Due to current circumstances, Union University’s office of undergraduate admissions is having to re-evaluate their plans regarding the recruitment process for the class of 2024 over the next few months.
“The month of April is one of the most critical in our enrollment cycle because many students are making the college decision and committing to colleges all across the country,” said Dan Griffin, vice president for enrollment management. “We have moved our entire enrollment operation to a virtual setting with very little time to prepare.”
Like most other organizations during this time, the enrollment team has found Zoom to be an extremely important asset. They have office-wide meetings each morning which include a daily update, devotional time and even time for a few stretches to keep them moving.
Thankfully, nearly all of the work that needs to be done can be completed online. The office has moved all visits to a virtual setting on an online program in order to allow students interested in Union to still get some version of a campus visit.
Such a drastic transition in such a small amount of time can be hectic, especially when it comes to the responsibilities that the enrollment counselors have. Griffin was very positive about the transition, stating that while there were a few glitches in the first few days, the team has had such a positive attitude that it seems like they haven’t missed a beat.
“Since the first day of quarantine, my belief has been that whoever is more creative on social media will get more attention,” said Griffin.
In order to do this, the university’s admissions social media accounts have been utilized more than ever. The team is always doing their best to come up with content that makes Union stand out. As a part of this, the team is working each day to come up with content that is engaging and new ways to make prospective students’ visit days the best they can be.
While this is an unprecedented time for everyone, it can be an especially difficult time for those looking to choose the college they attend. The office of undergraduate admissions covets prayers more than anything, and they get together weekly to pray for the enrollment for the fall, specifically for students and their families who are considering attending Union.
While the office is doing their best to keep things as normal as possible, everyone is greatly anticipating being back together on campus.
“I miss the students so much. I miss our current student workers. I miss interacting face-to-face with prospective families,” said Fran Thomas, the special events and visit coordinator. “I cannot wait to have families back on campus visiting again!”
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions encourages everyone to follow the different University social media accounts as well as share their own Union story of how God has worked through their college experience. If you have any questions or know anyone considering Union, email admissions@uu.edu for more information.
Photo courtesy of Mattanah DeWitt