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Fall ’24 shows robust enrollment performance for ��-Dearborn

stuxbury — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 19:55:33 +0000

Fall ’24 shows robust enrollment performance for ��-Dearborn stuxbury Tue, 09/24/2024 - 15:55

While many regional public universities have experienced significant financial hardships and enrollment challenges, ��-Dearborn is seeing encouraging enrollment performance.

This year’s incoming class of full-time, first-year students is up 4.7%. Among all incoming students, there is a 7% increase in students of color, Pell-eligible students are up 7% and graduate students are up 27%.

Total enrollment this fall is 8,104, with 6,187 undergraduates and 1,917 graduate students.

The academic profile of ��-Dearborn’s first-year students is third-highest among the state’s public universities, with a 3.7 average grade-point average. The university’s four-year graduation rate has increased 9% over the past three years, and the six-year graduation rate increased 2% over last year.

“These increases are the result of hard work by the enrollment management team and many others across campus,” said ��-Dearborn Chancellor Domenico Grasso. “Many strategies have been put into place — such as the One-Stop Service model, block tuition, the conversion of three-credit classes to four credits and our revised financial aid model — that have a direct impact on recruitment and retention. I am most proud of our substantial increases in graduation rates, a true testament to student success.”

��-Dearborn is attracting more traditional full-time students, who are graduating more quickly than prior cohorts.

All of this good news is the result of a lot of behind-the-scenes effort, said Melissa Stone, vice provost for enrollment management. “Our enrollment strategy is working. In addition to new initiatives we put in place over the past few years, we have worked as a campus to create an environment where we are all working together as a community to make sure our students are connected to the information and resources they need to be successful.

“Our faculty and staff are dedicated to our students. When our students succeed, so do we.”

To address a slight enrollment drop in previous years, the university developed a Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, identifying student-focused enrollment obstacles and state-level challenges and outlined solutions.

A streamlined transfer admissions process is designed to address the university’s previous transfer-student enrollment decline. It ranges from forming a dedicated team to work with transfer students to holding more on-site visits with community college partners. Efforts have resulted in a 2% transfer-student increase this year.

To counteract the state’s shrinking high school population, ��-Dearborn expanded its dual-enrollment opportunities to help potential new students become more familiar with campus. And to attract domestic graduate students, the university resumed in-person open houses after a COVID-19 disruption, waived admission fees and appointed a new dean of graduate studies, Armen Zakarian.

The university also has invested more in need-based financial aid. For the fall 2024 first-year class, 44% of students pay no tuition, thanks to financial aid packaging that includes ��-Dearborn’s Go Blue Guarantee and the state’s Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

Stone said the SEM Plan initiatives are yielding results. For example, the first-time undergraduate student numbers remain healthy. “The last two academic years have seen the largest first-year classes,” she said.

Stone said students are attracted to ��-Dearborn because of its location, affordability and supportive, welcoming atmosphere. But what gets them to enroll and stay is making sure they have what they need to be successful.

“The SEM Plan helps us align time and resources by developing a shared vision of the most impactful initiatives to support the success of current and future students to meet our enrollment goals,” she said. “We know there is always work to be done, but I’m proud of our campus efforts and where we are with enrollment this year.”

See additional student profile and trends.

Story by Sarah Tuxbury

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New full-time student enrollment is up. The four-year graduation rate increased 9% over three years.

First-year students visited campus during Wolverine Welcome Day on Aug. 29. Photo by Annie Barker

What’s next when it comes to recruitment and retention

stuxbury — Mon, 15 May 2023 18:18:10 +0000

What’s next when it comes to recruitment and retention stuxbury Mon, 05/15/2023 - 14:18

College professors, support staff and campus administration know that students are more than a number — they are leaders, learners, researchers and mentors. But to make sure ��-Dearborn stays competitive and offers a quality education, meeting enrollment each semester is a necessary reality to manage a balanced budget.

“In higher education circles, there is understandable concern around the enrollment cliff,” said Vice Provost of Strategic Enrollment Management Melissa Stone. “I want to let people know that while there are challenges to address, the campus is well positioned to manage through these.” Stone said a draft SEM Plan, released in February 2023, was an important first step in developing a holistic understanding of ��-Dearborn’s enrollment environment and developing strategies that are goal-oriented, actionable, measurable and aligned with ��-Dearborn’s Go BluePrint for Success Strategic Plan.

