Increasing Application to and Enrollment at Christopher Newport University from Virginia Pell-Eligible First-Time In College Students

Executive Summary

Christopher Newport University’s enrollment of students from economically challenged households has historically been low. For example, over the past 20 years, the highest percentage of Pell-eligible enrolled students has been just short of 18 percent and is currently just short of 15 percent. Increasing applications, and thereby increasing enrollment, from Virginia students from economically challenged backgrounds serves to increase diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and contributes to the overall higher education of citizens in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

To increase the applicant pool and enrollment of Virginia students from economically challenged households, it is necessary for Christopher Newport to develop exceptional and innovative programs to reach more and better inform potential college-going first-time-in-college students about the opportunities associated with post-secondary education.

This proposal focuses on identifying, developing, and implementing a path for increasing the number of applications and enrollments from students of economically disadvantaged backgrounds from a targeted group of high schools on the Virginia Peninsula and in the South Hampton Roads area. Currently, Christopher Newport offers only traditional recruitment programs, activities, and tours, but, to accomplish this goal, a greater presence is needed. If approved, funds granted through this proposal would enhance relationships and collaboration with these high schools, build upon the work that has already been done, and serve to increase applications and enrollment of Pell-eligible Virginia students.

We will restructure outreach, recruitment, admission and retention procedures by offering direct admission and on-site counseling from an admission staff member, students will experience less hurdles in the application process. Engaging prospective students on campus will also give them some familiarity with the college environment. A mentorship program will bring value to both the mentee and the mentor and the virtual bridge program will prepare students for the academic excellence that is expected here at Christopher Newport University.

As the university vision states, Christopher Newport University seeks to build an intimate, diverse, residential community, filled with an academically talented student body. This proposal strives to increase the enrollment of Pell-eligible students and ensures that Christopher Newport University accomplishes the goals set forth by the state of Virginia while fulfilling the university vision of a more diverse campus.

 Christopher Newport University’s enrollment of students who are considered to be Pell- eligible has historically been low. In almost two decades, the highest percentage of Pell-eligible enrolled students has been just short of 18 percent. Currently, the percentage of our enrolled students who are Pell-eligible is just under 15 percent. To increase diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, and to contribute to a more educated citizenry in the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is necessary for Christopher Newport to increase its pool of applicants for admission from those students coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. To accomplish this goal, Christopher Newport must develop unique and innovative programs to better inform potential college-going students about the possibilities associated with post-secondary education.

The Office of Institutional Research (IR) collects, manages, and provides census data from a variety of sources and covers numerous areas of the university. Student Success functional areas work closely with IR for data collection, analysis, and reporting. Each year, and often each semester, the student success team analyzes and reviews institutional data to identify trends, gaps, and patterns in recruitment, enrollment, retention, completion, and post-graduation outcomes. IR is instrumental in making these analyses possible. The partnership between IR and the Division of Enrollment and Student Success is strong and instrumental in assessing our strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities with regard to the recruitment, enrollment, retention, and graduation of students from economically challenged backgrounds. In addition, embedded within the Division is a functional and technical unit supporting the student education record and related operational data. Historically, analysis has focused on the retention of first- generation students and those from special populations. Further, the Division of Enrollment and Student Success collaborates with a retention consulting firm to develop a predictive model so as to most efficiently utilize existing resources for the retention of those students identified as most at risk.

Christopher Newport has a well-established relationship with Newport News Public Schools but there is room for increased and improved engagement with the surrounding school systems in Hampton Roads. This proposal provides a path for increasing the number of applications and enrollments from students of economically disadvantaged households from a targeted group of high schools on the Peninsula and South Hampton Roads. Currently, we offer traditional recruitment programs, activities, and tours but a greater presence is needed. If approved, funds through this proposal would enhance relationships, build upon the work that is already underway, and serve to increase applications and enrollment of Pell-eligible students.

