The NMU Admissions Office has tailored its messaging to prospective students in the context of COVID-19. A “We're Here for You” email was recently distributed to fall 2020 freshman inquiries and applicants whose senior year of high school has been disrupted by the virus.
The email outlined logistical steps being taken by NMU to ease their anxiety about the college enrollment process and included an open letter from Admissions Director Gerri Daniels.
“With all the uncertainty everyone is facing and the resulting stress over how to plan for the future, we feel fortunate to be able to provide some clarity and reassurance for at least this piece of prospective students' lives, as it's the Northern thing to do,” Daniels said. “It's also important that NMU continues to have strong enrollment of students who have found that NMU is the perfect match for them. That enables the institution to continue to provide the student-faculty-staff experience for which we are known.”
NMU Admissions is accepting high school transcripts in a variety of ways: from Parchment/Docufide, eScrip-Safe or other secure-server electronic transcript services; by mail delivery to the office; or via email from a high school official who attaches the transcript and sends it to admissions@nmu.edu. They will utilize the grading policy that the high school—or college, for transfer students—implemented for the remainder of the year in a way that does not disadvantage the student.
Other accommodations include receiving ACT and SAT scores from the test company, on the high school transcript or from a school official, and continuing to accept test scores prior to the first day of the fall semester for admission and scholarship consideration. There is also no commitment or enrollment deposit deadline. Campus Visit Program staff assistants are implementing virtual campus visits and student callers have been busy connecting with prospective students by phone.
“We are asking questions of the student or their advocate to fully understand their situation and what roadblocks they are facing and what they are saying they need from us,” Daniels said. “What they need or how we can help them may be entirely within the scope of ways we have always helped; we will let them know we can accommodate them in those situations. If we are not sure we can do what they are requesting, we will consult and get back to them. We are turning these around quickly.”
The NMU Admissions staff includes eight counselors who always work remotely in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, six admissions counselors based on campus, four admissions leaders, three professor specialists, two receptionists, one executive secretary and 15-17 student employees. All are now working from home, as NMU is adhering to the governor's “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order.
“Everyone has been fantastic in adapting to working remotely,” said Daniels. “There is a real team spirit and everyone is staying connected. They have been amazing in adapting our print/mailed communication to digital, which required major changes to processes. Everyone has discussed and provided input to changes that will help us be flexible in meeting prospective student needs as they navigate their changed educational world.”
Daniels' open letter to prospective students can be read here.