Clarion University reports hefty increases in applications, deposits

CLARION – Clarion University is seeing success in several initiatives aimed at increasing visibility among prospective students, the university said Wednesday.

And students are responding at much higher levels than last year by committing to attend the university, according to a press release.

As of January, freshmen applications for fall 2016 are up 27 percent and deposits are up 23.9 percent, both compared to last year, the press release said.

“I am thrilled by the momentum of our fall 2016 enrollment,” Clarion president Karen M. Whitney said. “There is still a lot of work to do as we move forward, but I’m very proud of how the entire university is pulling together, from faculty and staff, fellow students and alumni to our admissions and recruitment team.”

In fall 2014, Clarion launched its “Courageous. Confident. Clarion.” brand, developed to represent the grit and grace that the university embodies.

Clarion’s website was renovated, with special attention given to the ways that today’s high school students gather information. The website, which features a mobile-first design, has streamlined navigation for current and potential students and features a new virtual tour, which had nearly 1,000 visitors in its first six weeks.

The university has also increased its social media presence, and students are responding. On Sunday, Clarion’s Facebook page had a record high reach to 61,314 people, and during the week of March 2-9 had a record single-week reach to 210,000 users.

The increase in traffic was generated, in part, by the naming of 2015 Clarion alumna Kristin Day as NCAA Woman of the Year.

The success on Twitter is similar. Followers increased to 5,244 (an increase of 1,144 followers) between March 2015 and March 2016. Impressions on clarionu average 1,500 to 2,500 views per tweet.

In 2015, Clarion showed its commitment to easing the financial burden of higher education by designating Dave McFarland as director of scholarships. For the current academic year, Clarion awarded more than $2 million in scholarship funds.

McFarland helps students learn about scholarships for which they may be eligible, and he provides earlier notification to students about scholarship awards, helping them make decisions about the upcoming year. McFarland also administers Clarion’s Merit Scholarships to graduating high school seniors who meet academic criteria.

As Clarion strives to meet student and workforce demand, new degree programs continue to be developed, including the recently approved doctor of nursing practice, master of science in applied data analytics, and bachelor of science degrees in sport management, nutrition and fitness, paralegal studies, criminal justice administration, and nursing.

Nearly 400 applications have been submitted in just those programs.

With the addition of the bachelor of science in nursing and doctor of nursing practice, Clarion University offers the most extensive academic ladder of nursing program credentials within the State System of Higher Education. The programs are housed at Venango College in Oil City.

Clarion also serves the educational needs of adults, whether they are completing a degree or are first-time students.

Adult learners, including many veterans, comprise 17 percent of Clarion’s student body, nearly double the 9 percent average of other State System schools. Clarion has been named a Military Friendly school for seven consecutive years.

“From financial aid to helping undecided students choose majors, we are working with prospective students and their families to attend Clarion and make their courageous dreams come true,” Whitney said.

For information about becoming a student, people can call the Admissions Office at (814) 393-2306 or visit http://www.clarion.edu/admissions.