by Kathleen Bain
Communications

Expanding the pool of applicants for first-year registration is Trent's major challenge over the next few months, according to interim vice-president David Morrison. Last month's early, and generally changeable, reports indicated an 18-per-cent application decrease in the number of secondary students selecting Trent as their destination compared to last year at this time.
      Significantly stepped-up recruitment efforts are being led by Assistant Registrar Jeff Macnab, who is developing strategies including use of an advisory recruitment committee, personal contact with applicants, additional school and college visits, and assistance from faculty, staff, student and alumni volunteers. Both interim president David Smith and president-designate Bonnie Patterson have agreed to make calls to prospective students.
      Two days of March break tours -- on March 16 and 19 -- will be another opportunity for prospective students and their parents to visit campus. To assist the effort, the Trent Web site is also being revamped with a new-look home page and prospective student information in one area. Five enthusiastic students from each college are being recruited to return to their high schools to promote Trent. Trentway-Wagar Inc. has agreed to provide free bus transportation for these students.
      Although "greatly disappointed" with the early application statistics, Morrison says that these will not necessarily translate into decreased registration. He points out that these early reports are generally erratic and the first of several from the Guelph Universities Application Centre. All universities experience fluctuations in application patterns.
      In addition to an overall five-per-cent decrease in the number of first-year applicants, there's been a system-wide drop in applications to arts programs, but Morrison is still confident that students will recognize Trent's quality education and student-focused system. With many students facing serious financial considerations in their postsecondary study choices, he acknowledges that students from urban areas may be considering living and studying in their home communities, rather than moving away from home.
      Secondary school students make their decision on acceptance offers in mid-June.