Changes to Walk In
Review Days at UMKC
Presented to the UMKC Faculty Senate
By Jennifer DeHaemers, Associate Vice Chancellor, SAEM
What is “Walk
In Review
Days” or WIRD
Week?
 Walk In Review Days have been taking place at UMKC for nearly 20
years
 Last minute opportunity for students to enroll
 Busy and hectic week for academic advisors (professional and
faculty) as well as administrative staff
 Some on campus expressed the wish to eliminate this practice
What do we
need to know
before we
make a
decision?
 The general theory by some was that all students who come in
during Walk In Review Days are not successful and do not persist
 Needed to look at the data to see what was true to inform a
decision
 Analysis of data conducted by Institutional Research
 Characteristics of students applying before, during and after Walk
In Review Days from Fall 2008 – Fall 2011
Data and
Analysis
 12,308 student records
 6,343 of those students (52%) apply and admitted by April 15
 9,939 (81%) apply and admitted by July 1
 Students with higher average HS GPA apply earlier than those
with lower average HS GPA
 University taking many steps to improve the opportunity for
success for students
Data and
Analysis
 Enrolling just before the semester starts means students miss
orientation and may indicate less commitment and less
planning/preparation
 In general, the closer we get to the start of the Fall semester, the
poorer the students perform overall
 It is also true that in general, those who enroll later complete
fewer hours and do not persist at the same rates
 Especially true for Freshman and Sophomore level students
Recommendation
to Provost and Vice
Chancellor for
Student Affairs and
Enrollment
Management
 The University impose a deadline of July 1 (Fall Semester) and
November 1 (Spring Semester) for Freshman and Sophomore
students who are making their first application to UMKC. These
students will not be admitted for the upcoming semester past that
deadline and will be encouraged to have their application
reviewed for the following semester. Walk In Review Days will
continue for Juniors, Seniors as well as Graduate and Professional
Students.
 By making this change in practice, academic unit personnel will
have more time to serve continuing students and to impact
retention of those students.
Recommendation
to Provost and Vice
Chancellor for
Student Affairs and
Enrollment
Management
 Operationalize this by implementing a June 15 deadline so
students may be admitted by July 1
 Exceptions reviewed on case by case basis
 Students will have opportunity to attend an orientation program
 Better chance to get through the financial aid process
 Greater chance for success at UMKC