2008 Woodie Awards
WU targets minorities to ensure diversity
By: Alexandra Smith
Issue date: 3/29/07 Section: News
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The diverse population at Webster University does not happen accidentally. Recruiters in the Undergraduate Admissions and International Recruitment Offices use the intention of a varied student body as a deciding factor on where and how they recruit.
In the Undergraduate Admissions Office, there are seven active recruiters. Five focus on recruiting freshmen, and two on transfer students. The office communicates with potential students through mailed brochures, e-mails from work study students, occasional phone calls and visits to high schools and college fairs.
Andrew Laue, coordinator of freshman recruitment, said like many schools, Webster looks at how recruiting can be set up to ensure the incoming freshman class will be diverse.
"For us, we look for a diversity of majors, geographical diversity, even social class," Laue said.
To achieve an assorted freshman population, Laue said recruiters visit St. Louis high schools that traditionally have more minority students, as well as attend college fairs throughout the country that target underrepresented populations. He said significant recruiting also is done in California and Texas specifically to target Hispanic populations.
Of the 2006 freshman class, about 60 percent are from the St. Louis area. Other states represented by six or more students include Tennessee, Texas, Indiana, Kansas and Minnesota. There also are six students from Ecuador.
Melanie Gottlieb, an international credential specialist in International Recruitment/International Services, said recruiting internationally is equally important to nationwide recruitment at Webster.
Calvin Smith, director of international recruitment, regularly travels to Latin America, Asia and Europe to recruit students for the St. Louis campuses. He travels through a group, the Council for International Schools, where about 30 universities tour schools in multiple countries on a given continent.
In the Undergraduate Admissions Office, there are seven active recruiters. Five focus on recruiting freshmen, and two on transfer students. The office communicates with potential students through mailed brochures, e-mails from work study students, occasional phone calls and visits to high schools and college fairs.
Andrew Laue, coordinator of freshman recruitment, said like many schools, Webster looks at how recruiting can be set up to ensure the incoming freshman class will be diverse.
"For us, we look for a diversity of majors, geographical diversity, even social class," Laue said.
To achieve an assorted freshman population, Laue said recruiters visit St. Louis high schools that traditionally have more minority students, as well as attend college fairs throughout the country that target underrepresented populations. He said significant recruiting also is done in California and Texas specifically to target Hispanic populations.
Of the 2006 freshman class, about 60 percent are from the St. Louis area. Other states represented by six or more students include Tennessee, Texas, Indiana, Kansas and Minnesota. There also are six students from Ecuador.
Melanie Gottlieb, an international credential specialist in International Recruitment/International Services, said recruiting internationally is equally important to nationwide recruitment at Webster.
Calvin Smith, director of international recruitment, regularly travels to Latin America, Asia and Europe to recruit students for the St. Louis campuses. He travels through a group, the Council for International Schools, where about 30 universities tour schools in multiple countries on a given continent.
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