“We appreciate the campus feedback to date and we’re excited to move into the next phase and continue to work collaboratively across campus to execute the plan,” said Stone. “This living document brings faculty, staff and administrators onto the same page and unites our current and future efforts around recruitment, retention and student success.”

The plan has been updated in response to feedback from the campus community over recent months. A new SEM Plan Executive Summary has also been finalized and provides a broad overview of the plan. The plan will be executed, with guidance by the SEM Executive Committee, in conjunction with existing committees and governance. Stone said the campus is encouraged to stay engaged, as achieving enrollment goals requires everyone’s commitment to executing impactful change.

Stone recently discussed some of the key initiatives in the plan, the different student population needs and some initiatives moving forward. Urana Pridemore, director of undergraduate enrollment, and Trista Wdziekonski, executive director, graduate enrollment management, also provided comments for this story.

First-year students need to know what makes ��-Dearborn different.

Looking at ��-Dearborn’s numbers over a 10-year span, first-year student enrollment has remained relatively stable. But the number of students who are college ready and seeing the value of a college degree will continue to challenge the university’s first-year recruitment.

Stone said prospective first-year students want to see for themselves what sets ��-Dearborn apart. The best way to do that is to showcase that they are earning a Michigan degree and having impactful experiences — like practice-based learning courses (classes with active engagement and industry-based learning outcomes) and undergraduate research opportunities. Sharing success stories from current students or recent graduates that highlight why they should choose ��-Dearborn over competitors is an important message and a key component of the plan.

A critical strategy in the SEM Plan is developing, in conjunction with colleges and faculty, enhanced and customized campus experiences — like tours and events — that highlight PBL, research and the more personalized and supportive experience students receive on our campus.

The plan also emphasizes the importance of developing a 21st century non-residential experience, as defined in the strategic plan, while still highlighting other campus experiences students can leverage at ��-Ann Arbor, such as offering free season football tickets to the incoming first-year class. These are key components to showing students they can have a more engaging classroom experience while still accessing other exciting extracurricular activities, Stone said.

The plan also calls for engaging with high school students earlier and specifically identifies programs that have a unique dual enrollment initiative, like one with Detroit Public Schools that’s in the works. Under that initiative, students will be able to earn an undergraduate certificate while in high school.

The plan also highlights a new college-ready program with Dearborn Heights School District No. 7 that begins to work with students as they enter high school. “These are just the beginning of what we envision as new exciting partnerships we will be developing with even more high schools across our region,” Stone said.

Transfer students want seamless admission pathways.

At one time, 50% of ��-Dearborn’s new undergraduates each year were transfer students. Over the last decade, that number has dropped significantly, with only 35% this past year.

Urana Pridemore, director of undergraduate enrollment, pointed to a couple reasons for this change — and then shared some ways the SEM Plan addresses each.

Pridemore said community colleges where ��-Dearborn students typically transfer from have seen declining enrollment — for example, Wayne County Community College went from 55,705 students during the 2017-18 academic year to 25,582 students in 2021-22.

��-Dearborn's top partner, Henry Ford College, experienced a less significant drop (from 19,004 to 16,524) during the same time period. This still impacts the transfer pipeline and requires the university to focus more intentionally on transfer recruitment to rebuild transfer enrollment knowing there are fewer students, Pridemore said.

To reach the students who do want to transfer, the SEM Plan calls for simplifying the process and building on community college transfer partnerships that have been recently created or are in the works. One example is Henry Ford College and ��-Dearborn’s Learn4ward to a Michigan Degree, a program that takes the guesswork out of transferring and helps alleviate concerns over college acceptance, transfer credits and tuition costs. Learn4ward is a part of Destination Dearborn, ��-Dearborn’s overarching initiative for transfer students from two-year colleges that provides enhanced academic advising, increased financial aid, career-ready resources and more.

The plan also calls for better aligning staff. Recognizing that transfers have unique needs, the SEM Plan includes a strategy to institute staff focused specifically on transfer recruitment to help the university regain the transfer pipeline.

