Increase Recruitment Of Exceptionally Well-Qualified Students
Through targeted recruitment of students from fine arts high schools and studios identified as providing high quality training, we will increase enrollment of very well prepared and talented students. Without increasing total enrollment in the BFA program, we will continue to raise the bar on admission standards.
Objective
Faculty Will Actively Recruit Students
Faculty will pursue opportunities to teach master classes and create choreography at identified high schools and studios. They will also follow up by contacting, through email and phone calls, students we wish to recruit.
KPI
Increased Enrollment By Students From Fine Arts High Schools And/or Identified Studios
Audition forms indicate students' high school and dance training. In the fall 2013 semester, we will review the records of those students enrolled and determine how many are from the targeted schools. Over the last decade, we have successfully recruited only 1-2 students from these "elite" schools each year. In 2012, only 6 of 85 undergraduate students came from the targeted programs. An increase of 50% for 2013 would indicate effectiveness of our focused recruitment.
Result
High Recruitment, But Lower Retention Of Elite Students
In fall 2013, 10 students from the Booker T Washington Performing Arts school were recruited. Of those, however, 3 left the university after the fall semester. Reasons given were both financial and preference for schools closer to Dallas.
Action
Continue To Build Ties With Performing Arts High Schools
Although some students choose not to remain at this campus, we consider that we are building an excellent reputation with these schools. Some attrition is not necessarily a problem. Two faculty have scheduled a visit to Dallas in November for recruitment. Another faculty member is scheduled to teach a master class at Houston School of Performing and Visual Arts in the fall. We believe that our continued presence, and the reports of students back to their high schools, will serve to build interest in our school as a strong program for dance.
Objective
The Department Will Refine Methods Of Public Relations
The department will consider means we have used for promotion, including our website, posters, and trifold informational handouts. We will determine how to improve the impact of each of these.
KPI
Recruiting Materials
Through the online audition form, we will determine how effective our various recruiting methods are. This is our first year as a department; therefore, we will be developing a baseline for each of the methods: website, audition folder, or master class with faculty.
Result
The Data Was Not Analyzed
There was no formal analysis of the data from the online audition form. Instead, in a meeting of dance majors, we asked the question of how students learned about us. The overwhelming answer was through word of mouth and/or personal experience with our faculty, when our faculty teach master classes, create work on students in high schools, or when high school students attend concerts featuring our students and/or faculty.
Action
Pair Residencies With Distribution Of Marketing Items
Faculty on recruitment trips will take trifolds, pens, etc. to distribute to students participating in their classes and workshops. Faculty will also request contact information, specifically emails, from the students, so that we may follow up with them.