Yesterday in the Bernhard Center the “Recruitment Reveal” allowed the Office of Admissions, Extended University Programs, Graduate Admissions and the Office of International Student Services the opportunity to tell people, “What’s behind the W.”
Penny Bundy, Director of Admissions welcomed everyone and talked about the new recruiting theme and how recruitment has been successful this fall.
“We have a two week response time for applications and process them in three days,” she said.
Western Michigan University has already started visiting high schools, going to the Upper Peninsula and Chicago too.
Tony Dennis, associate director of the graduate college spoke followed by Betty Dennis, associate dean of the extended university programs.
“If you cut me I would probably bleed yellow and gold, I’m very excited to be here,” said Dennis.
Juan Tavares, International Student Admissions Counselor, said international enrollment is up, especially with students from Saudi Arabia and the Dominican Republic.
“We are having a lot of success partnering with their governments to bring students here,” he said.
President John Dunn said this year was the first year since 2002 WMU has had an increase in students.
Dunn explained the importance of reaching out and assisting students and the work put into retaining students, specifically ones in their freshman and sophomore years.
Dunn then read testimonies of prospective students, each of them explaining their personal desire to become students at WMU.
But more importantly, “it’s all about you and the work you do,” said Dunn.
Provost Dr. Tim Greene talked about the important W’s: welcoming, wisdom, work and we as in “We together will bring more students to WMU,” he said.
Bundy said she was happy with the incredible turnout and of how dedicated the community and people are about WMU.
“This was a chance to educate people about what we do and how we get word out and how everyone can help recruit,” she said. “Everyone has a role, from the landscaping crew to a professor teaching class.”
Dunn was very impressed with the representation. “It’s important to share pride about WMU,” he said.
Afterward, everyone was able to explore display tables of all the WMU colleges, along with tables designated to scholarships, transfers and multicultural affairs.
