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1) Strategic Planning – After a national request for proposals, SEMO has selected the Huron Consulting Group to facilitate our upcoming strategic planning process. Huron is an international consulting firm with specific expertise in higher education strategic planning development. They’ve done work for SEMO before in the realm of athletic planning. During a preliminary Zoom call earlier this week, I discussed the goal of having the plan completed and ready for implementation by June 30, 2026. Huron agreed to that timeline and will soon begin working with Dr. Doug Koch, interim provost and strategic planning committee chair, to identify committee members and Huron’s initial engagement on campus.
2) VP of Enrollment Management & Student Success Update – Our posting for this position closes today. To date, we have nearly 50 applicants for the position. The search committee will begin reviewing materials and meet next week to select an initial round of semifinalists. We currently anticipate final round candidates on campus in early November with a hiring decision made before Christmas break.
3) Enrollment – Last Friday was the 20th day of the fall semester and, therefore, census day where we lock-in our headcount, FTE, and credit hours. First, the disappointing news: our overall headcount declined 7% - the equivalent of 618 students. Of that drop, 494 were international students who were unable to secure visas to study in the U.S. Good news from the enrollment data includes growth from across our region: Cape Girardeau County up 4%; and the Southeast Missouri region up 10%. Overall, we secured a 7% increase in new full-time domestic first-year students and a 10% increase in transfer students. You can read more about the enrollment report on the SEMO News Page.
GO REDHAWKS!
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