Roughly 8,300 students are currently enrolled at Eastern. Of those individuals, about 270 are enrolled as international students.

Kevin Vicker, the director of international students, is the man behind these numbers and an alternative recruitment method than that of enrolling domestic students.

In fact, Eastern enrolls students from 46 different countries, each settling (at least temporarily) in Charleston to pursue their education.

Vicker spends his time visiting countries and maintaining relationships with individuals who show equally important interests in both attending Eastern, and its appeal as a smaller and more affordable university.

Eastern may gain some of its appeal from its smaller class sizes; however, those numbers become a burden – even a deterrent – when class sizes become so small that instructors are let go and courses are dropped in correlation with low enrollment.

Energy that would otherwise be spent keeping in touch with potential students during the decision-making process is put to use, persuading those students that one of our university’s largest threats is the very reason they should attend here. 

Vicker is doing well to give Eastern a face – a tangible human being – that can be associated with the name, motto, logo, etc. that we advertise pervasively throughout the area.

If we are to recruit well in one demographic, however, international students certainly generate more revenue than in-state students.

The estimated cost of one year’s study in for an international student is $33,196, while the estimated cost of one year’s attendance for an in-state student is $24,640.

Out-of-state and international student enrollment not only generates a larger profit, but also builds a broader platform from the university to communicate with potential students.

In 2012, Colleen Murphy, an associate consultant for Noel-Levitz, compiled marketing and recruitment opportunity analysis for Eastern after observing the university’s enrollment tactics for some time.

In the analysis Noel-Levitz wrote, “ . . . it appears that there is little coordination between the academic divisions and marketing and admissions . . . there is a need for senior leadership to coordinate consistent processes and procedures to create the synergy needed across all recruitment initiatives.”

Both institutions agreed upon a goal of 1,900 freshmen enrolled by the Fall 2012 semester, which was met.

Since our target was still a drop in 173 freshmen students enrolled from the year before, this is information that suggests our recruitment plans could use further revision, though, and perhaps we are heading in the right direction.

The daily editorial is the majority opinion of the editorial board of The Daily Eastern News.