Goal Two: Grow and Maintain Enrollment

Achieve sustainable enrollment growth and improve student persistence by expanding accessible pathways, strengthening recruitment and retention strategies, and ensuring a seamless student experience from inquiry through completion.

 

• Outcome 1.1:
  • By October 2031, enrollment of full-time equivalent degree-seeking students will increase by 30%, from a Fall 2025 baseline of 798 to 1037, as measured by annual Fall census data.
• Outcome 1.2:
  • By October 1 of each year, the campus will establish an annual enrollment management plan that includes annual goals for recruitment and retention that align with the 2031 goal for enrollment growth. The annual plan will include specific targets for overall growth as well as targets for individual student populations such as academic programs, athletic programs, and the Mountain Grove campus.
• Outcome 1.3:
  • By August 2029, 90% of prospective students will receive timely, personalized communication through integrated technology solutions, as measured by communication tracking and response rates.
• Outcome 1.4:
  • By August 2030, financial aid awarding processes will improve enrollment yield by at least 10% among aid recipients, as measured by Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rates, aid acceptance, and enrollment yield data.

 

• Outcome 2.1:
  • By October 2031, retention of full-time students will improve from a Fall 2025 baseline of 62% to 66%, reaching the 75th percentile of peer institutions, as measured by a new report created by Institutional Research.
• Outcome 2.2:
  • By October 2031, retention rates for part-time students will increase by 30%, from the Fall 2025 baseline of 21% to 27%, as measured by fall-to-fall persistence data (a new report created by Institutional Research).
• Outcome 2.3:
  • By October 2031, persistence rates for adult learners will increase by 15%, from the Fall 2025 baseline of 64% to 70% of full-time adult learners and 38% to 53% of part-time adult learners, as measured by fall-to-fall persistence data (a new report created by Institutional Research).
• Outcome 2.4:
  • By August 2028, 100% of students identified as needing early intervention will receive personalized outreach from appropriate faculty, success coaches, and advisors within defined timeframes through the early alert system, as measured by early alert response and intervention tracking.
• Outcome 2.5:
  • By October 2031, 50% of degree-seeking students placed on Academic Restriction will persist to degree completion within 150% timeframe of completion, and first-time students who voluntarily withdraw will return within two semesters following withdrawal.
• Outcome 2.6:
  • By October 2031, the student self-service academic planning tools will produce and maintain 90% accurate degree completion information as measured by annual graduation evaluations.
•  

 

• Outcome 3.1:
  • By October 2031, graduation and transfer rates will improve from a Fall 2025 baseline of 54% to 63%, reaching the 75th percentile, as measured by a new report created by Institutional Research.

 

• Outcome 4.1:
  • By October 2028, student participation in campus events, student organizations, and athletic events will increase by 30%, from the Fall 2025 baseline of 782 to 1,016, as measured by a new report created by Student Life.
• Outcome 4.2:
  • By October 2031, student satisfaction and sense of belonging will improve by 10%, as measured by institutional surveys.
• Outcome 4.3:
  • By October 2031, 8% of students will participate in a co-curricular academic experience. (e.g., experiential learning, honors program, collegiate presentations/competitions, education abroad).

• Outcome 5.1:
  • By July 2026, the institution will clearly define, document, and communicate roles related to recruitment and retention, as measured by institutional documentation.
• Outcome 5.2:
  • By Fall 2027, a comprehensive student success coaching model will be implemented across all academic and student support areas, as measured by program implementation benchmarks.
• Outcome 5.3:
  • By Fall 2028, 80% of faculty and student-facing staff will complete training in student success coaching strategies, early intervention, and student communication, as measured by training records.