by Rachel Williams
Without its Admissions Office, the University of West Georgia wouldn’t last long. Students, the lifeblood of the campus, depend on the hardworking admissions professionals to determine whether they will be a good match with UWG. The Admissions Office is often the first contact that prospective students and parents have with the university. What visitors may not realize is that many of the dedicated individuals helping them are graduate students. This semester, five students from the College Student Affairs master degree program are helping students “Go West.”
“The graduate students have had a tremendous impact on the Admissions Office in the past year, not only with their contribution to the overall functioning and productivity of the Admissions Office, but also in allowing another tier of leadership in the Admissions Office for our growing student leadership program and curriculum,” says Ketty Ballard, associate director of Admissions. “Throughout the past year and a half, the Admissions Office has undergone a tremendous effort to offer a transformational experience for our undergraduate and graduate student leaders. This includes the opportunity to experience our operations, recruitment and campus visit areas through shadowing, one-on-one trainings by senior leadership in the Admissions Office shadowing and participating in many of our outreach initiatives both on-and off-campus. We hope to establish an appreciation for the ‘big picture’ in the role of the Admissions Office.”
The three practicum workers and two graduate assistants are all enrolled in UWG’s College Student Affairs master’s program. The program, which welcomed its first cohort in 2010, is one of only three of its kind in the state of Georgia. Most of the current students have graduate assistantships, although a few work in student affairs full time. Two semester-long practicums are required for graduation, and students have flexibility in choosing ones that appeal to them.
“Admissions is a place full of hope and inspiration,” explains Kelsey Morrissey, a practicum student. “It is where potential students get the opportunity to visit the school and apply. It is a place where students can begin their next adventure, and I love that aspect of the office. Everyone in the Admissions Office happily works to help students achieve their goals to attend college; there is no place better than that.”
Kelsey’s practicum project, “West in 30,” helps applicants who are ineligible for UWG to get in through an alternate route. By beginning their education at West Georgia Technical College or Georgia Highlands College, students can transfer more easily into UWG at a later date.
“Without Kelsey’s unwavering dedication and detail-oriented nature, it is safe to say that the project would not have progressed as quickly as it has,” praises Kelsey’s supervisor, Assistant Director for Transfer Students Katie Taylor. “This is a huge opportunity for the University of West Georgia to give interested students a path and a plan to become fully admitted UWG students in the future. Kelsey has gone above and beyond the call of duty in moving each area of the program forward by not only completing assignments and beating deadlines, but also offering unique ideas to make the program that much more successful.”
Of course, in addition to helping the prospective students, there are a number of benefits for the graduate student workers, too.
“Working with the Admissions Office has allowed me to use student development and counseling skills learned thus far in my classes,” says Karen Bussey, who has worked on recruitment publications during her practicum in Admissions. “Familiarity with student development theories has helped during my project completion by addressing common student/family concerns in the marketing materials. It was important to address the audience and use development theories such as Chickering, Astin and Schlossberg to understand and appeal to prospective college students in developmentally-appropriate ways.”
Emily Richardson, a practicum student working on several Preview Day projects, agrees. “My experience in my practicum has definitely played a role in my classroom experience. I have become more curious about different things on campus and those questions come out in class.”
“Their love and dedication to higher education is evident,” says Katie. “They have a passion for their industry and a passion for UWG. They’ve thrown themselves into the Admissions office environment and projects to become full members of the Admissions team, despite their class workloads. It is clear that within the UWG College Student Affairs program, they are given the tools and education to go far in the industry.”
Despite their graduate level work, other experiential commitments and desperate hunts for summer internships or full-time jobs, the students are unwavering in their support of the Admissions Office. For them, the work has a deeper meaning than just resume fluff or a graduation requirement.
“I feel like I personally make a difference when I am recruiting,” says Nichole Ray, graduate assistant and communications manager for the office. “I have had students tell me that they are excited to come visit UWG after I speak with them. If any of those students choose to attend West Georgia because of something I said to them, I know that I have been successful.”
