Revamped UM Student Recruitment

[fanofzoo]

Marketing matters. UM's problems are well beyond persistent crappy marketing.

They are selling the wrong things, and that can't be helped by mailers or tours.

Here, here....more Alcohol, Drugs and Rock n' Roll

Worked before.

 

[noncasualobserver]

Here, here....more Alcohol, Drugs and Rock n' Roll

Worked before.

It did! Honestly wonder what would happen if a University sold themselves as the "non woke" option, like "we won't take your money and time and mold you into a compliant protestor. You'll actually learn independent, objective thought." This compared to trying to pimp the University as a mini/cloudier/cold weather-Berkley. Doubtful that would ever happen with tenured faculty.

 

[fanofzoo]

Worked before.

It did! Honestly wonder what would happen if a University sold themselves as the "non woke" option, like "we won't take your money and time and mold you into a compliant protestor. You'll actually learn independent, objective thought." This compared to trying to pimp the University as a mini/cloudier/cold weather-Berkley. Doubtful that would ever happen with tenured faculty.

Like Humboldt St.

 

[indian-outlaw]

Worked before.

It did! Honestly wonder what would happen if a University sold themselves as the "non woke" option, like "we won't take your money and time and mold you into a compliant protestor. You'll actually learn independent, objective thought." This compared to trying to pimp the University as a mini/cloudier/cold weather-Berkley. Doubtful that would ever happen with tenured faculty.

Everyone knows higher education is just liberal propoghanda.

 

[wbtfg]

I think MSU went down from 3193 to 3099, which is roughly a 3% decline.

UM went from 1141 to 982, roughly a 14% decline.

I found 2 separate articles that had MSU 2019 fall freshman enrollment over 3300 and UM jut over 1K. I was comparing fall freshman enrollment at both campuses from 2019 to 2020. Those numbers represent a 10% decline for each.

I just noticed the university system recently posted the numbers online.

https://mus.edu/data/dashboards/

 

[tgreseth]

i thought comparing criminal records of the respective teams and coaches was bottom of the barrel. enrollment smack is down there somewhere too. gfy

 

[wbtfg]

i thought comparing criminal records of the respective teams and coaches was bottom of the barrel. enrollment smack is down there somewhere too. gfy

That escalated quickly. Lol

 

[kemajic]

I wish I had some good news to pass on, but the attached account of my granddaughter's recruitment is not that. It appears nothing has been fixed; they just don't get it. It will be interesting to see whether I even get a response.

Mr. President and Ms. Kreta,

Our live-in granddaughter, Brianna Getz, a senior at Columbus High School, began the process of selecting an undergraduate program this fall. She is interested in Psychology/Counseling and since she is a Griz fan and frequently attends games with us, UM seemed a natural fit. I’m a local GSA member; wife Barbara and I are both alumni, are consistent donors and have had four season football tickets for many years. She is very familiar with the campus and the community that she explores while we are tailgating before games. Her expectations of the visit were to learn more about her programs of interest.

I was very pleased with the changes at the top of UM, recognizing that more than academics would be necessary to reshape the serious decline in enrollment. There were some obvious flaws in UM’s marketing efforts and capabilities, as well as resistance to re-tune offerings to changing workplace demands. A degree today is very costly; it needs to produce opportunity. The value of a UM degree was coming very much into question. So along with satisfaction in the selection of a President with business acumen, I was anticipating change, optimistic that it would be in evidence by now, at least on the front end where it must start. As Barbara, who accompanied Brianna, reports below, at least in this anecdotal case, my expectations have not been realized. We are very disappointed that UM did not show well.

Brianna had her first college visit at the University of Montana on Monday, September 21st, 2020.

We met a lady from the Admissions office for a campus tour. The only building we were able to enter was the bookstore building that we’ve been into many times. There we got information about the various places to eat on campus. We’ve taken Bri to the campus many times over the years as we attend all Griz football games. We were given a little information about dorms, but basically knew the campus pretty well. We also received some information about the admissions process, which Brianna knew already. Bri did get a few handouts in a folder, but no information on her preferred interests and had no meetings with any professors, even remotely.

MSU tour, Tuesday September 22nd, 2020.

Before our tour started, Brianna had two 30 minute Zoom calls; one with a psychology professor and one with a sociology professor. They were quite effective and very helpful for her. We went to the student union building where there was a welcome to campus video with the MSU President welcoming students to campus. The video gave an overview of MSU and the Bozeman area. Very good and useful, since we avoid stopping in Bozeman on our trips to Missoula. Three students took our group of 12 to 15 prospective students and parents around campus. We were able to go into FOUR different buildings to observe classes.

