The first touchpoints in the enrollment journey are led by Admissions, Marketing, and Financial Aid. These units engage prospective students and their influencers with clear, student-centered messaging and ensure that the university's brand and opportunities are visible across diverse communities.

Recruitment strategies are tailored for different populations, including first-year, transfer, graduate, international, and adult learners, and are guided by real-time data, geographic trends, and program alignment. These efforts are also informed by market intelligence to ensure that what we promote is matched by what students and employers are seeking.

Academic programs are the core of the student experience, and a critical driver of enrollment. At YSU, our academic units, along with partners like the Honors College and Alumni Engagement, play an active role in shaping recruitment strategies and retention outcomes. This engagement is structured through the Academic Master Plan, which serves as the foundation for aligning academic offerings with institutional goals and student needs.

Alumni and faculty support these initiatives by serving as mentors, career connectors, and storytellers—amplifying the value of a YSU education through lived experience and professional success. Whether through community partnerships, 3+1 and 4+1 program pathways, or personalized outreach to prospective students, academic and affinity-based engagement at YSU is more than a recruitment tool, it is a sustained, student-centered collaboration that drives enrollment and success.

At YSU, enrollment efforts extend to populations with unique needs and high-impact potential. Dedicated offices for Athletics, International Programs, and Veterans Services lead strategic efforts to serve these students. From visa support and international housing to veteran onboarding and athlete academic coordination, these teams ensure that specialized populations are recruited, retained, and supported with intention.

Once students arrive, the focus shifts to transition, persistence, and graduation. Orientation, First-Year Experience, the Office of the Registrar, and the Student Success team work together to create a connected experience that reduces barriers and supports momentum.

This includes:

• Proactive advising models
• Personalized student navigation tools
• Clear academic pathways
• Expanded use of early alert systems
• Customized interventions for undeclared, transfer, associate degree, and conditionally admitted students

These functions form the backbone of YSU’s evolving student success model, which assumes that every student benefits from early, frequent, and individualized engagement.

The Enrollment Enterprise is supported by a network of essential university services, including Technology, Housing and Dining, Budget and Finance, and Student Counseling Services. These areas ensure that operational support, systems integration, and student wellbeing are embedded into every phase of the enrollment experience.

Technology tools help us identify trends, track engagement, and continuously improve services across departments. This includes CRM systems, data dashboards, and integrated communications tools that help students and staff stay connected.

YSU’s enrollment strategy is not static, it is built to adapt. Guided by a cross-campus Strategic Enrollment Planning Steering Committee, our teams regularly evaluate what is working, identify areas for improvement, and adjust approaches accordingly.

This feedback loop, powered by data, guided by strategic pillars, and aligned with institutional goals, ensures that the enrollment enterprise evolves alongside student needs and the changing higher education landscape.

As we face shifting demographics and increased competition in higher education, YSU is positioned to meet the moment. Through cross-functional planning, data-informed decision-making, and a commitment to student success, the Enrollment Enterprise reflects our institutional values: access, innovation, accountability, and community.

Whether attracting future Penguins or supporting current ones, every part of the enterprise contributes to a singular goal, helping students thrive at YSU and beyond.