Domestic graduate student recruitment will expand — and recommendations from two key working groups addressing international student needs are forthcoming.

Trista Wdziekonski, executive director of graduate enrollment management, said that while international graduate student numbers reached record highs in 2022-23, much of this was due to pent up demand caused by pandemic-related influence. She noted, “As the world adjusts to our new post-pandemic normal and international students consider all their options, we are seeing how markets and the global economy are shifting and if this rebound can be sustained on our campus. We must continue to be welcoming and meet the needs of this important segment of our graduate enrollment.” To help with this, an International Student Services work group led by Office of International Affairs Director Francisco Lopez has been charged with identifying gaps in international student support services and exploring solutions for how we can address them in the future.

Directly related, a Housing and Transportation Workgroup, co-led by Business Affairs Lead Business Officer Marc Brigolin and Wdziekonski, is currently considering how to better systematically support roommate and affordable housing connections. They are also addressing transportation issues that arise when students do not have vehicles in a limited public transportation setting. Providing housing and accessible transportation options helps with recruitment, builds a better community for all students and creates a stronger connection to ��-Dearborn overall.

Stone said volatility will always play a part in international student recruitment, so the plan calls for more intentional efforts around domestic graduate student recruitment and enrollment. This includes considering strategies for rebuilding the graduate pipeline in southeast Michigan and meeting the needs of local industries. The plan also identifies an opportunity to leverage ��-Dearborn’s online graduate programs and certificates outside of the state. Assessing graduate pricing and discount strategies is another strategy.

To keep students on a graduation path, they may need to be connected with support services.

The most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress scores demonstrated a national decline in performance in mathematics and reading. Due to factors that include a pandemic-related learning gap, more students are coming out of high school without the education needed to be college ready. The SEM Plan identifies this as an area to continue to monitor and assess. Looking at overall state data last year, only 28% of students were considered college-ready based on SAT scores.

Stone said many of the initiatives launched from the strategic plan’s student experience and success efforts were designed to keep our students on a path to graduation and help students gain better access to academic, financial and personal support. “The campus is dedicated to student success — but we will likely continue to see an ever greater need. It will be necessary to continually assess to ensure we are advocates for our students and their needs to help them reach their goals while also working toward the university’s goals.”

A new initiative in the works is ensuring space on campus reflects student needs and gives them easy access to critical support and experiences. A working group led by Dean of Students Amy Finley and Executive Director of Facilities Operations Carol Glick is helping to re-imagine the space in the Renick University Center and Mardigian Library to develop best-in-class service around academic, administrative and high-impact practices to support recruitment and retention.

Other ways the campus community can help with recruitment and retention? Share good things that are happening at ��-Dearborn with friends and family, ask students if they need help when they appear to have difficulty finding an office or classroom, connect students to the right office if your office doesn’t house the services they are seeking, and submit an Early Warning Program form if a student is struggling in class. The Early Warning System, which is included in the SEM Plan, is designed for faculty to communicate with Academic Advising and the Office of Academic Success so struggling students get help before it impacts their college experience.

In closing, let’s share some good news.

Looking to Fall 2023, Stone said ��-Dearborn is seeing positive trends regarding applications and deposits — particularly, we’re up in undergraduate admits and deposits over this time last year. Stone said this is good news, and if these trends continue will result in a strong undergraduate enrollment number.

In addition, Stone said it will take multiple years and sustained campus commitment to new and innovative strategies to meet our Strategic Enrollment KPIs — but she said her team, and the campus community as a whole, are up to the challenge. “The SEM plan is meant to help us align time and resources by developing a shared vision of the most impactful initiatives to support the success of current and future students, and I look forward to collaborating across campus to help execute the plan to meet our enrollment goals,” she said.

Want to know more? Visit the SEM Plan website. Have feedback or questions? Reach out to em-strategic@umich.edu. Look for future updates in the Enrollment Management Newsletter that will be issued a couple of times each semester and will provide updates and progress on the SEM plan.

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Enrollment Management leaders share a few key initiatives and takeaways from the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan — and an update about the trends they are seeing regarding fall enrollment.

