scholarships. These endowed funds will result in an additional $160,000 in awards for the next fiscal year and every year to come. Over $415,00 in endowed scholarships have been raised for 2024-25.
The Office of Admissions created a “Best Practices Recruiting Guide” for the Deans’ Council and continues to communicate up-to-date recruiting information to them.
The Office of Student Experience has included students during SWARM to assist with taking photo IDs and having a presence to answer questions students may have.
In total, over $3.2 million was given to fund endowed scholarships in 2023-24.
The Center for Student Success added a full-time Academic Advisor in May 2024. The Dean of Students continues to work with students enrolled in summer courses and living on campus to engage them with the Center for Student Success.
The Office of Marketing and Communications is developing a timeline of academic brochures and information sheets to be used for recruiting by all academic programs. Brochures for Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Nursing and Social Work have already been published.
As HPU’s growing student population embraces Christ-centered education, God’s faithfulness is evident on the HPU campus.
Dr. Jodi Goode has worked with the Deans’ Council on recruiting and retention data access. The new HPU myGateway system became operational on September 27, 2023, providing additional access to program enrollments.
The Center for Student Success began serving students on October 9, 2023 in the newly renovated library.
The Mabee Foundation gave $1,000,000 to fund a new endowed scholarship.
In an effort to connect with the local community and target program recruiting, HPU hosted a Health Science Enrichment Workshop for high school juniors and seniors.
HPU launched the Center for Student Success, led by Dr. Wendy McNeeley.