2009 Performance Accountability Report Vol. 2 - Maryland Higher ...

institution to hire more faculty and to create agreements with clinical facilities. Laboratory space
continues to be a serious challenge. The curriculum was redesigned to address the learning
objectives and the low pass rate for the nursing licensing examination.
Achieving a 25 percent increase in graduates from teacher education, nursing and information
technology from FY 2004 level will be very difficult given changing industry demands and
significant programmatic restructuring. However, the University remains committed to working
with education, health care and business to maintain program currency and to expand capacity as
economic conditions allow.
GOAL 3: INCREASE AND SUSTAIN ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR MARYLAND’S DIVERSE
CITIZENRY
MFR Objectives 3.1 and 3.2
As MHEC noted, Bowie State University’s yield rage in FY 2009 was 42%, down from 49% the
2 years prior. The University has implemented a number of initiatives to enhance the
institutional yield rate in the future (Objective 3.1). The most significant was the hiring of a
Director of Admissions in March 2009. For the past 4 years, the duties of the Director of
Admissions were handled by the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management. The new
director, who brings over ten years of managerial experience to the office, will be able to devote
100% of his attention to managing the day-to-day operation of the admission office.
In addition, BSU is increasing and enhancing its utilization of technology to address the
University yield rate. This includes the full implementation of our automated application that
loads into PeopleSoft thereby increasing our communication with prospective students and
applicants and expediting our admissions decisions and the enhancement and expanded
marketing of our software modules with Education Dynamics to increase our student
engagement rate to applicants and admitted students.
A number of programmatic changes have occurred as well. The University has expanded the
Summer Bridge Program for summer 2009, with over 150 students enrolled as compared to 50
for the summer 2008. The yield rate from this program has averaged over 80% and will have a
positive impact on our overall yield. However, continuing budget cuts may force elimination of
this program. In addition, the placement testing, orientation and registration programs for the
summer have collaborated and coordinated their effort resulting in a more efficient and effective
process for enrollment of new students, while Residence Life has initiated a new lottery system
which will increase availability of on-campus housing for new students.
The expansion of web-enhanced courses (Objective 3.2) at Bowie State University continues
even though the institution is unlikely to achieve its goal to offer an entire program online by FY
2009. Between fall 2007 and fall 2008, enrollment in distance education courses increased from
378 to 603. The Department of Nursing developed two online courses that are part of the RN to
BSN curriculum to create convenient access for distance learners. Offered for the first time in
fall 2008, the courses are an initial step toward a complete online program for the RN to BSN
curriculum. BSU anticipates that this trend will continue given increases in enrollment.
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