U.S. News & World Report ranks ��-Dearborn as top Michigan regional public university

stuxbury — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 11:39:32 +0000

U.S. News & World Report ranks ��-Dearborn as top Michigan regional public university stuxbury Mon, 09/12/2022 - 07:39

University of Michigan-Dearborn ranks as a top Michigan university in U.S. News & World Report’s annual guide to American colleges and universities. The new numbers were released today.

The university ranks first in the state and fifth overall among regional public universities in the Midwest. And it’s 30th — moving up the list from last year — among all regional universities, public and private, in the Midwest.

"��-Dearborn faculty and staff should be very proud of this ranking. It's proof that our work here changes lives and makes our region stronger and more competitive,” said Chancellor Domenico Grasso. "Our practice-based curriculum means that our graduates will hit the ground running in their careers, earn higher salaries and have less debt after college."

Another point of pride: ��-Dearborn takes a top spot on the “Best College for Veterans” list. In the 2023 rankings, the university — when ranked among regional campuses in the Midwest — earned the top placement in the state at No. 11 overall.

Criteria for the designation includes being GI Bill-certified and participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. In addition, ��-Dearborn has an active Veteran Affairs staff that organizes veterans-based programming and provides structure for incoming students. “We are veterans, so we understand the needs of our service members and veterans,” said Veterans Affairs Coordinator Tom Pitock, who has more than 22 years of military service.

In college-specific listings, U.S. News again recognized ��-Dearborn’s undergraduate business and engineering programs.

The College of Business ranks as the third best undergraduate business program in the state. This is the 14th consecutive year it’s appeared on the list. The College of Engineering and Computer Science was ranked with the fifth best ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering program in Michigan. Their computer science undergraduate degree also was named a top program.

��-Dearborn is also the number one regional public university in Michigan on the list of “Top Performers on Social Mobility.” The campus ranked 15th overall among regional universities in the Midwest. The list includes colleges that are successful at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of Pell Grant eligible students.

U.S. News & World Report’s overall rankings are based on data on up to 15 indicators of academic quality including first-year retention rate, graduation rate and strength of faculty.

The complete 2023 rankings will appear in the magazine’s annual guidebook to “America’s Best Colleges.”

In other rankings news, the university was recognized on the Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges.

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��-Dearborn also number one Michigan public regional university on "Best College for Veterans" and "Top Performer in Social Mobility" lists.

��-Dearborn Wolverines are enjoying a warm Fall '22 day at the beginning of the semester.

'Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope'

tinahu — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 18:21:21 +0000

'Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope' tinahu Mon, 01/17/2022 - 13:21

For nearly three decades, volunteers have come together for ��-Dearborn’s MLK Day of Service to work toward creating positive change throughout metropolitan Detroit in the name of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy.

And the work continues.

The annual service-day event, which is a partnership between ��-Dearborn and Henry Ford College, included more than 10 volunteer projects that took place throughout Southeastern Michigan.

��-Dearborn Chancellor Domenico Grasso, who greeted participants working in campus’ Fairlane Center packing meal kits, making blankets and more, welcomed participants to a “day-on” that honors King.

“It’s been 54 years since Dr. King was assassinated and we still live in a society of unequal privilege and opportunity,” Grasso said. “Here at ��-Dearborn we are committed to being a gateway of opportunity for everyone who has the talent and potential and drive to want to be successful.” View his video message.

Volunteers were among the more than 300 people gathering both in spirit remotely and at in-person sites to knit hats and scarves to keep people in our community warm, assembled meals for the hungry and more. See more images from the day.

Students pack meal kits in Fairlane Center North for the Kids Coalition Against Hunger. Photo by Scott Soderberg

Junior Allysa Decato, a political science major and Delta Phi Epsilon president, spent the day at Detroit’s Arts & Scraps, where they created 400-plus STEM kits for children at local schools and in the community. She said an Alternative Spring Break experience in Memphis she had as a ��-Dearborn freshman inspired her to volunteer.

“We stopped at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was shot and killed. It makes an impact on you when you see it — it’s so surreal. We saw his hotel room door, the stuff that was left in his room, and listened to the people share stories about Dr. King at the Civil Rights Museum,” she said. “He died because of his message. So what can I do to keep his message alive?”

