Multicultural Student Recruitment Plan
In an effort to significantly expand the Multicultural student population at the University
of Kansas over the next five years, the Multicultural Student Recruitment Board and the
Student Senate, endorse the following recommendations for inclusion in the University’s
2003-2004 undergraduate recruiting plan:
 Focus on more Community-based Recruitment
Using staff and working with interested alumni, we will visit local churches, youth
centers and community centers in addition to feeder high schools. We will also
advertise in local newspapers and organizations such as Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
 Staffing for Multicultural Recruitment – roles redefined
Associate Director is responsible for overseeing multicultural recruitment goals and
objectives to ensure a steady growth in new student of color enrollment. The
Associate Director will recruit out-of-state in Southern Texas.
Assistant Director is responsible for on-campus programs coordinated through the
Office of Admissions and Scholarships, TRIO groups and any outside organizations.
In addition, the Assistant Director oversees the Multicultural Recruitment Team and
all its’ functions. The Assistant Director will recruit in Topeka and Kansas City.
Multicultural Admissions Counselor will coordinate efforts between high school
student organizations and the Office of Admissions and Scholarships. In addition, the
Counselor will provide four newsletters to parents, students and TRIO groups. The
Multicultural Admissions Counselor will recruit in Southwest, KS, Wichita Public
School and Oklahoma City, OK.

Provide Transportation for Campus Visits.
The key for increasing our minority student population begins by significantly
increasing the number of prospective minority students visiting the campus. One of
the perceived roadblocks to increasing our minority student visitors is transportation.
Many parents are unable to take time away from their work for campus visits.
Providing free transportation for campus visits is one way many schools have been
able to attract more students of color.
The Office of Admissions and Scholarships will continue to work with school
districts and organizations. We will provide bus transportation for programs for all
on-campus programs such as Multicultural Senior Day, Multicultural Junior Day and
Super Saturday.
 On-Site Programs
We will bring more informational programming to students and parents in their
communities. We feel it is still important to take programs to the prospective
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students’ communities in order to include more parents or guardians in the college
search process.
1. KU Multicultural Roadshow will be held on February 23-25, stopping in Wichita,
Kansas City and Topeka. During the day, we will be making visits to local civic
organizations, churches and other community centers. In the evening, we will host a
reception at local high schools. During the reception, we will provide information
about college admissions, and we will have representatives from various academic
departments on hand. In addition, we will hold two breakout sessions covering the
basics about financial aid and scholarships, and information about all the studentsupport services available at KU specifically for multicultural students
2. On-Site visits should include representatives from the following offices: Admissions
and Scholarships, Financial Aid, Multicultural Affairs, Hawk Link, Housing, the
Multicultural Recruitment Team and additional multicultural organizations.
 On-Campus Programs
The University will continue to offer a series of special campus visit programming to
attract minority students to campus. These include:
1. Multicultural Senior Day will be a one-day program in the fall semester. The main
focus of this program is to orient students of color with support services and to
provide them the opportunity to meet current multicultural students, faculty and
staff.
2. Multicultural Junior Day will be a one-day program in the spring semester for
juniors. The main focus of this program is to provide students of color
information regarding college preparation.
3. Scholar Breakfast/Pre-Orientation Day is a one-day program designed for
students of color who have received a scholarship from OAS.
 The purpose of this program is to provide scholarship recipients an opportunity to
meet other recipients and to officially recognize each student for their scholarship.
 Last year the Endowment Merit part of the program was a recognition breakfast
followed by the Pre-Orientation Day. This format worked very well and will be
used again. For 2004, all students of color will be invited to the breakfast rather
than limiting the invitation to only Endowment Merit scholars.
4. Super Saturday. This program will take place on Saturday, March 6. It will be a
large program with many events taking place throughout the day.
5. Host TRIO Programs and other special groups to campus. Wednesdays are now
reserved for group visits. Throughout the semester, KU will host groups of
students of color. In April, TRIO programs from Wichita will visit campus and
attend the Step Show performance sponsored through the National Panhellenic
Council at the Lied Center.
