Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

April 30, 2004

Forum looks at successes in student recruiting, retention

by Anne Krapfl
A May 6 forum hosted by the Professional and Scientific Council will highlight successful student recruitment or retention programs from the last five years. The nine programs featured at the forum received initial funding from a grant program administered by the council and funded by the president's office. The forum, in a roundtable format, is from noon to 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room. Ice cream treats will be available at 11:45 a.m. The university community is welcome.

Participants also may learn more about the annual grant program of approximately $30,000 and how to apply for funding for the 2004-05 school year.

Following are the nine individuals, the year the grant was received and the programs they'll talk about:

Nina Grant, Ag Experiment Station (funded in 2000-01), visits by former summer minority interns to Iowa high schools help promote the internship program
Catherine Hunt, Extension communications (2001-02), a 10-minute "demo" class familiarizes students with Web-based courses and the logistics of learning online
Lora Chrystal, Program for Women in Science and Engineering (2001-02), high school senior girls visit campus, stay in a residence hall, attend classes and enjoy one-on-one time with a current female ISU student
Paul Castleberry, mechanical engineering (2002-03), an outreach effort on ISU's learning communities, specifically how they enhance problem-solving skills in students
Derrick Exner, agronomy, Extension (2002-03), field trips and tutoring sessions by ISU students and P&S staff with non-English speaking minority populations in Perry to explain the importance and accessibility of higher education
Michele Regenold, Center for Transportation Research and Education (2002-03), outreach program to high schools that encourages students, especially girls and minorities, to consider careers in transportation and civil engineering, where a critical needs exists to fill job vacancies
Carmen Flagge, Dean of Students office (2003-04), social and academic activities to link freshman students of color with campus resources, offices and upperclassmen and thus enhance their freshman year and retain them at ISU
Nancy Knight, Engineering administration (2003-04), two-day campus visits for underrepresented (undergraduate) students to recruit them to ISU as doctoral students in engineering
Jessica Rohrig, Educational Talent Search (2003-04), matching low-income, potentially college-bound high school juniors with ISU student mentors of similar backgrounds to improve the younger students' access to higher education