Reviving Rural County Recruitment Moderator: Clarissa Casper, Admissions Counselor, University of...

Reviving Rural Reviving Rural County RecruitmentCounty Recruitment

Moderator:Moderator:

Clarissa CasperClarissa Casper, Admissions Counselor, University of , Admissions Counselor, University of Illinois at SpringfieldIllinois at Springfield

Presenters:Presenters:

Jonathan ElugbadeboJonathan Elugbadebo, Senior Admission Counselor, , Senior Admission Counselor, University of Illinois University of Illinois

at Urbana-Champaignat Urbana-Champaign

Tressman GoodeTressman Goode, Assistant Director of Admission, Illinois , Assistant Director of Admission, Illinois CollegeCollege

Rebecca WestRebecca West, School Counselor, Massac County High , School Counselor, Massac County High SchoolSchool

Leslie GoinesLeslie Goines,, School Counselor, Massac County High School Counselor, Massac County High SchoolSchool

Session: D-27Audience: Secondary, Postsecondary

Essential Questions:Essential Questions:

Why are we here?Why are we here?

What are major challenges with What are major challenges with Rural County Recruitment?Rural County Recruitment?

What are some effective ways to What are some effective ways to engage rural students in the engage rural students in the recruitment process?recruitment process?

Rural Definition(s)Rural Definition(s)

Rural – of or relating to the country Rural – of or relating to the country and the people who live there and the people who live there instead of the city. instead of the city.

- Merriam-Webster


Retrieved from: http://www.ers.usda.gov/datafiles/Rural_Definitions/StateLevel_Maps/IL.pdf


Retrieved from: http://www.ers.usda.gov/datafiles/Rural_Definitions/StateLevel_Maps/IL.pdf

*-- Star indicates State Public Universities

Why are we here?Why are we here?

Compelling U.S. interest to ensure that all Compelling U.S. interest to ensure that all people have access to a quality education.people have access to a quality education.

Compelling State interest to recruit and Compelling State interest to recruit and enroll the best underrepresented students.enroll the best underrepresented students.

60 million 60 million Americans live in rural, or Americans live in rural, or nonmetropolitan areas.nonmetropolitan areas.

Students from rural populations have low Students from rural populations have low postsecondary attendance and completion postsecondary attendance and completion rates.rates.

ChallengesChallenges

Undermatching Undermatching High-achieving low-income students choose to attend local, High-achieving low-income students choose to attend local,

non-selective colleges & universitiesnon-selective colleges & universities Perception of size, cost, or selectivity as a barrier to access Perception of size, cost, or selectivity as a barrier to access

higher educationhigher education

Limited ResourcesLimited Resources Some rural high school students do not have superb school Some rural high school students do not have superb school

counselors who will go above and beyond to advocate for counselors who will go above and beyond to advocate for themthem

Some students and families do not understand the Some students and families do not understand the importance of higher education nor the optionsimportance of higher education nor the options

Decrease in Rural PopulationsDecrease in Rural Populations Colleges & universities may elect to give up on recruiting in Colleges & universities may elect to give up on recruiting in

rural countiesrural counties

Small Group ActivitySmall Group Activity

Split into small groupsSplit into small groups

Take 5 minutes to brainstorm Take 5 minutes to brainstorm effective ways to engage rural effective ways to engage rural students in the recruitment process:students in the recruitment process:

Possible SolutionsPossible Solutions

Early OutreachEarly Outreach Going to them instead of having them come to campusGoing to them instead of having them come to campus Assisting families through financial aid and scholarship processAssisting families through financial aid and scholarship process Being more than just their “admission” counselorBeing more than just their “admission” counselor

Consortium TravelConsortium Travel Similar colleges and universities travel as a group to different Similar colleges and universities travel as a group to different

locationslocations

Collaborate with Community CollegesCollaborate with Community Colleges Pathway programsPathway programs

Peer RecruitmentPeer Recruitment Using currently enrolled students to travel back to their high Using currently enrolled students to travel back to their high

schoolsschools Word of mouthWord of mouth


Alumni VolunteersAlumni Volunteers Alumni database by high school or countyAlumni database by high school or county Alumni working in rural countiesAlumni working in rural counties

Collaborate with School CounselorsCollaborate with School Counselors College NightsCollege Nights Parent/Teacher ConferencesParent/Teacher Conferences

Collaborate with Professional Collaborate with Professional OrganizationsOrganizations

