April 19, 2011 —     Admissions applications are up at Morehead State University after years of flat figures, and while the college’s much-acclaimed romp in the NCAA tournament accounts for more national interest, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Services Jeffrey Liles said there’s more to the story.

    “The numbers were already ahead before that, but the NCAA awareness has been a great support of that momentum,” Liles said.

    During March, hits to the university website topped 200,000, when the average is about 70,000 during that time frame.

    What was even more surprising, Liles said, was the fact that people who started out looking at the athletic programs went on to view academic offerings.

    That’s the right direction for prospective students to look, and the Office of Enrollment Services believes it’s an indication that students are more becoming more discerning in their college choices.

    An enrollment services report identified a 34 percent increase in the number of students accepted in March 2011 than in March 2010. Among freshman applicants, the university has an 83 percent acceptance rate. 

    March is the month when high school seniors traditionally begin making college decisions. Liles said the enrollment numbers from preceding months are also higher and he expects that as prospective students make final decisions, the trend will continue.

    Liles said the university recognizes this and is working to cultivate relationships with students earlier during their high school years, to recruit from a broader region and to help prospective students make the decision to come to MSU.

    The university is expanding its presence, holding information and recruitment events in urban areas like Louisville and Cincinnati as well as in key outreach areas such as Floyd, Johnson and Greenup counties.

    Liles attributes enrollment growth in part to the school’s appeal as an affordable regional university where students experience smaller class sizes and individualized attention. He said a new scholarship program, the Eagle Excellence Award, also is a significant draw for students looking to secure funding for college.

    The Eagle Excellence Award is a renewable scholarship program that matches 100 percent of monies a student gets from the Kentucky Excellence in Education Scholarship (KEES).

    Liles said the Eagle Excellence Award, or KEESx2, is an attractive incentive to enroll at MSU, and becomes a valuable reason to stay.

    “Once they’re here, the motivation must continue. KEESx2 can be a great incentive to stay and to do well in school,” he said.

    “When you have a student who got $1500 from KEES and now has $3000, there’s a greater incentive to succeed,” Liles added.

    Liles said the enrollment increase comes about even as the university has raised its admission standards.

    The minimum ACT score for unconditional admission was raised from 14 to 18, and Liles said the average freshman ACT score is now 21.5.

    "When we hear about successful enrollment growth, we’re not doing it for the sake of adding students, we want students to be successful,” Liles said.

    “When we attract those kinds of students, they bring other good students with them,” he said.

    Students who score below the minimum requirements can be admitted provisionally and take classes to enhance their potential to succeed.

    One such program to advance that objective is the MSU Success Academy, which invites provisionally admitted students to attend a summer intensive before the regular academic year begins.

    Two additional enrollment service counselors and an admissions liaison for school and alumni relations were recently hired--- perhaps further indication that interest, applications and enrollment at MSU is taking a turn for the better.

    Liles said his office enjoys resources that complement and support student recruitment and retention initiatives.

    “We’ve been fortunate to have the support of enrollment- related initiatives. We have new marketing elements, a new student data management system and the administration is very supportive,” Liles said.

    “With that support, we’re going to serve more students,” he added.

    Last weekend, MSU held one of its SOAR orientation sessions, the first time most students and their parents have come to Morehead.

    “The day went very well,” Liles said.

    “We had 308 people attend Friday and 282 on Saturday. Usually, when someone comes to the orientation, there’s a 90 percent chance they’re going to enroll,” Liles said.

    Prospective and admitted students and their families completed course registration, toured the campus and met with academic and student life representatives. Liles said attendees got information about Morehead and Rowan County as well.

    “Enrollment is good for the university, and it’s also important for this community,” Liles said.

    “The students contribute to the local economy. They shop at local businesses and generate revenue,” Liles said.

    Noelle Hunter can be reached at nhunter@themoreheadnews.com or by telephone at 784-4116.