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Show WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014 -- 2- DIXIESUNNEWS.COM ! ) I If you missed the Dance Extravaganza last week, you can watch Mara Braddys video on DixieSunN ews . com t Weigl oftakin A reariMn ff 11 u , f X 1 W- 4 I 1 aJ J& in Ip WA C 4.j . A rM- - a .Lh. ' t f - & W X- , v v What goes on behind the scenes of international recruiting at Dixie State University is made possible by dedicated, passionate people right on campus. DSU approves several international recruitment trips each year. The most recent international recruitment trip was to American Two faculty Samoa Feb. members and a student traveled to the country and took a powerful message about the importance of higher education. David Roos, enrollment services executive director, helped pave the way to an academic relationship with American Samoa. for me The biggest when we go to places like that is thinking of the way we can make the most headway by making a personal contact and then letting it grow making it stronger, Roos said. Its not this blanket approach. Its finding specific schools and specific people who can help us achieve our ICO - 'j N 140 f ir , 1 21-2- 8. eye-open- Roos said DSU is one of the few schools that has gone to American Samoa to recruit for the general student population. In fact, many people were surprised that Roos and his group werent recruiting football players. A lot of big schools go there, but not for general recruiting, he said. We thought that was a niche we could take advantage of. Another driving force toward the success of the trip was because of a passionate DSU student. Tevita oz O H O 1 co 'i 2010 I f 5 2012 i ! ! 2013 V i Sekeni II, an integrated studies major from Salt Lake City, is originally from the Kingdom of Tonga. He was walking by Roos office last December when Roos stopped him and asked if he knew anything about Palau. Out of nowhere Roos asked me a random question: Do you know anything about Palau? And I said, Yes, its one of the groups of islands of the South Pacific, and its American territory, Sekeni II said. Roos explained to Sekeni II that he was thinking of ways they could get students from Palau to DSU. Sekeni II told Roos he would contact the embassy of Palau, but because of timing, they could not agree on an appropriate time to make the trip possible. We had agreements and disagreements, Sekeni II said. I thought, How about this: Lets start slow and work on U.S. territories. Lets go to Samoa. The proposal for the trip was sent through and approved by Frank Lojko, the vice president of student services. Sekeni immediately got to work in connecting with the board of education in American Samoa. Thats when Arlene Sewell joined us, Sekeni II said. Shes a native American Samoa. She was the former director of financial aid at a college in Samoa. She understands the way to connect with Polynesian nees and Baccalaureate Honor Graduates in the lobby of the Eccles Theatre from p.m. May 1. A formal awards ceremony will take place after the reception at 7 p.m. in the 5-- Some students realize that it takes hard work to be nominated for an award. For a student to be nominated for an award, he or she needs to be involved in school activities and take opportunities to be a leader, said Derek Baker, a sophomore general education major from Ivins. They also need to show dedication and achieve academic success. Some students have no idea what the awards are. The Dixie Awards is poorly commu- nicated, said Amy Cotton, a senior communication major from Salt Lake City. How are students supposed to know who to nominate? We dont know a lot about what other students do or who we should nominate. The Dixie Awards are divided into two categories: academic awards and general awards. The nominees for academic awards are determined by each academic department. Each department nominates five juniors or seniors enrolled in a four-yeprogram. The department also selects the winner, whose name is submitted to the academic dean of the particular department. The nominees for the general awards go through an process of review, which narrows down the nominee pool to five finalists. The information gathered about the five finalists is then passed on to different committees specific to each academic department, and the committee selects a winner. To be one of the five finalists is a 6 Eccles Mainstage Theatre. Beatty said the awards ceremony is fun and similar to the Academy Awards. An envelope is opened, and the winners name is announced for each category. The awards show also features professional entertainers. Hanson encouraged the members of campus and the community to get involved. The level of interest and participation is great, Hanson said. Its become a big deal to recognize the work students do. For more information for each award category, visit www.dixie.edudix-ieawardFor any questions regarding the Dixie Awards process, please call the dean of students office at s. 4. Award Categories ar th phenomenal accomplishment, Beatty said. There is only one winner, which makes this award one of the most prestigious awards that you can receive at Dixie State. A reception will be held for the nomi U co ? 