EMASS Newsletter, Fall/Winter 2019

NEWS Fall/Winter 2019

Aim high with AIM Nearly 100 students kicked off MSU’s 2019-2020 AIM Campaign “Fired Up &

Ready to Go!” on Sept. 12. AIM motivates greater student involvement with academic success and encourages interaction with the Academic Improvement Mandate Program. This year a new video on all social media outlets was also launched. The “Fired Up & Ready to Go Video” received rave reviews – check it out: #msuaim on Instagram!

As we continue to motivate academic growth and development, this semester Morganites are “Bearishly” encouraged to be:

F - focused on ultimate goals I - intentional in their aca-

demic pursuits and with their daily habits

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R - ready to succeed at all cost E - expecting excellence of themselves D - deliberate, determined, and dedicated to their academic success U - unwavering in their commitment to a timely matriculation P - passionate about persevering!

Next semester our emphasis will be “Ready to Go” to the next level of success. We are proud of the strides our students are making!

HIGHLIGHTS: In this issue Celebrating MSU transfer students

5th annual mentoring luncheon

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Financial literacy kick-off Page 3

Mr. and Miss financial literacy Page 3

Tyler Scholars honored Page 5

EMASS presentations Page 6

Welcome new EMASS employees • • • • • • • •

Amber Beale, Recruitment Secretary, Office of Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment Chantelle James, Admission Officer, Office of Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment Brittany Johnson, Admission Officer, Office of Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment Tatiana Megarry, Diversity Admission Officer, Office of Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment Claudia Peters, Office Clerk II, Office of Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment Eric Redman, Financial Aid Specialist, Office of Financial Aid Zackery Rogers, Admission Officer, Office of Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment Raven Williams, Program Coordinator/Community College Liaison, Office of Transfer Student Programming

Welcome new roles in EMASS: • Ronique Jones, Records Coordinator, Office of the Registrar • Sequean Mahnke, ACCESS Orientation Coordinator/Retention Specialist, Office of Student Success and Retention

Celebrating MSU transfer students The third week of October – October 21-25 – was Transfer Student Week (NTSW) at MSU. This week celebrates transfer students and the professionals who help them.

Did you know, for example, that Morgan State has an admission officer dedicated specifically to transfer students?

Every year, hundreds of transfer students select Morgan State University to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Our goal is to help each student to become one of Morgan State University’s distinguished alumni.

The Office of Transfer Student Programming (TSP) wel-

comes transfer students with a campus orientation, and coordinates the path for and lends guidance to students pursuing alternative admission to the University.

Also, by engaging students pursuing MSU courses and degrees at satellite locations, TSP provides connectivity as students work to advance their academic and career goals.

TSP is the hub for the MSU Delta Gamma Chapter of Tau Sigma National Honor Society, which recognizes and promotes the academic excellence and involvement of transfer students.

‘Say yes to no debt’: Financial literacy kick-off The annual Financial Literacy Kick-Off on Oct. 31 featured guest speaker Dr. DeForest Soaries, author of Say Yes to No Debt: 12 Steps to Financial Freedom, and senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, Somerset, N.J. Soaries shared his expertise with over 300 Morgan State University students and provided them with knowledge and skills for being financially successful through budgeting and money management. Students who attended received a free copy of Soaries’ own supplemental guide for young adults.

Mr. and Miss Financial Literacy A special congratulations to Gregory Mims and Whitney Bassah, Morgan State University’s first Mr. and Miss Financial Literacy.

Joining our campus kings and queens as student leaders, Mr. and Miss Financial Literacy will work with the Office of Student Success and Retention and our PNC Bank partner to provide interactive financial literacy workshops for students at Morgan State University for the 2019-2020 academic year.

The Office of Student Success and Retention’s Financial Literacy Program aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to be financially successful in adult life.

Bear Essentials

Morgan is introducing its One Stop Student Services Center to serve as a central point for students and families to get assistance with the enrollment process from start to finish.

Blackboard Student Services Contact Center – the first phase of Bear Essentials– includes a call center to provide round-the-clock service and support to students and parents with information about Undergraduate Admissions, Bursar, Financial Aid, Registrar, and Residence Life and Housing. The service also provides IVR and website support to students and families.

Ivy A.I. Chat Bot is a chat bot that provides wide-ranging general information, across various university platforms to website visitors. As a conversational and customizable chatbot, Ivy sits on select Morgan web pages to provide users with answers 24/7.

One Stop Wednesdays and One Stop Weeks includes coordinated specialized programming to bring enrollment management-based services to one location to assist prospective and current students in increasing overall enrollment preparedness – advising, registration, and more.

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5th annual alumni mentoring luncheon Over 100 Morgan alumni and first year students came to the 5th Annual Alumni Mentoring Program Luncheon on Oct. 13.

Fellow Morganites celebrated the homecoming victory over Delaware State University while sharing inspirational journeys through their college matriculation and their success in their lives, both personal and professional.