MLK Day of Service 2022 participants went to Detroit's Arts & Scraps where they put together more than 400 STEM-based art projects. Photo by Allysa Decato

��-Dearborn’s Executive Director for Facilities Operations Carol Glick spent her day at Forgotten Harvest in Oak Park with Dearborn Wolverine students and alumni. They packed nearly 2,800 pounds of food to feed the community.

Glick said she looks forward to volunteering annually because it’s important to find ways to connect with people in our communities and to engage in concrete activities that help to make things better.

Participants packed nearly 2800 pounds of food at Forgotten Harvest. Photo by Carol Glick

“During these times, it’s easy to become isolated and caught in our own bubble where it might feel like everything is a crisis. But then you step back and see what’s important in a larger context — like families having access to food,” Glick said. “I believe in Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream that someday we will have a society where the content of our characters is more important than the colors of our skin. It’s important to not lose sight of his dream.”

MLK Day of Service Co-Chair Shareia Carter said the MLK Day of Service planning committee chose Dr. King’s quote, “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope” because his words stood out after the challenges the world continues to face with the pandemic.

“Rolling into 2022, we are all clinging to hope. I think people continue to be so invested in campus’ MLK Day of Service because it lights something within you. It’s more than doing good — it’s carrying on the legacy of Dr. King and his work for justice for peace,” Carter said. “I see the day as the light for the torch for us to carry into the rest of the year’s 11 months. And light is something we all could use more of in our lives.”

Want additional ways to honor Dr. King’s legacy? Check out ��-Dearborn’s MLK Week of Events.

CALLING IN THE CALL OUT CULTURE
3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday, Online. Register.
Loretta Ross — nationally-recognized expert on racism and racial justice, women's rights, and human rights — leads a discussion on challenging the Call Out culture of social justice movements and academic spaces in order to build a united human rights movement. Check out the VictorsLink page.

CHANGE IT UP!: BYSTANDER INTERVENTION TRAINING
There are two online Change it Up Curriculum sessions.
• Faculty/Staff Session, 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesday via Zoom. Register.
• Student Session, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday via Zoom. Register.

PEACE RALLY
Noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Meet at the ��-Dearborn University Center. Register.
Join the Peace Rally walk from ��-Dearborn's University Center to the Henry Ford College Student Center. Speakers include Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and Henry Ford College sociologist Kalvin DaRonne Harvell.

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For the 29th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, 300-plus people gathered remotely and in-person to do more than 10 projects that included knitting hats and scarves to keep people in our community warm, assembling meals for the hungry and more.

Chancellor Domenico Grasso makes fleece blankets with students at the 29th Annual MLK Day of Service. Photo by Scott Soderberg

Got campus questions? This new service has answers.

stuxbury — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 17:41:50 +0000

Got campus questions? This new service has answers. stuxbury Mon, 08/23/2021 - 13:41

ESS student staff member Logan shows transfer student Hannah Letang how to sign up for study space.

College is a time to learn more about yourself, your interests and build a foundation for the future. To help students focus on that and simplify the business side of university life — from the admissions process to applying for graduation — ��-Dearborn leadership created a new centrally located one-stop service spot.

Located just steps inside the University Center’s main entrance, the Enrollment Student Services team will be available to answer questions people may have about their student accounts, course registration and financial aid. This “One Stop” also offers another way for the ��-Dearborn community to connect students with a variety of campus services and resources.

Enrollment Student Services (ESS) Director Julie Faust said this new approach will get students the answers they need quickly. And, when needed, students can speak more in depth with a staff member familiar with the topic they have questions about. It officially opens on Tuesday, Aug. 31, for Wolverine Welcome Day/Go Blue Bash and students are encouraged to stop by and vote on the official office name.

“We want to connect our students to what they need to know in a fast and friendly way — without them having to go to multiple offices for answers and as a student-focused unit, we want the students' help in naming this exciting new area designed to support them.”

Faust said students can look for the friendly face and maize and blue "Ask Me" button. This staff member will be happy to assist the student and answer their questions. If additional steps are needed to explore the inquiry further, the staff member will introduce the student to an on-site subject matter expert to resolve the issue.