IACACIACAC Downstate Illinois Admission Counselors (DIAC)Downstate Illinois Admission Counselors (DIAC) [ [Ended in Ended in

2013]2013]

Social Media Social Media

Social MediaSocial Media


ScholarshipsScholarships Virtual College FairsVirtual College Fairs

College Week LiveCollege Week Live

TelecounselingTelecounseling Task ForcesTask Forces

Rural County Task ForceRural County Task Force

Public Sporting EventsPublic Sporting Events Professional, Amateur, or LocalProfessional, Amateur, or Local

State FairsState Fairs College Day/NightCollege Day/Night

Public Sporting EventsPublic Sporting Events

State FairsState Fairs

Salient QuoteSalient Quote ““I think U of I does seem big and too far off for a I think U of I does seem big and too far off for a

small town kid. I think a college rep coming here small town kid. I think a college rep coming here would be nice though – I can’t think of a would be nice though – I can’t think of a representative ever coming here, which would make representative ever coming here, which would make the students feel like they were worthy. Maybe the students feel like they were worthy. Maybe students from small towns could also come, or at students from small towns could also come, or at least you could have a video where students from least you could have a video where students from small towns talk about how they’ve done and maybe small towns talk about how they’ve done and maybe how small town life has even helped…But, if no one how small town life has even helped…But, if no one ever does a college talk here, then of course the ever does a college talk here, then of course the kids will feel unwelcome…A rep could do a tour of kids will feel unwelcome…A rep could do a tour of all of the schools in [our county and the neighboring all of the schools in [our county and the neighboring counties] to make it worth it.”counties] to make it worth it.”- Mrs. MacKenzie

Dixon High School Spanish Teacher

Massac County HSMassac County HS College-going culture

Massac County HSMassac County HS

No Excuses University (NEU) – No Excuses University (NEU) – Network of elementary, middle, and junior high Network of elementary, middle, and junior high

schools across the U.S. that promote a schools across the U.S. that promote a comprehensive model of college readinesscomprehensive model of college readiness

Based on 2 principles: (1) Every child has a right to Based on 2 principles: (1) Every child has a right to be prepared to attend college, and (2) Responsibility be prepared to attend college, and (2) Responsibility of school officials to develop exceptional systems of school officials to develop exceptional systems that make that dream a realitythat make that dream a reality

Massac County HSMassac County HS

Culture of Universal Achievement – Culture of Universal Achievement – All staff believe the following All staff believe the following::

Every student will be proficient or advanced in reading, Every student will be proficient or advanced in reading, writing, and math.writing, and math.

The academic accomplishment of every student is an The academic accomplishment of every student is an obsessionobsession

The school can neutralize many challenges that students The school can neutralize many challenges that students bring to the classroombring to the classroom

Student achievement is the number one topic of Student achievement is the number one topic of conversationconversation

A maverick spirit must lead the wayA maverick spirit must lead the way There are no excuses for poor effortThere are no excuses for poor effort

Adding computers to classroomsAdding computers to classrooms Help students register for ACT, apply to college, and more!Help students register for ACT, apply to college, and more!

Works Cited & Works Cited & References for further References for further

reviewreview U.S. Census DataU.S. Census Data – –

http://www.ers.usda.gov/datafiles/Rural_Definitions/StateLevel_Maps/IL.pdf http://www.ers.usda.gov/datafiles/Rural_Definitions/StateLevel_Maps/IL.pdf

American Education Research Association – American Education Research Association – The Effects of Rurality on College Access and Choice The Effects of Rurality on College Access and Choice – –

http://www.aera.net/Newsroom/RecentAERAResearch/TheEffectsofRuralityonCollehttp://www.aera.net/Newsroom/RecentAERAResearch/TheEffectsofRuralityonCollegeAccessandChoice/tabid/15453/Default.aspxgeAccessandChoice/tabid/15453/Default.aspx

News-Gazette Article –News-Gazette Article –

http://www.news.gazette.com/news/local/2014-03-23/wooing-small -town-students-http://www.news.gazette.com/news/local/2014-03-23/wooing-small -town-students-has-become-big-challenge-ui.htmlhas-become-big-challenge-ui.html

No Excuses University –No Excuses University –

http://noexcusesu.com/about/what-we-believe/http://noexcusesu.com/about/what-we-believe/

Reviving Rural County Recruitment Moderator: Clarissa Casper, Admissions Counselor, University of...

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