Harding\u2019s Office of Admissions hired five new recruiters and added two new admission counselor positions within the last year. With fall 2019 being Scott Hannigan\u2019s first time to begin the year as senior director of admissions after stepping into the role mid-September last year, there are multiple new tactics and techniques in the works for the admissions team.<\/p>\n
According to Hannigan, several new initiatives have been introduced within the office to help make this year a successful recruitment season. Some of these include a restructuring of the recruitment district, the introduction of a mentorship program between admissions staff members, and the reworking of campus-visit opportunities such as Bison Days.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve made some really positive changes, and I\u2019m excited to see those take effect and shape this year,\u201d Hannigan said. \u201cWe\u2019re getting to start the whole year with a new and larger team and a really strong game plan.\u201d <\/p>\n
Increased efforts over the summer and beginning of the semester have already garnered results, according to Hannigan. He said the University is up 10% in applicants for fall 2020 as compared to the same time last year.
\n\u201c[The year] started off really strong, at least in admissions,\u201d Hannigan said. \u201cAll of the early indicators are really positive.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the initiatives Hannigan said he is particularly excited about is a new mentorship program within the Office of Admissions. Jason White took charge of this project, in which new admissions counselors are partnered with experienced recruiters to learn from.<\/p>\n
Hannah Bramlett is the newest member of the admissions team. After being hired in July two months after graduating from Harding, she said there has been a lot of information to learn, and she is thankful for the mentorship program.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone getting [a mentor] is really cool,\u201d Bramlett said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of stuff going on all the time with this job, so it\u2019s nice to have someone who is much more experienced that\u2019s always going to help you out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several changes were made to organized campus-visit dates, Hannigan said. One of the Bison Days weekends previously held in the spring was moved to the fall semester, and the first Saturday-only visit day will take place on Sept. 14. Hannigan also said they are trying to be more intentional with programming for prospective students on these visits, including putting a bigger emphasis on the Searcy community and Harding\u2019s place within it during Bison Days.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re here for a full weekend to not just learn about Harding and our campus but to learn about Searcy,\u201d Hannigan said. \u201cOftentimes, that\u2019s an objection that we hear: \u2018Searcy is a smaller town.\u2019 Those of us who live here and work here have figured out that Searcy\u2019s got a lot more to offer than maybe you realize.\u201d
\nAs a student worker and ambassador within Admissions for over a year, senior Halle Maddox has witnessed some of the changes taking place. She said she has been impressed with Hannigan and the trajectory of admissions for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think with a lot of the new marketing techniques and things that are being brought about, it\u2019s going to help us connect to those prospective students better,\u201d Maddox said. \u201cI think that\u2019s really going to help. It\u2019s going to do some really good things.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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