Students heard from over 35 established alumni and were able to have enriching conversation regarding their own aspirations.

About 51 students were paired with at least one alumni mentor, beginning a wonderful relationship for guidance, support, advice, and fellowship.

New Tyler Scholars honored at luncheon The Calvin and Tina Tyler Scholars luncheon on Oct. 17 honored Tyler Scholars, former Baltimore City High School graduates who are successfully matriculating at Morgan State University. Three students, Destiny Blake, George Boswell, Jr. and Kendall Griffie, graduated in May 2019 with honors. The Office of Student Success and Retention also welcomed three new scholars. During this semi- annual scholar luncheon, students received certificates for Most Kudos in Starfish, Most Improved GPA, and the Highest GPA. Congratulations to Tyler Scholars Keyshon Carr and Jaquana Duncan who will be graduating at the December 2019 commencement. Morgan alumnus Calvin E. Tyler Jr. and his wife Tina, are philanthropists; the scholarships in their name provide full tuition for select Morgan students who reside in Baltimore City, the Tyler’s hometown.

Fall 2019 enrollment highlights • • • • • • • • •

9th year above 70% first-to-second year retention Average ACT score up one point and average GPA up .6 (3.04 from 2.98) 3% increase in new first-time freshmen 5% increase in new transfers 1% increase in total enrollment Highest new freshman enrollment since 2008 Highest new undergraduate enrollment since 2010 Highest headcount enrollment since 2012 +636 more students paid 4

2019 Summer Institute In partnership with BCCC and CCBC, the Transfer Evaluation and Articulation team participated in Governors State University’s Structured Pathways and Effective Retention Strategies for Transfer Students 2019 Summer Institute.

The Summer Institute brings together community college and 4-year college/university campus leaders to learn how to create and sustain a successful structured pathway for transfer students.

Over the course of the Institute, the Morgan team heard from experts, participated in interactive break-out sessions, and spent time in facilitated work sessions to develop a campus plan for recruiting and retaining transfer students using structured pathways and support systems. The culminating event took place the morning of

the last day with presentations of the campus plans, including those from Morgan.

These plans included concrete steps to implement structured pathways from the Associate to Baccalaureate degree; institutions roles and responsibilities in implementing the structured pathway and retention activities; and a timeline of activities to achieve goals.

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Veteran and Military at Morgan

Veteran Enrollment increased at Morgan State University, adding 113 new students last year, when with only 72 new veteran students were enrolled. The increase in veteran numbers is through the collective efforts of ROTC Admission Recruiter, Leon H. Carr, and Colonel Willie Rodney Rodney, Morgan professor of military science.

Military Appreciation Day was held on Nov. 9, offered by the Veterans Engagement unit in the Office of the Registrar in collaboration with ROTC and Athletics.

Accomplishments and milestones • Rhonda Shields, associate registrar, and Keisha Campbell, university registrar, attended AACRAO Tech and Transfer (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers) in Dallas, a conference which focuses on innovative ideas and solutions to help colleges develop and refine programs, policies, and initiatives to impact student and institutional success.

• Rhonda Shields and Keisha Campbell also traveled to NCAA regions rules conference in Indianapolis for continued rules education and to NCAA AASP with Morgan University president, Dr. David Wilson, and Athletics in support of the AASP grant. The Accelerating Academic Success Program (AASP) Conference in New Orleans provided programming that benefits chancellors and presidents, athletics departments, academic advisors, registrars, development and those interested in the academic success of student-athletes. It also provided the opportunity for inter-institutional discussions on issues and solutions among individuals from institutions that may have similar missions, demographics, challenges and success.

• Keisha Cambell was selected as a new University Council Representative.

• Maia Maclin, operations manager for the Office of the Registrar, gave a paper and presentation at a conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

• Tiffany Mfume, assistant vice president for student success and retention, attended Hobsons Summer

Institute (HSI) in Marco Island, Fla. Hobsons is the education technology leader and company behind Starfish. Mfume was on a plenary panel with a book signing and her OSSR Starfish team presented a workshop, which received a 5-star rating on the conference app.

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Recent presentations

Dr. Brenda James presenting at the SYE Summit, left; Dr. Rhonda Battle presenting at SYE Summit, above, at Howard University, sponsored by Lumina HB HBCU Student Success Initiative and funded by the Lumina Foundation. SYE is the Second Year Experience program.

Dr. Tiffany Mfume. above, presenting at the 2019 Student Financial Services Conference at Georgia State University.

• Transfer Evaluation System which allows students, faculty, and staff to see the database of course

Explore Morgan Day Students had an opportunity to learn more about attending Morgan State University during Explore Morgan Day. on Friday, Nov. 4. Participants had opportunities to discover information about admission, financial aid, scholarships, housing and student life. They could design their own visit; on the spot admissions were available for freshman applicants. Over 3,552 students and guests attended.

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