Gayle Wood: Priority Registration numbers boosted by reward program

Gayle Wood, assistant to the director of Admissions and Records, says she has seen positive results from an incentive program she has coordinated the past two years to encourage black students to Priority Register.

In 2005, Wood began sending postcards to African-American students offering them rewards if they registered during Priority Registration rather than waiting until Final Registration. First-time and returning students were included in the mailings.

“My hope was to encourage African-American students to not just return to school but to register early,” she said. Students who register early have a greater chance of getting a schedule that best fits their needs.

For spring 2007, students could receive a Pellissippi State T-shirt, a $10 lunch coupon or a $10 bookstore voucher. In addition, 10 names were drawn to win either a cookie basket or a “pamper basket” filled with stress-busting aromatherapy products.

As proof they had registered, students were required to send Wood a copy of their spring schedule by November 20. Priority Registration for spring began November 13 and ran through January 4.

“We have seen a significant increase in the number of returning students meeting with advisors and registering for classes,” she said. “Of those students who received the postcards, about 40 percent registered early.” In spring of 2006, about 35 percent responded.

The incentive program was funded as part of the 2001 Geier Consent Decree. The decree stemmed from a 1968 lawsuit by Rita Geier, a Vanderbilt student who charged that despite the Brown vs. Board of Education decision calling for an end to segregated schools, access to Tennessee’s higher education system by blacks was still hindered.

The lawsuit resulted in the appropriation of millions of dollars to diversify state colleges. The suit was dismissed in September, which means the 2006-07 school year is the last to be funded for such projects as the reward program Wood began.

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Community Relations Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

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