 Summer Programs
While there are some summer camps and programs that exist on campus, we believe
that our summer programs for students of color need to be expanded. The OAS will
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continue to work with TRIO groups, K-12 groups and non-for-profit groups to
organize summer visits on the KU campus.
 Personal Contacts with Students of Color
There will be a continued emphasis on personal contact with prospective students of
color. Staff will strive to establish relationships with the prospective students and
their families. Lists will continue to be generated regularly of students of color, who
are qualified seniors. Constant contact could include phone calls, letters, e-mails,
birthday cards, etc.
The goals of the student contact would be:
 Establish a strong connection with KU.
 Encourage the early completion of the application for admission and
scholarships.
 Encourage and support the student’s FAFSA application (if applicable).
 Encourage the completion of a housing application.
 Encourage the involvement of parents in the process.
This personal contact is not limited only to the assigned staff from the OAS, but could
include members of the Multicultural Student Recruitment Board, Multicultural
Recruitment Team, Student Senate and multicultural organizations.
 Focus on Student Involvement in Recruiting
One of the keys to success in increasing our multicultural student enrollment is the
enthusiastic involvement of our students. An outstanding group of students, the
Multicultural Recruitment Team, are assisting the Office of Admissions and
Scholarships.
 Assisting with on-campus, on-site programs and ‘special’ visits.
 Attend off-campus visits such as receptions, Hawk Nights and the Roadshows.
 Participate in the KU Ambassador program.
 Calling, writing letters, emails, and postcards.
 Paid positions through Tuition Enhancement
The support of the Student Senate, Black Student Union, National Pan-Hellenic
Council, Hispanic American Leadership Organization, Asian American Student
Union, First Nations Student Union, and other student organizations can make a
difference.
 Communication to Prospective Students of Color
Currently, prospective students of color receive approximately 30 contacts with the
Office of Admissions & Scholarships during their recruitment. While our
correspondence includes a number of targeted pieces, this will be enhanced to
include:
 More personalized recruiter correspondence.
 Birthday cards.
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
Various newsletters will be sent to the parents, students, and TRIO groups
informing them of visit days, deadlines, new programs and encouraging the
student applications.
 Focus on Student Scholars of Color RecruitmentNational Achievement and National Hispanic Merit Finalists
The University has placed an increased focus on the National Achievement and
National Hispanic Scholarship programs. These programs are companion award
programs tied to the National Merit program for African American and Hispanic
student scholars. The Chancellor has provided scholarship packages for Kansas
finalists of these two awards that is identical to our National Merit Scholarship
recipients.
This year, the University has seen a marked increase in interest from these top student
scholars. Key aspects of this recruiting program include:
 A letter from the Chancellor is sent to both groups once OAS receives the names
of the semifinalists.
 These students are recruited identical to National Merit semifinalists
 These prospects are invited to our Scholar Day programs that will include faculty
appointments, a session on the Honors programs, small group discussions and a
briefing regarding the scholarship package.
 Minority Scholarships
One of the keys to increased enrollment is providing more scholarships for deserving
students of color. The University has placed a priority on scholarships for National
Merit Scholars. We would like to see a similar effort placed on increasing our
funding for minority scholarships. The Chancellor has provided $150,000 for onetime scholarships for the past two next recruitment years.
 Hispanic Recruitment in Southern Texas
A KU alumnus who lives in McAllen, TX, contacted us last year. The community
where he lives is 80% Hispanic and the students are college-bound. We have been
recruiting there for three years and we hope to have a few students choose KU this
year.
 Fashionetta, Beautillion, Debutante and other scholarship groups
Our office will host these groups of students on campus. Fashionetta and Beautillion
are scholarship groups in Wichita. Debutante and Cotillion are in Kansas City.
Groups are invited to visit campus and KU sponsors the group by purchasing ads in
their event program booklets.
 Early Outreach programs
Our office will work to recruit students beginning middle school through the KU
Multicultural Roadshow and by developing a middle school recruitment plan.
Updated: January 2004
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