YSU will begin enrollment program

By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University will launch a Valley Summer Campaign aimed at increasing student enrollment for the fall term.
Dr. Thomas Maraffa, special assistant to the president and coordinator of the university's enrollment management plan, outlined enrollment projects Thursday for the university's board of trustees, indicating that it is reasonable to expect a slight increase in the number of students this fall because of the campaign.
Enrollment had increased annually for four years, reaching 13,101 in the fall of 2004, but dropped to 12,812 in fall 2005, a 2.2 percent decline.
Strikes by both the faculty and classified employee unions in August 2005 have been cited as one cause of the drop in enrollment.
Maraffa told the board that a fall 2006 projection shows that the university can realistically expect enrollment to reach 12,913, a 0.7 percent increase from a year ago.
Time frame
To maximize that number, the university will run a Valley Summer Campaign July 15 to Aug. 15 to market the university, he said.
A second branding message, "Your Success is Our Story" will be launched on television to target high school students, depicting the success of YSU graduates.
An earlier, similar version of that message was launched this spring.
A second set of billboard advertisements carrying the same message will be put up on Interstate 680 and across the region, again a follow-up to a spring effort.
The university will place print ads in local newspapers aimed at the parents or guardians of high school students, urging them to have their children consider an education at YSU.
Students who have been accepted but haven't yet enrolled will be sent post cards as part of the campaign and selected radio stations will carry ads targeting adult learners who might be interested in going back to school, Maraffa said.
There are other ongoing efforts aimed at boosting enrollment, he said.
Deans, department chairmen and advisers are encouraged to contact continuing students to urge them to stay at YSU.
Special advance registration programs for prospective students will be held throughout June, July and August, and the university's new Bachelor of General Studies degree, which targets former students who want to complete their education, is seeing significant success, Maraffa said.
The program has 100 students now and 500 "solid" expressions of interest for the fall, he said.
Students traditionally wait until the last minute to complete their registrations, but there are some positive fall 2006 enrollment indicators, Maraffa said.
Early registrations stand at 750, one more than a year ago at this time, and total graduate student applications stand at 304, up 21 from a year ago.
Grads enrolling
YSU normally enrolls 18 percent of the high school graduating classes in Mahoning, Trumbull and Mahoning counties.
This year's graduating classes are up by a total of 400, which means YSU can expect an additional 75 students to enroll, Maraffa said.
Current summer school enrollment at the university stands at 4,500 but should reach around 4,750 by the time registration ends, which would be a normal summer enrollment number, he said.
gwin@vindy.com