Back at the student union, we saw a slide show about all campus housing by a three-year RA that included different options, costs and things available at each dorm. Very good and informative. The last video we saw was from an admissions person giving lots of information about cost/loans/grants/scholarships. The students were then given a nice water bottle and more handouts for their folders.

MSUB tour Wednesday, September 30th, 2020.

When we entered Admissions, there was a wooden sign and a digital sign welcoming Brianna to the campus. We met with an Admissions officer who gave us an overview of the campus. We were then taken on a tour to the library, food service building, several classrooms and into a dorm to see how most are set up. Great information. We then went back to Admissions where we were given information about the cost of tuition, books, room/board, scholarships and grants. At the end, Bri got lots of handouts for her folder and received a backpack and an MSUB t-shirt.

Brianna will be committing to MSU even against our efforts to express that Psychology has a far higher emphasis at UM than at MSU; she did not sense the energy there that she did at MSU. Of course, 17-year-olds do not always use the best components to make decisions, but this is where we are. Facts like distance from home, friends also committing there, etc. also enter, but I’m passing this information along to you because the biggest part of her decision is that UM flat laid an egg on her visit. She felt more wanted and comfortable at both MSU and MSU-B. This process must improve to become competitive. Breaks our hearts.

Dr. Kenneth and Barbara Kem

Great summary and thanks for sharing. Thank you for reaching out to some folks as well to inform them where they fell on their faces. UM has to do better, they just have to. This has gone on far too long and seems like a phenomenal campus tour would be an easy fix. Sorry to hear of all this Kem.

The response from the new Director of Admissions, Mary Kreta, on board now less that two months, is the kind of action we can respect. I will share a quote from her most recent email:

"On the Monday after your email I met with the Admissions staff in charge of campus visits. The next day - Tuesday - the provost and I presented to the deans. By that Thursday, every campus visitor was meeting with someone from the academic program of their interest. We have started a comprehensive review of our Campus Visit program with the aim to make it better meet the needs of our prospective students, better demonstrate UM's many strengths, and make the process more efficient for the Admissions staff so they can focus more on direct student support. I'm hoping to implement these changes soon. Thank you for providing a jumping off point for these actions. "

With this person in charge and committed, I am very much more optimistic about the front end of our problem. It remains to be seen whether issues outside Ms. Kreta's perview - cost control and better tuning UM's offerings to current needs, will receive the same action.

 

[HookedonGriz]

Great summary and thanks for sharing. Thank you for reaching out to some folks as well to inform them where they fell on their faces. UM has to do better, they just have to. This has gone on far too long and seems like a phenomenal campus tour would be an easy fix. Sorry to hear of all this Kem.

The response from the new Director of Admissions, Mary Kreta, on board now less that two months, is the kind of action we can respect. I will share a quote from her most recent email:

"On the Monday after your email I met with the Admissions staff in charge of campus visits. The next day - Tuesday - the provost and I presented to the deans. By that Thursday, every campus visitor was meeting with someone from the academic program of their interest. We have started a comprehensive review of our Campus Visit program with the aim to make it better meet the needs of our prospective students, better demonstrate UM's many strengths, and make the process more efficient for the Admissions staff so they can focus more on direct student support. I'm hoping to implement these changes soon. Thank you for providing a jumping off point for these actions. "

With this person in charge and committed, I am very much more optimistic about the front end of our problem. It remains to be seen whether issues outside Ms. Kreta's perview - cost control and better tuning UM's offerings to current needs, will receive the same action.

Thank you for sharing this. I am happy to hear it being addressed quickly and efficiently. I had forwarded your email on to a few folks I know in various depts at UM in hopes it would get some traction. Thanks for the follow up!

 

[SoldierGriz]

Great summary and thanks for sharing. Thank you for reaching out to some folks as well to inform them where they fell on their faces. UM has to do better, they just have to. This has gone on far too long and seems like a phenomenal campus tour would be an easy fix. Sorry to hear of all this Kem.

The response from the new Director of Admissions, Mary Kreta, on board now less that two months, is the kind of action we can respect. I will share a quote from her most recent email:

"On the Monday after your email I met with the Admissions staff in charge of campus visits. The next day - Tuesday - the provost and I presented to the deans. By that Thursday, every campus visitor was meeting with someone from the academic program of their interest. We have started a comprehensive review of our Campus Visit program with the aim to make it better meet the needs of our prospective students, better demonstrate UM's many strengths, and make the process more efficient for the Admissions staff so they can focus more on direct student support. I'm hoping to implement these changes soon. Thank you for providing a jumping off point for these actions. "

With this person in charge and committed, I am very much more optimistic about the front end of our problem. It remains to be seen whether issues outside Ms. Kreta's perview - cost control and better tuning UM's offerings to current needs, will receive the same action.

