FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) today announced that its fall 2016 headcount enrollment is 1350. While application numbers have increased ECSU fell short of its anticipated goal of 1500 students. Actions are currently underway to address the needs of the university according to ECSU Chancellor Thomas Conway.
“Our goal is that ECSU will strive to become sustainable as a learning organization and in this context it means that we learn and adapt from our successes and failures. We see this as a critical clarification that allows us to adapt our planning so that we can move forward to grow” said Chancellor Conway. “Our goal is growth that allows us to better serve northeastern North Carolina and the state as a whole.”
The implementation of a new enrollment system Admissions Pros helped to reveal weaknesses in the university’s admissions-through-enrollment-process — including ongoing communications with applicants inter-department coordination and dissemination of information with other business systems. ECSU will continue to use this program to better plan for future enrollment. In addition in an effort to meet the needs of ECSU and help it attain its goals a working group has been formed by UNC President Margaret Spellings to address enrollment academic programs and finances. This group chaired by Chancellor Conway will consist of senior leaders from ECSU and UNC General Administration and representatives from the UNC Board of Governors and ECSU Board of Trustees.
“Chancellor Conway has distinguished himself as a trusted leader committed to the mission and promise of ECSU” said President Margaret Spellings. “I have all confidence that he will take the reins of this newly formed working group and lead the group’s work in determining the right solutions to these challenges while building a more competitive ECSU that we all know it can and must be.”
While the working group begins examining the needs of the university ECSU officials will work to improve the enrollment process and take full advantage of Admissions Pros. The software that was implemented last January is a positive step toward improving the university’s enrollment process.
It is also important said Chancellor Conway to prepare for the anticipated growth of the university with the implementation of the NC Promise Tuition Plan in the fall of 2018. Working with UNC Pembroke and Western Carolina University ECSU will seek to maximize the positive impact of the new program. The university will continue to provide a high-quality educational experience and enhance its reputation as a best buy institution.
While the admissions team works toward fine-tuning its process on campus it will also work to strengthen all student service policies and procedures and develop personal relationships with educators parents and prospective students. According to Interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Jocelyn Foy a team of recruiters and students will visit a number of communities across the state to build personal relationships with prospective students and their families.
