Allowed potential and incoming students on Javelina Nation
Javelina Preview Day at Texas AM University-Kingsville (TAMUK) allowed potential students to experience being a Javelina and see what TAMUK has to offer. Students who attended the event on Mar. 26 were given opportunity to meet with faculty and staff members from Admissions, Financial Aid, Scholarship Academics, Student Success, Student Activities, Housing. They were also able to tour the campus and meet current Javelinas.
“Preview Day allows potential students to meet directly one on one with TAMUK representatives to get answers to any questions they might have about TAMUK,” Preview Day Coordinator and Professor of Music Dr. Darin Hoskisson said. “We aim for it to be very personal and thorough.”
Since this Preview Day was the first one hosted since the pandemic without many restrictions, incoming students were excited they could attend this event in-person and get a hands-on experience.
“Attending this event gave me the opportunities to learn more about the college and everything it had to offer students who are thinking about attending,” incoming freshman for Fall 2022 Lindsey Cuellar said.
With hosing Preview Days, the university is hoping to see an increase in enrollment. Because of the pandemic, universities and colleges like TAMUK have seen a decline in enrollment during the past two years.
In addressing enrollment, there are two approaches the University does: recruitment and retention. In recruitment, faculty, deans and recruiters are involved with visiting high schools around the state to reach students and their families, letting them now how TAMUK offers education at an outstanding value. For retention, the University uses marketing and calling campaigns to reach students who have paused their education, encouraging them to return to campus.
The University has also received a Reskilling Grant that will help pay students tuition and institutional debt if they return to TAMUK Fall 2022.
“There has never been a better time to return to TAMUK for individuals who were students here once but stopped out,” Hoskisson said.
Another way TAMUK tries to reel students in is by the Javelina Promise Program.
“The program will cover tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students with families making less than $65,000,” Vice President for Enrollment Services Dr. Rito Silva said. “The Promise Program has received an extremely positive response from the local school districts.”
The University will continue hosting Preview Days events as the upcoming Fall semester approaches, to help improve enrollment and show students considering Javelina Nation our programs.