How You Can Help Us Recruit the New Class of Captains (Without Giving Money!)

BY ROB LANGE, DEAN OF ADMISSION

ALLOW ME TO SERVE as the Christopher Newport alumni correspondent on the college admission scene, something that is more competitive than ever.

If you’ve read anything in the media about student enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities in the last few years, it’s likely you’ve been regaled with urgent tones and supporting references about trends that are on extreme opposite ends of the same spectrum. Terms like “exploding applications” and “drastically decreasing admission rates” paint word pictures of schools flush with prospective student demand for their offerings. On the other hand, phrases like the “shrinking of higher education” and “public souring on the value of college” are used in doomsday prophecies about declining student supply that point to the dreaded “enrollment cliff” headed our way, adding to the “student debt crises” already wreaking havoc on American higher education.

There are certainly commentators who offer a more nuanced perspective, and provide additional context helpful in understanding the dichotomy that exists today, wherein both of the above versions are simultaneously true, with data points existing in-between. Competitive admission might conjure juicier details of the so-called “Varsity Blues” scandal that went viral in 2019. I’m not referring to the insidious culture that was exposed then of the rich and famous currying favor at elite schools for their children. There is another everyday rivalry that exists between institutions themselves, who cross admission applications with one another and recruit the same best-fit new students to their campuses each year.

The truth is, institution type is often indicative of what to expect in new student application and enrollment trends these days, both nationally and in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the core of our challenge to continue welcoming the highability and meaningfully-engaged high school graduates we are accustomed to entering each fall here as freshmen, is the declining number of high school graduates. Add the reality of significant growth at our doctoral sister institutions who now have more seats to offer, and a global pandemic to boot, and it’s a wonder we brought in our incredible class this fall! Thankfully, there are enough true distinctives about the CNU student experience that have mitigated these challenges for years, and allowed us to fare better in maintaining enrollment than most of our public regional peers leading up to the pandemic. And now we are rebounding with others, again, to varying degrees.

Rest assured, Christopher Newport is creatively adapting to position ourself favorably within this new student recruitment reality moving forward, and we are focused on bringing in the best and brightest new Captains for years to come — new offerings in programs, support, scholarships, and other opportunities are afoot. I’m sure our colleagues in the Office of Alumni Relations can tell you all the ways you can assist with these important initiatives, but I would like to offer another opportunity for you to consider: working directly with us.

What do you think is most important to prospective students or their parents during their college search?

I would argue that it isn’t a university president, faculty member, admission officer, or current student — as important as those representatives might be. It is often a college graduate who can exert the most influence in piquing interest, validating perceptions, and making the final decision to enroll.

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN!

· Collaborate with us on a message from you to admitted students or their parents

· Volunteer your story to be featured on a website or social media post

· Represent CNU at a college fair in your local area

· Interview prospective students in-person or virtually

· Share your CNU story at recruitment events on-campus or in your local area

· Participate in meet-and-greet receptions

· Host admitted students and their families for an event

No one is better qualified than you to help us recruit our future Captains for Life!

If you’re interested in volunteering for any of the above or other opportunities, please scan the QR code to submit the form on your phone.