Strategy 1-B

Strengthen the pipeline of undergraduates to and through KU

In order to keep KU at the forefront of undergraduate education, the university must improve how we prepare, aid, and recruit student scholars to campus. Strategy 1-B focuses on four activities:

First, by focusing on communication and a comprehensive scholarship plan, recruiting is being reorganized to increase the quality and quantity of students enrolling at KU.

• A new Affordability website communicates information for prospective students and families, as well as current students: affordability.ku.edu
• Building on the success of marketing new renewable scholarships, new strategies are being implemented to increase marketing and recruitment
• A business case developed as part of Changing for Excellence is being implemented to assist in increasing domestic, international, and transfer enrollment. Benefits of increased enrollment are being tracked at cfe.ku.edu

In her Fall, 2011 presentation to the Board of Regents, the chancellor set a goal of increasing the first year retention rate to 90% and the six-year graduation rate to 70%. The chancellor also acknowledged the challenge of a declining number of high school graduates in Kansas.

Additional activities to strengthen the pipeline include:

• Strengthen partnerships with community colleges to facilitate transfer to KU
• Initiate a central academic unit to enhance undergraduate advising
• Adopt policies and procedures to ensure that students make timely, achievable major choices