In an era when many historically Black colleges and universities have seen a significant drop in enrollments, Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina reports an encouraging trend. The university received more than 4,500 applications for undergraduate admission this year, an increase of 21 percent from a year ago. Even more encouraging is that the number of first-year students who have indicated their intent to matriculate is up 34 percent from last year. In addition, the number of students who plan to transfer to Winston-Salem State University has also inched higher.
Joel Lee, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment management at Winston-Salem State University, explained that “these increases appear to be the result of a combination of factors. First, excellent and well-publicized job placement and starting salary numbers have shown prospective students and their families that WSSU can set them up for tangible career success. We’re at the top of the UNC system in graduates landing jobs in North Carolina. Second, additional grassroots efforts have been undertaken to provide a more high-touch approach to student engagement and recruitment, especially with community college partners who have worked with us on consistent visitation, both in large group events and smaller classroom settings, to better serve transfer students. Finally, improved processes and responsiveness have led to better communication with prospective students and earlier engagement in and commitment to the WSSU experience.”
