Planning Council
December 6, 2000
Dr. Bitterbaum called the Planning Council meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 6, 2000, in the President's Conference Room on campus. Those present were Dr. Erik Bitterbaum, President, Dr. Joe Badgley, Dean of Academic Affairs, Mrs. Judy Higgs, Dean of Students, Margaret Bailey, Employee Relations Counselor; Connie Dziagwa, Director of Communications and Public Relations; Dr. Sy Sarkarat, Business and Economic Division Chairperson; Gary Waggoner, Natural Science and Mathematics Division Chairperson; Tim Beardsley, Counselor and Patsy Bee, Administrative Assistant to the President. Absent was Dan Williamson, Director of Computing Services and Dr. David Bell, Dean for Business, Industry and Development Services.
Council reviewed and discussed the survey information for Enrollment and Retention. They agreed there were a lot of positive suggestions that reinforced previous discussions from Council and other groups.
Dr. Bitterbaum asked Council to review how students are currently handled when they come into the building to inquire about attending WVU Parkersburg. He suggested that many more employees could be involved in the registration process such as secretaries assisting with advising, testing and other processes.
Council discussed the current registration process for potential students which usually takes more than one visit:
They first see employee working the Information area.
They are directed to admissions where they are greeted by Admissions Counselor or other employee in admissions office.
They fill out application to college.
They schedule placement tests
They visit Financial Aid office
They talk to adviser
They register for classes
They pay or make arrangements to pay for classes in Business Office
They purchase books in Bookstore
They tour the College
They use SIGI
Council discussed prioritizing the steps for this process to make it easier for a student to register for classes in a "one stop shop" situation.
Go to admissions (have backup if Admissions Counselor is not available).
Fill out applications for admission
Meet an adviser
December 6, 2000
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At this point there was a lengthy discussion among Council members about placement tests and where they should fit into the registration process. It was determined that before further decisions could be made on changing the current registration process, there should be faculty members from the math and English departments present to discuss the importance of the placement tests in the registration process.
Council members agreed to meet again next week with some members of the math and English departments to continue the discussion on enrollment and retention.
With no further business to be discussed, the meeting adjourned at 9:35 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for the Wednesday, December 13 at 9:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patsy Bee
Administrative Assistant
to the President