The University of Connecticut is creating a new Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, which is designed to increase enrollment and promote student retention according to UConn President Radenka Maric via UConn Today.
Vice President of Student Life and Enrollment Nathan Fuerst explained SEM in a Dec. 5 presentation to the Student Life Committee of the board of trustees, according to an online recording.
“A number of priorities were articulated through the university strategic plan as well as, we have identified Key Performance Indicators,” Fuerst said. “Improving student success rates, getting our graduation rates to increase, reducing indebtedness, reducing the amount of financial stress [and] increasing the sense of belonging on the part of our students.”
He said that while UConn administrators had to monitor those priorities, they needed to include additional details on enrollment. He mentioned the importance of “recognizing in both the mission and the strategic plan that we’re working in a time of constrained resources.”
Fuerst said the plan would encompass all student groups with the exception of dental, medical and law schools, which have specific enrollment objectives which they have already spelled out.
“We are going to be looking across all students, including graduate and undergraduate students, as well as all of our academic programs, all of our campuses and Storrs and the regional campuses, as well as all modalities, so in person and online included,” Fuerst said.
Philip Hunt, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, explained enrollment and retention in the meeting.
“In its true sense, enrollment isn’t just about recruitment; it’s recruitment and retention, with the purpose of retaining students year to year, making sure they earn their degrees,” Hunt said. “And then we’re also defining the success by what they do once they graduate. The SEM planning process then, is about the how.”
According to a presentation explaining SEM, the plan is designed to focus on the entirety of a student’s college experience, including a focus on the classroom experience, academic support and student retention.
A 2024 Retention and Graduation Report showed that over the past ten years, UConn had an average time to degree of 4.1 years and a 92%-94% first year retention rate.
The presentation focused on how an SEM plan should be intertwined with other university plans, such as the overarching strategic plan and academic plans.
According to a university website, the SEM planning process will be supported by a steering committee and three advisory committees. Fuerst will chair the Steering Committee. AACRAO consultant Jody Gordon will be on the committee. AACRAO Consulting focuses on SEM planning. Two students, USG Vice President Arunima Chaturvedi and Stamford Student Government Association President Karima Hamada, will be on the committee.
The Recruitment Advisory Committee will focus on improving student recruitment strategies, according to a university website. The Retention Advisory Committee will examine strategies to retain students and barriers to retention, such as academic or financial difficulties. The Workforce Advisory Committee will work to improve career readiness and meet Connecticut’s workforce needs.
UConn Today stated that students, faculty and staff will be engaged in the process.
“Opportunities for community engagement in this process will be announced at the start of the Spring 2025 semester,” the article said.
According to a Dec. 11 presentation to the Board of Trustees, the SEM planning framework should be complete by March 28.