The Jackson State University Madison campus experienced a whopping 68 percent increase in enrollment for fall 2016 that is attributed to an aggressive campaign targeting transfer students along with its expanded course offerings.
In a year in which the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning reported the largest ever fall enrollment statewide for the entire system, JSU Madison has recorded an unprecedented growth that appears unmatched with any other educational entity. Enrollment soared to 671, compared to 399 in 2015.
“Our 68 percent growth in enrollment at our Madison campus is phenomenal and validates our investment in expanding the opportunity to access higher education for all citizens in the metro area. This clearly shows that Jackson State University is meeting a real need in this community and providing a quality educational experience that is in demand and deserved by our citizens,” JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers said.
[pullquote align=”right”]’Because we’re focused on providing quality service, our eyes never leave the students.’ — Dr. Priscilla Slade, special assistant to the provost for JSU Global and Community Colleges [/pullquote]Dr. Priscilla Slade, special assistant to the provost for JSU Global and Community Colleges who spearheads the Madison efforts, credits the growth to heavy print, radio and television marketing, along with geographic conveniences and state-of-the art facilities and technology.
“As for JSU Madison, we offer full-degree programs that include master’s degrees in education, certificate programs in gerontology as well as social work and real estate licensure programs. Because we’re focused on providing quality service, our eyes never leave the students,” Slade said.
Judy Qualls, site coordinator of JSU Madison, said the campus attracts a large number of transfer students. Located at 382 Galleria Parkway, Suite 110, the campus experienced a significant hike in the number of students studying criminal justice and health care administration, among other areas.
“There has been a great deal of work by many individuals within the Community College Relations team that made this increase possible,” said Qualls, who described Madison as an ideal location for those seeking to broaden their skills. In addition, she said students especially identify with the appeal of “a small classroom setting and one-on-one relationships with their instructors.”
JSU marketing director Ashton Hall said JSU Madison has shown tremendous growth in enrollment and program offerings in the past two years.
“Marketing works closely with JSU Madison to ensure placement of tailored messaging, defining target audiences and implementation of various measurable tactics. Tactics include migration from heavy print advertising to more strategic marketing such as digital advertising. JSU Madison’s digital footprint has grown significantly, garnering more than 1.4 million impressions in only a few months. What sets JSU Madison apart is its openness to our sometimes ‘out of the box’ thinking and implementations to reach students where they are.”
Other enrollment data show that the main campus saw a 20 percent growth in international students and a 49.8 percent increase in JSU Online.