1 1 i4 a , , AWARDS continued from page j T er goals. ' i 160 Female Student of the Year Male Student of the Year Teacher of the Year Distinguished Staff Member Club of the Year Club Adviser of the Year Stafford Student Involvement Award Entertainer of the Year "Dixie Spirit" Award "Heart of Dixie" Award Commitment to Diversity Award Business of the Year "Dixie 11 " Award ro otfu said. ? BY MARA BRADDY Opinion Editor v to emphasize the power students of education and bringing something valuable back to their homeland. The group came back to DSU with 110 applications. Of the applicants, Sekeni II said he has 20 completed ones on file. His job is to keep the communication between DSU and those students so they feel confident in coming to the area where they will have a support system. Executive Vice President Bill Christensen has also been on a few recruiting trips himself and emphasizes the importance of making the international students feel welcome at DSU. We really take care of our international students, Christensen difficuli is If a student from Germany or Nigeria comes to America and theyre going to a big school, theyre lost in the shuffle. Christensen said the installment of the international student services began only a few years ago when the university decided to hire a director of international student services and recruiting: Michael Thompson. We wanted international students, but we had very little resources to get students here, Christensen said. So we formed this cooperative group to meet and found out about global activity called the Global Engagement Team. We dont have an organization that takes care of all the global engagement, which is OK. Were not big enough to justify that yet. In the meantime, the GET fills . that gap. He said the international student services department has seen amazing results because of the trips theyve taken to places like American Samoa. Christensen said just a few years ago, DSU had only a handful of international students, and now there are nearly 200 international students attending DSU. Christensen is planning a trip to Japan in May to open up connections with universities there, and he sees the future of international student services looking bright. Finding future students, getting to know them, and building relationships and networks is a fun aspect of the recruitment trips, Christensen said. You fly in on your helicopter, you land, get out of the helicopter, pass out your stuff, get back in helicopter and fly away, and you hope something sticks, he said. Enrollment stats look promising BY PAYTON DAVIS Copy Editor mean increased enrollment or not will be unknown until fall semester, Roos said. But more students at DSU means accommodation. Andrea Brown, institutional research and assessment director, said DSU administrators ability to make sure all enrolled students are accounted for depends on the courses available. A high number of capped courses can create a strain. The biggest concern is whether or not we have the classes, she said. Class offerings, class enrollment and class sizes are really kind of your soft cap to what whether or happens at your institution not you cap enrollment, being able to offer the right classes at the right time is what really drives and keeps enrollment continuing to come. Brown said by keeping note of course enrollment, administrators can gauge necessary changes for future growth. Roos said the addition of more degree offerings at DSU helps contribute to the growth and address accommodation measures at the same time. Weve been both accommodating and creating the growth by the increased number of new degree programs weve been offering, Roos said. Weve had a wonderful increase in the last few years. Roos said the unofficial admission projections at least indicate that DSU can meet expectations as a university. Weve kind of been one of the best kept secrets in the region, he said. As were being discovered, students are recognizing what an amazing education they can get in such an awesome full-circ- Desert flowers and Dixie State Universitys enrollment efforts share a common characteristic: Theyre both blossoming this spring. The number of applicants and admissions for fall semester are what David Roos, enrollment services executive director, called significantly higher than exactly a year ago. Spurred by DSUs year-ol- d university status and an expanding recruiting process, the increased interest represents early fruition for the university. Compounded with both domestic and international recruiting trips, Roos said DSUs recruiting measures have evolved. And recruiters now draw students to DSU by contacting them earlier in their senior years of high school than before. In addition, recruiters campaigns now appeal to potential students from different regions. A campaign wont DSU recruit numerous demographhelp ics of students, Roos said. As recruiters pitch the universitys strongest qualities, they must think of an array of positives to appeal to students in various regions. Roos said along with effective planning in regards to recruiting and DSUs university status, rising numbers for applicants and admissions could be the result of two other factors. An increase e in recruiters and word of mouth from current students has also helped, he full-tim- said. Whether the promising early numbers Uta ern le Regis open ranging and aid nui abil Dixie S uncerta time m dont. Dexts munica hop he summe difficul blocks ter fall and ser search mer bit away 1 taking the Pla har three v block a thats finding dont v on my lenge. Hum school his pla For c Summ classes the sug Fack campa promo per se |