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Show 12 ADMINISTRATION STUDENT GOVERNMENT Jk ELAINE THOMPSON r.vifa fv : a j j ; ,' i j"t; . !HP! ilr &. n i ST AFP REPORTER Anyone who stayed on campus over the summer heard the ruckus going on in Converse Hall. Students who left in June may have been surprised upon their return to see some changes to Westminsters oldest building. What used to be an open floor with couches and natural lighting on the second level of Converse is now a conference room. This was created to allow a more intimate setting for prospective students and their families to talk to admissions officers, campus tour guides, faculty members and other potential students about a possible future at Westminster. We wanted to give prospective students an intimate setting to discuss what their lives might be like at Westminster, said Darlene Dilley, director of admissions. It was also part of a strategic move to get the admissions department back on campus. Moving the admissions offices to the second floor of Converse, creating a new conference room for campus visits and other changes to the campus are all part of Westminsters move to increase enrollment. For future Griffins, campus visits will be more than just an opportunity to see their potential, new home. It will be a strategically marketed, packaged experience intended to persuade them and their parents that a Westminster education is the one for them. Dilley is using the marketing strategies created by college admissions marketer Jeff Kallay. He has been working with the schools admissions team to create a plan of action that will enhance the experiences of high school students and their families who come to explore what Westminster has to offer. Kallays suggestions include improving campus tour experiences, over-nigcampus ht y,VA stays, special events days such as admitted student day and Westminsters popular winter weekend. A campus visit is the number one influencer in a students decision to attend a particular college, Dilley said. Its oftentimes our one opportunity to showcase the college to provide a memorable and authentic look at the college for the students to see if its the place for them. While some changes and additions to the admissions program may seem extreme, Kallay is convinced that theyre necessary. If you google, is college worth it? you wont be happy with the results, said Jeff Kallay during his presentation. Our mission is to show these students that a college experience, and a college experience at Westminster, is worth it. Students at Westminster have made the choice that college probably is worth it. According to James Steur, junior English major, the personalized campus visit experience that Westminster is looking to provide will likely be effective in helping students who are on the fence. I think the dollar factor is a huge determinate in feeling like college is worth it, Steur said. But having the campus experience personalized makes you feel more special and ready to make that leap. The admissions staff agrees, and is making efforts to help students with a big decision. With plenty of colleges to choose from at such a high cost, picking a school can feel intimidating. Director of Admissions, Darlene Dilley, said she thinks that enhancing the campus visit will help students in this process. Students need to know they matter, Dilley said. We want their experience to be as true and authentic as possible. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER FORUM4TNIGHTLY LIKE US ON FACEBOOK FORUMFORTNIGHTLY FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FORUMFORTNIGHTLY Jason Blauch, Westminster Outdoor Program coordinator, doing some mixed climbing. Mixed is a combination of climbing rock and ice. Ice! The single syllable cut through the cold, mountain air as the clatter of dislodged ice chunks bouncing down the frozen canyon wall echoed through the park. Belayers and resting climbers, all positioned safely on the other side of the creek, watched as the small projectiles harmlessly pelted the snow beneath the icefall. This had been a common occurrence throughout the weekend, and our groups awareness of this hazard was enough to keep us out of danger and having fun Let me back up for a minute and provide a little context. I participated in an ice climbing trip to Ouray, Colorado run by the Westminster Outdoor Program over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Ice climbing, as the name suggests, is a sport that involves using metal picks, called ice tools and crampons (which are spikes strapped to your feet), to ascend steep walls of ice. As strange as that sounds, it is a lot of fun. None of the participants on our trip had any prior ice climbing experience, which I think created a great group dynamic. We were all learning together, celebrating each others successes and providing encouragement when we struggled. Because we w'ere all beginners, we all enjoyed the excitement of a steep learning curve. Our technique improved with every section that we climbed, helping us to feel noticeably more comfortable and confident on the ice at the end of each day than we had at the start. This group dynamic, along with our leaders competence in both practicing and teaching safe climbing standards, created an environment in which we could push ourselves out of our comfort zones. I remember one moment in particular where I had reached a point on a route where I felt like I couldnt move one foot higher. My arms were shaking, and I was about to let go when my friends on the ground shouted, You can do it Brett! Youve got it! Their support strengthened my resolve, and instead of letting go I tightened my grip and climbed one move higher. I think there is a tremendous amount of value in this type of experience, learning that it is possible to press on even when something feels impossible. From an outside perspective, using pointy metal objects to climb vertical ice may look a little ridiculous. And in some ways, it is. Sure it is an important skill set for mountain climbers trying to ascend ice and peaks. But I think that the value of the sport exists beyond the mere act of ascending frozen water. The value comes from the time spent with friends in a beautiful place, the new skills learned, and the chance to persevere when moving forward seems impossible. And fun, theres a lot of value in fun. snow-cover- ed Brett Carroll is a senior trip leader for the Outdoor Program. He can be contacted at bjco928 westminstercollege. edu for more information. |