Governors State University’s efforts to recruit freshmen for the schools first class of freshmen in 2014 are in full swing. GSU has started the FC14 campaign, or the First Class 2014 campaign, to recruit freshmen students to the school.
Recruitment is mainly being done through fairs at various high schools and school districts. In addition, GSU is attending major college fairs, including the National Admission of College Counselors Fair, where the school will join various universities across the country in recruiting students at Chicago’s Navy Pier.
According to Kristy Goodwin, Director of Recruitment and Outreach Admissions and Student Recruitment, the university already has found a lot of interest in GSU among prospective students.
“(Prospective students) are really on the bandwagon of being the first class,” said Goodwin.
GSU is hosting an open house for freshmen and parents on Saturday October 19. The university is also currently accepting early enrollment applications. The deadline for early admission is November 15, with applications being reviewed from October 1 until January 31. Admission requirements include a minimum high school G.P.A. of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, an ACT score of at least 18 or an SAT equivalent score, as well as a letter of application of 500 to 750 words.
Because GSU is the only public university in Illinois south of the Chicago city limits and north of Bloomington, it is focusing recruitment in high schools within that area. According to Courtney Sanders, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, GSU is
focusing on this area to recruit students who wish to obtain a quality education at a four year university close to home.
“If students want to live at home and commute, they have to go into the city and a lot of students don’t want to do that,” said Sanders.
The university anticipates that although their recruiting focus is local, some of those students may still want to live on campus.
“We are focused on, but not limited to commuters,” said Goodwin.