In addition, the ESS staff will help interested students learn how to navigate My ��-Dearborn, the new student portal, so they know where to find important campus announcements, see tasks that they need to complete, schedule appointments, get answers to questions and access key university resources. The staff will be giving portal tutorials during Wolverine Welcome Day.

Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Melissa Stone said the My ��-Dearborn student portal coupled with the development of the shared services model are recent examples of student success-focused advancements at ��-Dearborn. “We have been busy streamlining processes and developing new technology tools all with the goal of improving the way that we serve our students.”

Services will be available both remotely and in person Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with occasional extended hours. As the academic year progresses, the plan is to offer “pop-up” One Stop services at the Fairlane Center and in other campus locations.

Faust said having a specific point of contact for students to go with their university business inquiries is a customer service game changer.

“It’s all about helping students on their journey in a friendly, insightful way so they want to come to us. In addition to it being efficient, it’s a customer service model that’s less reactive and more proactive because we’re here to answer questions and streamline information to avoid potential challenges. It’s about looking at the student experience holistically.”

For more information about the Enrollment Student Services, email ESS Director Julie Faust.

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Mon, 08/23/2021 - 17:39

Starting Aug. 31, Enrollment Student Services staff will be just steps inside the main University Center entrance to give a friendly hello and answer questions students may have about their accounts, course registration, financial aid and more.

New ��-Dearborn program helps re-enrolling students complete degrees

stuxbury — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:29:03 +0000

New ��-Dearborn program helps re-enrolling students complete degrees stuxbury Tue, 08/11/2020 - 12:29

��-Dearborn diploma

A new campus initiative gives former ��-Dearborn Wolverines the opportunity to return to school and earn their diploma.

Aimed at returning students who have earned 90 or more credit hours, the Dearborn Comeback program provides individualized and targeted support for those wanting to finish an undergraduate degree.

“We want to surround our Dearborn Comeback students with a full suite of wraparound services to get them to the finish line,” Chancellor Domenico Grasso said. “Thanks to the support from President Mark Schlissel, we will continue to create bold, innovative programs that support our students by addressing their needs.” The Dearborn Comeback is one of several upcoming programs, funded through a $20 million campus investment recently made to improve recruitment, retention and graduation at ��-Dearborn and ��-Flint.

To assist Dearborn Comeback Wolverines in the return-to-school transition, campus staff will guide each student through a specialized readmission process. To keep the momentum toward graduation, a college academic adviser develops a comprehensive academic plan.

Federal aid, scholarships and grants opportunities will be identified and tailored for each student in the program.— Dearborn Comeback students will be eligible for up to $5,000 in grant funding to help them get to the finish line.

To be eligible for the program, a Dearborn Comeback student must meet the following criteria:

Be an active undergraduate student at ��-Dearborn for at least one semester during the timeframe of Fall 2017 through the end of Fall 2019.
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.4 at ��-Dearborn
Have earned at least 90 credits total (30 of the 90 credits must have been earned at ��-Dearborn)
Have not graduated from another four-year college or university since leaving ��-Dearborn
Commit to completing a degree program over the next three years.

The university hopes this initiative will not only help students fulfill their personal dreams, but also serve as an engine for the state's economy.

Many in Michigan have taken college courses without completing a college degree. With a graduation rate average of 45 percent, the State of Michigan lags behind the national six-year graduation average of 62 percent.

Dearborn Comeback complements Michigan’s Sixty by 30 alliance and the Detroit Drives Degrees impact initiative, both of which aim to increase the postsecondary graduation rate to be at or better than the national average by 2030.

“These students are so close to their higher education goals, at a time when there is also need in our state for an informed and talented 21st century workforce — this opens real opportunities on both sides,” said Provost Sue Alcock. “Whatever the obstacles encountered in earning their degree the first time round, we want to get these Wolverines back on track and let them know that we are dedicated to see them graduate and thrive... and join our impressive and ever-growing alumni community network.”

Learn more about the Dearborn Comeback program.

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Tue, 08/11/2020 - 16:26

Dearborn Comeback gives individualized academic and financial support — including up to $5,000 in grants — to former ��-Dearborn undergraduate students who are coming back to finish what they started.

