New Emporia State president looking to boost enrollment

(AP) — Emporia State University's new president, Allison Garrett, must lead the school in the midst of a statewide plan to boost higher education attainment.

Though only two weeks into her post, Garrett, who took over for Michael Shonrock at the start of the year, told The Topeka Capital-Journal (http://bit.ly/1NuY47M ) she is considering several ways to boost the school's declining enrollment and maintain strong retention and graduation rates.

In recent years, the Kansas Board of Regents hammered out a long-term goal that 60 percent of working-age Kansans should have some kind of post-secondary credentials by 2020 — either a certificate, associate's degree, bachelor's degree, master's or doctorate.

Public schools in Kansas have increased the number of postsecondary degrees or certificates awarded by 14 percent since 2010, but since 2013 the number of graduates has remained flat.

Emporia State must move its marketing techniques to social media to reach prospective students.

Emporia State has multiple Spanish-speaking recruiters, Garrett said, but to increase Hispanic enrollment and retention, the school needs to do a better job with community outreach.