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UAS opens with record enrollment
By Rosa Fonseca
Whalesong Reporter
Caring
about students’ success at the University of Alaska Southeast
seems to be the consensus reason the number of students registering
has increased. According to Lori Klein, Advising Coordinator, in
fall 2002, a total of 1,377 part-time students and 700 full-time
students have enrolled at UAS. In fall 2001, 1,283 part-time students
and 649 full-time students registered for classes. The total amounts
of credit hours have increased from 14,120 a year ago, to 14,809
this fall.
When asked what influenced her decision to enroll, Heather
Williams, a freshman from Talkeetna said: “The friends I made
while I was taking my tour of UAS, and the amount of students compared
to other universities.”
After conducting research and visiting both UAF and
UAA, Williams concluded, “The advantage of a small campus is
the one-to-one help you can get.” Her registration added to
the highest number of students in the history of UAS.
“There was a huge gain of students percentage wise
in 2000 and 2001. Previous students came and stayed. These students
recruited other students,” said Greg Wagner, director of marketing
and recruiting.
“The university has made big investments into telecounseling
to try and give potential students a better idea of what UAS is
really like.” Wagner adds, “not only education, but cultural
and social aspects of the university as a resource have expanded.”
Every other week, Wagner sends an electronic newsletter
to prospective students, which contains attractive pictures and
interesting news to welcome students. This provides potential students
with an awareness of the university and a sense of involvement in
the community prior to their arrival at UAS. Other printed materials
follow up the contacts made by the students who work as telecounselors.
Wagner orients the telecounselors in the strategies designed to
building relationships with potential students.
Wagner says that this is just the start. “It takes
the whole campus to make it work,” said Wagner. Programs such
as the College Connection Program, Student Leadership Program, Global
Connections Club, UAS Orientation Program and Freshman Seminar Program
are examples of some of the ways the university is trying to make
it work for incoming students. Academic advisors and faculty assist
students by reaching out to them and trying to point them in the
right direction.
These programs provide leadership opportunities and
professional work experience to UAS students. Jodi Barnes, the academic
advisor who took care of the UAS orientation program this fall said,
“The success of orientation was largely due to the student
ambassadors, who played the role of orientation leaders.”
The UAS Orientation Program has the mission of welcoming
students and providing them with the essential information they
need to feel confident and informed about campus services, activities,
facilities, staff, faculty and academic expectations. . Barnes said,
this semester’s orientation saw 125 new and transfer students
participate.
Kecia Medina, a student participating in the UAS Leadership
Program, calls herself “a very happy, satisfied sophomore.”
She said, “it is a lot easier this semester to pinpoint who
can help you with whatever needs and concerns you have.”
For all students who are a part of the largest student
body in UAS history, the message is: know that you are not just
a number. Staff, faculty and student leaders are working hard to
show that UAS cares about every student’s academic success.
Welcome to UAS and have a great year.
Email Rosa Fonseca at jsrmf4@uas.alaska.edu
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