New Actuarial Mathematics major begins this fall

stuxbury — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 16:53:30 +0000

New Actuarial Mathematics major begins this fall stuxbury Mon, 07/22/2019 - 12:53

Research shows local employers have a growing need for bachelor-level actuaries. Mathematics Chairwoman Jennifer Zhao also has heard from students that there’s interest in enrollment. But even more than hearing it, she’s seen it.

Backed by both numbers and anecdotal evidence, ��-Dearborn will offer an Actuarial Studies Program starting in the fall.

“A number of ��-Dearborn students have pursued careers in actuarial science without the structure of a degree program, most often through the informal advice of a faculty member,” she says. “What this program does is identify courses at the University of Michigan-Dearborn whose content is aligned with the Society of Actuaries’ (SOA) — the global professional organization for this area — criteria and formalize a strategy for students.”

The interdisciplinary subject merges business, economics, mathematics and statistics. And the multi-faceted education will help students fulfill the SOA course requirements and prepare them for passing the seated exams needed for the professional actuary designation.

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Mon, 07/22/2019 - 16:44

The program responds to both student interest and industry demand; Enrollment is open now.

Department of Health and Human Services streamlines its majors for greater student flexibility

stuxbury — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 21:02:27 +0000

Department of Health and Human Services streamlines its majors for greater student flexibility stuxbury Fri, 09/14/2018 - 17:02

For students interested in the health and human services fields, the choose-your-own-adventure process of picking a major will suddenly get a lot simpler. As of the fall 2018 semester, the Health and Human Services department is retiring its current four-choice major menu in favor of a single major that Chair Patricia Wren said deals undergraduates a stronger hand.

“I think the challenge we wanted to address is that our previous degree structure offered a lot of sound-alike programs — mostly focused on fine distinctions within the field of public health,” Wren said. “So we surveyed the courses that we offer, the faculty strengths we have and the professional preparation that we think students need. We then harnessed that power to make three coherent concentrations within a single overarching degree in health and human services.”

One concentration within the new major remains focused on public health, with courses in health education, health policy, epidemiology and biostatistics. Another will target human services fields, like social work, child life studies, addiction and substance abuse counseling, and child and family services. The third concentration covers all of the pre-health professions. That one is great for students who have their sights set on specialized graduate training in fields like medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy or pharmacy.

Best of all, Wren said, the new major is structured so that students can easily switch between concentrations without having to completely change up a major.

“So if you thought you wanted to be a physician assistant and discover you pass out at the sight of blood, now you can easily pivot to epidemiology, health research or something else. We think that gives students more fluidity as they hone in on who they are, the course experiences they really enjoy, and what this means for what they want to do with their lives.”

There’s also a new slate of classes coming to support the new program, ranging from a wide-angle course in global health to a new fundraising and grant writing class. One of the offerings Wren is most excited about is the all-new HHS 100, which is being reimagined as a crash course in personal health and wellness.

“Students from across campus can learn about stress management, sleep hygiene and all of the long-term health impacts of the personal and lifestyle behavior choices they’re just kicking off now in their own lives.”

Wren hopes new courses like that — and the broader, better-branded major — will help draw more students to consider studies in this space, which she said is not only experiencing a strong job outlook but stacks up as one of the more flexible professional degrees you can get.

“The fun part of what we do in the Health and Human Services Department actually touches almost everything,” Wren said. “If you want to work on food or housing insecurity, or non-motorized transportation or global health, or work at a large health insurance company, we can help prepare you for any of that. There really isn't an industry or job setting out there where our graduates aren't finding success.”

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Starting this fall, HHS now will offer students a single nimble major with three professionally focused concentrations.

��-Dearborn announces commitment to expand college access at White House event

admin — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:39:02 +0000

��-Dearborn announces commitment to expand college access at White House event admin Thu, 12/04/2014 - 09:39

Today, University of Michigan-Dearborn Chancellor Daniel Little will join President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden along with hundreds of college presidents and other higher education leaders to announce new actions to help more students prepare for and graduate from college.

The White House College Opportunity Day of Action helps to support the president’s commitment to partner with colleges and universities, business leaders and nonprofits to support students across the country to help the nation reach its goal of leading the world in college attainment.

