By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
BGSU had a record number of prospective students registered for Monday’s Presidents Day Open House.
Heavy lake effect snow east of Cleveland apparently kept some folks away. Still as of midday, Cecilia Castellano, vice president for enrollment management, was projecting 1,300-1,400 would attend, and based on past experience, about 70 percent of those visiting on Presidents Day will be back as enrolled students in fall.
President Rodney Rogers said it was a “genius idea” when the Presidents Day Open House was established 29 years ago early in the presidential tenure of Sidney Ribeau. “This is the single largest recruiting event we hold every year.”
High schools have the holiday off, but BGSU classes are in session, “so prospective students can talk to current students,” he said. “They can see what it’s like to be at Bowling Green. It’s a great opportunity to get to know us. One of those visiting who was still considering his college options was Thompson Becnel from New Orleans. He was interested in the Six Flags Resort and Attraction Management program. Not many colleges offer such a program, he said.
His mother, Toni, said he is an avid hobbyist to the point that he was able to correct a teacher’s physics lesson related to roller coasters.
Though still undecided, he said BGSU was on the top of his list.
The partnership with Cedar Point is one of the new programs developed over the past few years. Other new or expanded offerings catching the eyes of student are in nursing and health care, aviation, engineering, education, and business.
Alek Lambdin from St. Mary’s, was inside the Maurer Center, which had its own informational fair set up.
He was considering a major in marketing and sales because his DECA teacher, herself a BGSU graduate, recommended the university’s business offerings.
Braydon Kennedy, from Sidney, is considering launching is career in physical therapy at BGSU. He’s visited campus before as a soccer player participating in tournaments held here.
“I liked the atmosphere, he said.
His mother, Lindsey Kennedy, said she was impressed by how welcoming people were.
Castellano said programs like Life Design and FLY, which provides academic support to students with learning differences, also help attract students.
Rogers was hearing about this as he circulated among students and families in the ballroom in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union.
His idea was to approach students, assuming they didn’t know who he was, and inquire as to what they would like to ask the university president.
Problem was, everyone knew who he was.
What he heard was that BGSU benefited from the Goldilocks effect — it wasn’t too big, it wasn’t too small.
Mia Trusso, and her father, Todd, from the Cleveland area, were among those who chatted with Rogers. She’s planning to study forensic biology. At this point, her choice is between Ohio Northern and BGSU. Does she want to attend a larger or smaller school?
The academic program “is really sound,” and she liked the offerings at the recreation center.
Rogers reiterated that the university continues to pursue a strategy of “having the right academic programs that align with student interests and society needs” as well as “really embracing the student experience in a very intentional way through Life Design to help students navigate college.”
People told him that “life design was a game changer” because it shows that “this is a place where you’re really committed to student success.”
And that helps address another concern, the cost of higher education. “Life design has helped because we get students in the mindset that I’m going to finish that degree in four years or less,” Rogers said. “A big part of student debt is students take longer than four years to graduate or they leave the university without a degree.”
Rogers said he’s heard a lot of questions on campus safety — Bowling Green has been named one of the safest college towns by research.com.
Rogers was also asked: “‘Are you the kind of campus that will support students from all backgrounds?’
“Obviously what’s going on at the federal and state level is on people’s minds now. We remain committed to every single student. If they choose to come here, we’re going to support them and allow them to be successful.”
