Athletic success can rally enrollment

MeanGreen61 · February 24, 2006

Athletics can rally enrollment

WSU officials hope that wins on the court will pay off in the admissions office.

BY AMANDA O'TOOLE

The Wichita Eagle

The recent success of the Shocker men's basketball team may have an impact on whether Jessica Rempe and Hillary Wilson choose to attend Wichita State University.

"If a school doesn't have a winning athletics program, it kind of puts a damper on things," said Wilson, who wants to study pre-law. "It definitely has an influence."

The two high school juniors from Abilene toured WSU last week during a recruitment visit.

WSU officials are hopeful that more prospective students share their attitude.

Bobby Gandu, assistant director for the Office of Admissions, said WSU's increased exposure helps make his job recruiting students a little easier.

"It shows we are a major institution. Anything that gets our university's reputation out there is positive on the recruitment side of things," he said. "I think parents and students forget about us sometimes."

There may be some logic in hoping more students will choose WSU next year.

Kansas State University and the University of Kansas have seen spikes in enrollment after big seasons.

K-State saw an increase of 579 students between fall semesters of 1997 and 1998 after the football team beat Syracuse in the Fiesta Bowl and another jump of 658 students between the falls of 1998 and 1999 after the team played at the Alamo Bowl against Purdue.

Before then, K-State had documented six consecutive fall semesters of declining enrollment.

KU saw a similar jump after the men's basketball team fell to Syracuse in the 2003 NCAA championship game when enrollment increased 659 students from the previous year.

"I believe that it is a general rule that you'll find in most colleges and universities that when the athletic teams do well, it helps not only fundraising, but helps admissions as well," said Jim Marchiony, associate director of athletics at KU. "It tends to increase the pool of prospective students the school can choose from."

Admissions and athletics officials said team successes aren't solely responsible for the boost in enrollment. But having a winning team helps.

Kim Hoetmer, a guidance counselor at Goddard High School, doesn't think local students will be swayed to attend WSU because of the basketball team. But she thinks the school will become more attractive for out-of-state students, especially those in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Ron Kopita, vice president for campus life and university relations, said it is hard to guess what enrollment numbers at WSU will look like next year. But he's excited for what's to come.

"Having a highly visible, successful athletic program like the basketball team only helps. That's been documented across the country," Kopita said.

OldTimer · February 24, 2006

Athletics can rally enrollment
WSU officials hope that wins on the court will pay off in the admissions office.
BY AMANDA O'TOOLE
The Wichita Eagle
The recent success of the Shocker men's basketball team may have an impact on whether Jessica Rempe and Hillary Wilson choose to attend Wichita State University.
"If a school doesn't have a winning athletics program, it kind of puts a damper on things," said Wilson, who wants to study pre-law. "It definitely has an influence."
The two high school juniors from Abilene toured WSU last week during a recruitment visit.
WSU officials are hopeful that more prospective students share their attitude.
Bobby Gandu, assistant director for the Office of Admissions, said WSU's increased exposure helps make his job recruiting students a little easier.
"It shows we are a major institution. Anything that gets our university's reputation out there is positive on the recruitment side of things," he said. "I think parents and students forget about us sometimes."
There may be some logic in hoping more students will choose WSU next year.
Kansas State University and the University of Kansas have seen spikes in enrollment after big seasons.
K-State saw an increase of 579 students between fall semesters of 1997 and 1998 after the football team beat Syracuse in the Fiesta Bowl and another jump of 658 students between the falls of 1998 and 1999 after the team played at the Alamo Bowl against Purdue.
Before then, K-State had documented six consecutive fall semesters of declining enrollment.
KU saw a similar jump after the men's basketball team fell to Syracuse in the 2003 NCAA championship game when enrollment increased 659 students from the previous year.
"I believe that it is a general rule that you'll find in most colleges and universities that when the athletic teams do well, it helps not only fundraising, but helps admissions as well," said Jim Marchiony, associate director of athletics at KU. "It tends to increase the pool of prospective students the school can choose from."
Admissions and athletics officials said team successes aren't solely responsible for the boost in enrollment. But having a winning team helps.
Kim Hoetmer, a guidance counselor at Goddard High School, doesn't think local students will be swayed to attend WSU because of the basketball team. But she thinks the school will become more attractive for out-of-state students, especially those in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Ron Kopita, vice president for campus life and university relations, said it is hard to guess what enrollment numbers at WSU will look like next year. But he's excited for what's to come.
"Having a highly visible, successful athletic program like the basketball team only helps. That's been documented across the country," Kopita said.
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I wish this could be printed in the NT Faculty newsletter.

February 24, 2006

I wish this could be printed in the NT Faculty newsletter.
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I do too, but somehow I don't think that it would make any difference. In the faculty minds' eye, any money spent on athletics potentialy takes money from their pockets (raises) and from the expenses of their departments.

UNTFan23 · February 25, 2006

I do too, but somehow I don't think that it would make any difference. In the faculty minds' eye, any money spent on athletics potentialy takes money from their pockets (raises) and from the expenses of their departments.
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Too bad most people don't understand that athletics and academics come from too totally different and seperate pots.

Huff · February 25, 2006

Anyone who does not believe that success in athletics leads to an overall improvement in the university only need to talk to the folks at the Admissions office at TCU. When LaDamian Tomlinson and the Horned Frogs had their 10-1 season about five years ago their admissions staff said that not only did the number of admission applications go up but the quality of those applicants went up, too.

GreyEagleOne is right, though. Publishing it in the faculty newsletter would do little to help. Once folks have made up their minds about an issue. facts only tend to make them more convinced than ever that they are being mistreated.

SilverEagle · February 25, 2006

If the faculty really believes that athletics negatively affects their pocketbooks, then they should see what would happen if it went away at North Texas.

Can you say lay-offs of teaching staff?