“The University of Michigan-Dearborn prides itself on providing an accessible, high-quality education to students of varying means in southeast Michigan,” said Daniel Little, chancellor, University of Michigan-Dearborn. “I applaud President Obama for not only emphasizing the importance of a college education but providing additional federal support for low-income students to obtain a college degree and increase opportunities for a comfortable and productive life.”

Today’s participants were asked to commit to new action in one of four areas: building networks of colleges around promoting completion, creating K-16 partnerships around college readiness, investing in high school counselors as part of the First Lady’s Reach Higher initiative, and increasing the number of college graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

��-Dearborn has committed to partnering with a number of local high schools to ensure 90 percent of seniors complete at least two college applications by Dec. 31, 2015, 70 percent of seniors complete the FAFSA by June 30, 2016, and it seeks to achieve at least a six percent college enrollment rate increase among partner high schools from the Class of 2013 baseline by December 31, 2016. ��-Dearborn will achieve these significant goals through partnerships with the National College Advising Corps and the Michigan College Access Network. Both organizations have strong records of expanding the quantity and quality of college access professions working in Michigan high schools.

The president will announce new steps on how his administration is helping to support these actions, including announcing $10 million to help promote college completion and a $30 million AmeriCorps program that will improve low-income students’ access to college. Today’s event is the second College Opportunity Day of Action, and will include a progress report on the commitments made at the first day of action on January 14, 2014.

Expanding opportunity for more students to enroll and succeed in college, especially low-income and underrepresented students, is vital to building a strong economy and a strong middle class. Today, only 9 percent of those born in the lowest family income quartile attain a bachelor’s degree by age 25, compared to 54 percent in the top quartile. In an effort to expand college access, the Obama administration has increased Pell scholarships by $1,000 a year, created the new American Opportunity Tax Credit worth up to $10,000 over four years of college, limited student loan payments to 10 percent of income, and laid out an ambitious agenda to reduce college costs and promote innovation and competition.

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Thu, 12/04/2014 - 14:39

University of Michigan-Dearborn Chancellor Little joined President Obama, the First Lady, Vice President Biden and hundreds of college presidents and higher education leaders to announce new actions to help students prepare for and graduate from college.

More than 9,000 reasons to celebrate: ��-Dearborn announces record-breaking enrollment

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 13:07:00 +0000

More than 9,000 reasons to celebrate: ��-Dearborn announces record-breaking enrollment admin Tue, 09/23/2014 - 09:07

Total undergraduate enrollment now is 7,374 students, up about half a percent from last year. Graduate enrollment grew by nearly 9 percent to 1,819 students.

Key facts related to fall enrollment:

Academic achievement remained strong among the incoming freshman class
Enrollment includes a freshman class of 965 students. The class enters with an average high school GPA of 3.61 and average ACT score of 24.4, higher than the incoming classes of three of the university’s closest regional competitors.
Growth in CECS and COB programs
Both the College of Engineering and Computer Science and College of Business saw double-digit percentage growth in 2014. CECS enrollment is up 14.8 percent to 2,410 students. COB enrollment is up 11.5 percent to 1,705.
New student applications are up
Applications were up 3.6 percent to 5,084, an all-time high for the university. This included triple-digit percentage growth in applications from outlying areas including Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.

“��-Dearborn continues to offer students strong academic programs in an inclusive environment,” said Stanley E. Henderson, vice chancellor for enrollment management and student life. “This is a positive foundation to build on as the university introduces new programs to serve the needs of our students and the region, particularly in our new College of Education, Health, and Human Services.”

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University of Michigan-Dearborn has announced a record-breaking enrollment of 9,193 students for fall 2014, an increase of 190 students—or about 2.1 percent—from last fall.

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������-Dearborn announces commitment to expand college access at White House event

More than 9,000 reasons to celebrate: ������-Dearborn announces record-breaking enrollment

Fall ’24 shows robust enrollment performance for ��-Dearborn

U.S. News & World Report ranks ��-Dearborn as top Michigan regional public university

New ��-Dearborn program helps re-enrolling students complete degrees

��-Dearborn announces commitment to expand college access at White House event

More than 9,000 reasons to celebrate: ��-Dearborn announces record-breaking enrollment