 Early Admission/ Direct Admission

 Christopher Newport University plans to implement an Early Admission/Direct Admission program for Pell-eligible Virginia students in targeted Virginia localities. Early Admission will allow students as early as their sophomore year to express their intent to enroll in their respective freshman cohort. The targeted areas will be the seven Virginia cities that comprise Hampton Roads (Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach). Schools within the Hampton Roads community will be selected based on a combination of data provided by HCM Consulting and historical data shared from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) College Application Week host high schools. The following schools are being selected because 49.5% or more of those students attending qualify for free or reduced lunch.

 Targeted School in Hampton Roads Identified by SCHEV and HCM: 

 Other avenues to engage with Pell-eligible students will be to strengthen relationships with organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club of Southside Virginia, The Boys and Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula, ACCESS College Foundation, and GEAR UP. According to recent statistics from The Boys and Girls Club of Southside Virginia; 78% of club members are at or below the 200% poverty level, 82% plan to further their education at a community college or a four-year university, and 100% of club members graduate from high school. Christopher Newport University will also rely on the expertise, advice, and guidance of the Director of the Community Captains and Program Outreach since this position collaborates with various schools and organizations across the Virginia Peninsula.

 Christopher Newport University admission staff will establish initial contact with high school counselors and students as early as sophomore year and continue until high school graduation. An extensive communication plan, consisting of an email and mail campaign at minimum, will go to counselors and other community influencers to explain the program’s process and eligibility to increase knowledge of this new initiative. Students will be selected for early/direct admission based on specific criteria. Christopher Newport University will either produce an in-house process for students to create a profile where they will share their grades, academic program, and intended field of study or explore one of the companies that provides these services. One choice would be The Common Application since they have launched a product that George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University are currently experimenting with called Common App Direct Admissions. College Greenlight by Cappex provides a pipeline to improve post-secondary outcomes for underserved students. Virginia public institutions already partnering with them are Radford University, University of Mary Washington, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech.

 Students should have and maintain at least a 3.1 weighted cumulative GPA. Once offered early/direct admission, students will have the option to reserve their seats in the Christopher Newport University freshman cohort via an enrollment form. Reserving a seat in the freshman cohort will also serve as the process to capture additional student data necessary to maintain application files per institution and state protocol. This enrollment form will be at no cost to the student and should be easily completed in less time than the typical admission application to prevent roadblocks or barriers. The goal will be to provide a form that can be completed simply in approximately 15-20 minutes.

 Pell-eligible students who successfully graduate from high school and have maintained the initial requirements of the program will be officially invited to join their respective freshman cohort. Select students will receive a $500 enrollment deposit scholarship. Christopher Newport University intends to offer an enrollment scholarship for up to twenty students who qualify based on the previously cited criteria. The enrollment deposit scholarship will cover the costs of orientation, and Welcome Week expenses, and also serves as the housing deposit.

 Expansion of Onsite Programs

Currently, Christopher Newport University only conducts on-site admission programming at select high schools in the Newport News Public Schools system. Christopher Newport University will increase on-site admission opportunities at targeted low-income high schools throughout the seven Virginia cities of Hampton Roads. Virginia College Application Week (VCAW) host high schools in Hampton Roads will be selected for this expansion since at least 49.5% of the student population at these schools are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

Applicants participating in on-site admission will receive an application fee waiver, a consultation with an admission officer, an admission decision, and if admitted, instructions for the next steps and enrolling. If a participating student is deferred admission, an explanation of the deferred decision and counseling on the next steps, including required reevaluation criteria

will be provided. If the candidate is not a competitive applicant and admission is denied, counseling about the transfer admission pathway will be provided, and that potential transfer student’s contact information will be passed on to relevant Christopher Newport personnel for follow-up and to maintain communication.

 The Office of Admission will work closely with the Office of Financial Aid to conduct financial aid nights for students and their parents. Staff members from both offices will travel to the targeted local high schools and provide hands on advising for the FAFSA and financial aid process to ensure that students apply for and qualify for as much aid as possible.

