CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) - A group of University of Northern Iowa staff members has proposed creating a research center that would focus on issues challenging similar institutions.
The UNI staffers recently proposed the Center for the Study of Undergraduate Education to the school’s Faculty Senate, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported (https://bit.ly/KDyzIl ). The university provost’s office must give final approval.
Organizers say the center would conduct studies and compile data on issues that comprehensive institutions - which they describe as schools that cater to regional students - like UNI face.
Public institutions all face issues such as growing costs and less state and federal funding, but the proposal says comprehensive institutions have the added challenge of fewer revenue streams and marketing options for attracting students.
“What’s frustrating is sometimes we don’t know how to communicate with families about who we are and what makes us different,” said Jessica Moon, honors program director at UNI.
Organizers say they’re currently studying four community colleges in an effort to understand how students decide where to go for higher education.
“We’re very interested to find out how students perceive us and how they perceive (University of) Iowa and Iowa State (University),” said Kristi Marchesani, assistant director of international admissions at UNI. “If we understand what students are thinking, not only their feelings towards UNI but some of our biggest competitors, we’ll know where we need to position ourselves.”
Marchesani made note of UNI President Bill Ruud’s priorities on increasing enrollment and marketing the school.
“Certainly what the president is putting forward as priorities at UNI will be considered as we look for future projects to take on,” she said.
Organizers estimate a total operating budget of about $25,000. The group hopes to host an annual symposium beginning in 2015 that focuses on undergraduate education.
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Information from: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, https://www.wcfcourier.com
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