Kem - it is honestly hard to believe your granddaughter had this experience. This is college 101.

I have taken my kids on dozens of visits. They have never NOT met with a minimum of 1 professor and 1 student in their preferred degree program. Not once. In one case, my kid met with a dean for an hour and then had a follow on with a professor...all the while being escorted by a current student.

It's disturbing because it is so friggin basic.

So, not only are they selling the wrong things, but they are selling them poorly.

Bodnar gets no pass on this...hebshould have been reviewing these details very early, and it's obvious he did not. It is time for a change.

#firebodnar. Change my mind.

 

[kemajic]

The response from the new Director of Admissions, Mary Kreta, on board now less that two months, is the kind of action we can respect. I will share a quote from her most recent email:

"On the Monday after your email I met with the Admissions staff in charge of campus visits. The next day - Tuesday - the provost and I presented to the deans. By that Thursday, every campus visitor was meeting with someone from the academic program of their interest. We have started a comprehensive review of our Campus Visit program with the aim to make it better meet the needs of our prospective students, better demonstrate UM's many strengths, and make the process more efficient for the Admissions staff so they can focus more on direct student support. I'm hoping to implement these changes soon. Thank you for providing a jumping off point for these actions. "

With this person in charge and committed, I am very much more optimistic about the front end of our problem. It remains to be seen whether issues outside Ms. Kreta's perview - cost control and better tuning UM's offerings to current needs, will receive the same action.

Kem - it is honestly hard to believe your granddaughter had this experience. This is college 101.

I have taken my kids on dozens of visits. They have never NOT met with a minimum of 1 professor and 1 student in their preferred degree program. Not once. In one case, my kid met with a dean for an hour and then had a follow on with a professor...all the while being escorted by a current student.

It's disturbing because it is so friggin basic.

So, not only are they selling the wrong things, but they are selling them poorly.

Bodnar gets no pass on this...hebshould have been reviewing these details very early, and it's obvious he did not. It is time for a change.

#firebodnar. Change my mind.

I agree. Recognize the Director of Admissions position was vacant for several months after the first hire did not work out. It also appears that they overreacted to the covid restrictions relative to their competitors, not surprising in the liberal environment. But I see no denial or excuses and Ms. Kreta is working very hard to get 101 in place.

 

[PlayerRep]

The response from the new Director of Admissions, Mary Kreta, on board now less that two months, is the kind of action we can respect. I will share a quote from her most recent email:

"On the Monday after your email I met with the Admissions staff in charge of campus visits. The next day - Tuesday - the provost and I presented to the deans. By that Thursday, every campus visitor was meeting with someone from the academic program of their interest. We have started a comprehensive review of our Campus Visit program with the aim to make it better meet the needs of our prospective students, better demonstrate UM's many strengths, and make the process more efficient for the Admissions staff so they can focus more on direct student support. I'm hoping to implement these changes soon. Thank you for providing a jumping off point for these actions. "

With this person in charge and committed, I am very much more optimistic about the front end of our problem. It remains to be seen whether issues outside Ms. Kreta's perview - cost control and better tuning UM's offerings to current needs, will receive the same action.

Kem - it is honestly hard to believe your granddaughter had this experience. This is college 101.

I have taken my kids on dozens of visits. They have never NOT met with a minimum of 1 professor and 1 student in their preferred degree program. Not once. In one case, my kid met with a dean for an hour and then had a follow on with a professor...all the while being escorted by a current student.

It's disturbing because it is so friggin basic.

So, not only are they selling the wrong things, but they are selling them poorly.

Bodnar gets no pass on this...hebshould have been reviewing these details very early, and it's obvious he did not. It is time for a change.

#firebodnar. Change my mind.

Bodnar is keeping UM afloat. Fire you!

 

[Spanky2]

If Bodnar can’t turn it around, doubtful if anyone can.

 

[PlayerRep]

If Bodnar can’t turn it around, doubtful if anyone can.

Yup.

 

[SoldierGriz]

Kem - it is honestly hard to believe your granddaughter had this experience. This is college 101.

I have taken my kids on dozens of visits. They have never NOT met with a minimum of 1 professor and 1 student in their preferred degree program. Not once. In one case, my kid met with a dean for an hour and then had a follow on with a professor...all the while being escorted by a current student.

It's disturbing because it is so friggin basic.

So, not only are they selling the wrong things, but they are selling them poorly.

Bodnar gets no pass on this...hebshould have been reviewing these details very early, and it's obvious he did not. It is time for a change.

#firebodnar. Change my mind.

Bodnar is keeping UM afloat. Fire you!

You can't fire me...I resign. Ha.