Expansion of Specialized On-Campus Programming 

 Christopher Newport University will expand specialized programming beyond Newport News Public Schools. The university will establish an on-campus programming relationship with the neighboring city of Hampton, Virginia. Students from Hampton City Schools will be invited to special events in a similar fashion already offered to Newport News Public Schools. Students will be selected from Hampton City Schools on the Virginia College Application Week list including Bethel High School, Hampton High School, and Phoebus High School. A competitive student will have at least a 3.1 weighted cumulative GPA in a rigorous academic program.

 Once selected, students will be invited to participate in initiatives such as a field trip to campus and a virtual mentorship program. Christopher Newport University will provide transportation to campus from the designated Hampton City Schools. Students will have an on- campus dining experience in Regatta’s which will include engaging with current students and affinity groups. The affinity groups will include our first-generation student group, faculty/staff first-generation group, sororities, and fraternities. Students will also attend an abbreviated mock lecture experience with a faculty member to introduce students to a typical college academic environment.

 A fun and engaging activity such as a sporting event or performing arts show will conclude the day. Depending on the time of year, students will be invited to a football or basketball game to have a first look at campus life as a college student. Another option is attendance at a performing arts show in the Ferguson Center, possibly a student-led production.

Virtual Mentorship and Virtual Bridge Program

 Christopher Newport University will implement an online mentorship program pairing current college students with high school students from targeted high schools referenced earlier. The goal will be to match current students and prospective students by similar academic and/or extracurricular interests. Mentors will be expected to check in with high school students on a bimonthly basis (every two months). Mentors will be able to accumulate community engagement hours or required service hours for their participation and assistance with the program. At the end of the program, students who have maintained the requirements of the program will be offered final acceptance to Christopher Newport, invited to attend a ceremony and have the opportunity to meet their mentors at a reception. In addition to the virtual mentorship opportunity, students will also be enrolled in the Captains Launch program. Captains Launch is a virtual summer bridge program that includes a two-credit fall student success course to encourage the successful academic and social transition from high school to college.

 Milestones and Timeline

 Based on meetings with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, a reasonable expectation will be to increase the enrollment of Pell-eligible first-time-in-college students by at least 2% in the inaugural year and increase that goal incrementally over the next three years. The plan will be to contact counselors, stakeholders in the community, and the first cohort of students in summer 2023. Christopher Newport Admission staff will make special visits to all targeted high schools in Hampton Roads by November 1. Students will be notified of their direct admission in December. An enrollment process to include an enrollment form that will capture all required student data will also be available in December.

Admission staff will also participate in various on-site admission programs at targeted schools, that have historically taken place in November and December. Students will be invited to campus for special programming in the spring semester. The virtual mentoring and virtual bridge program will also begin in the spring semester. A ceremony and reception will be conducted in late April. Initial substantive data will be available for analysis in spring 2024 but full enrollment outcomes from the first cohort will not be available until fall 2024 census.

Increase in Pell-eligible Enrollment Goals 

Conclusion

Recruiting, enrolling, and retaining Pell-eligible students in the Commonwealth of Virginia is an important mission of Christopher Newport University. This proposal introduces some thoughtful and intentional steps to attract more Pell-eligible students and increase our population beyond the current 15 percent over the next four years. The hope is that by offering direct admission with a manageable enrollment form and on-site admission programs with counseling from an admission professional, students will experience fewer barriers or obstacles to the process. Christopher Newport also aims to provide on-campus programming that will be engaging and allows prospective students to see themselves as college students in the near future. Mentorship and a virtual bridge program will provide the support needed to transition from high school to college and prepare students for the academic rigor of post-secondary education.

Christopher Newport University acknowledges that financial resourcefulness will be imperative to the sustainability of the program. The Office of Admission will rely on campus- wide partnerships and creative use of operational funds. The Vice President of Student Affairs and Office of Student Orientation is willing to support the program when the original funding runs out by absorbing some of the costs of Freshman Orientation and Welcome Week. This will allow the university to continue to offer enrollment deposit scholarships in the future. In addition, the Office of Financial Aid will work closely with these students to provide specific programming and monitoring to ensure timely filing of the FAFSA so as to qualify for the maximum financial assistance possible.