High school students who visit four Virginia private colleges Aug. 1-6 will receive application fee waivers redeemable at any three participating private colleges.

EMU is among 24 schools participating in the ninth annual Virginia Private College Week, Aug. 1-6, sponsored by the (CICV).

High school students who visit four Virginia private colleges during that week will receive application fee waivers redeemable at any three private colleges in CICV. With application fees ranging from $15 to $50, students could save as much as $100.

Last year, CICV colleges reported almost 2,000 visits during Virginia Private College Week, with students and families visiting from 33 states and the District of Columbia.

“Families will be impressed with the diversity, quality and affordability of our colleges,” said Robert Lambeth, president of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV). “Students at private colleges benefit from a supportive campus environment where classes are small, professors are accessible, and students are encouraged to become involved in extra-curricular activities.”

A private college education is more affordable than many families think, Lambeth stated. Last year, private colleges gave students more than $200 million in scholarships and grants. In addition, all full-time students from Virginia attending a Virginia private college are eligible to receive a $2,500 state grant

of Waynesboro, Va., has been named director of admissions for undergraduate programs at ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇø. She began her new assignment at EMU Nov. 8, 2004.

Shafer succeeds Lawrence W. (Laurie) Miller, who has become director of and new at EMU.

The appointment was announced by Shirley B. Yoder, vice president for at EMU.

Shafer brings ten years experience in admissions to her new role, Yoder noted. She worked in the admissions office at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton and quickly rose to the level of associate director.

She has spent the past six years as dean of admissions at Stuart Hall, a college preparatory school in Staunton owned by the Episcopal Church. “This experience has given her direct insight into the millennial students and their parents,” Yoder said.

She is a graduate of James Madison University and is working towards completing an MBA degree.

“In addition to her experience we were attracted to Stephanie for her active listening, her caring personality, her energy and enthusiasm for the admissions profession,” Yoder said.

She is an active member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Buena Vista, Va.

By Jeff Mellott, Daily News-Record

Webster Contreras might have been attending college in San Antonio now, but the EMU freshman decided to stay close to his home in Harrisonburg.

Maria Monroy, also a freshman, could have left town to go to college. But she decided to remain in the city, where her family lives.

They decided to attend EMU, in part, because of a university initiative to attract Hispanics from the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County area. The 10 students in the program contributed to a 5.3 percent rise in overall enrollment from one year ago.

Recruitment Initiative

Last spring, EMU announced a program designed to bring local Hispanics to the campus by making the $24,000 annual tuition more affordable.

The initiative discounted tuition on a sliding scale, based on the students� expected family contribution as determined by the application for federal student aid. The discount combined with the possibility of federal assistance was expected to make EMU�s tuition competitive with state-supported schools.

Those financial considerations played a role in the decision by Monroy, 18, and Contreras, 18, to come to EMU.

Friendly Surroundings

Financial considerations were only part of the decision-making process for the freshmen.

Monroy, who arrived from Guatemala four years ago, was also impressed by EMU�s hospitality. “Everybody greeted me with a smile on their faces, which at other colleges I didn�t get,” she said.

Monroy is the first in her family to go to college and is aware of that she could be a role model for her younger brothers, Heiber, 15; and Erick, 12.

She likes being so close to her family. “I can go home, and I can come back,” she said.

Community Service

Contreras was almost lured away to Texas to go to college at San Antonio. He has relatives there, and he likes the weather.

Contreras, who is studying nursing, said EMU�s financial incentive played a role in his decision to stay in Harrisonburg. While still a student, Contreras is called often called upon by others Spanish-speaking people in the community to go with them to the doctor and dentist as a translator.

“I see here in our Spanish community we need help in the medical field,” he said.

Encouraging News

Contreras and Monroy are two of the six Hispanics from the city. Two more Hispanics who enrolled at EMU live in Rockingham County, and one each from Augusta County and Albemarle County increased the total to 10. No Hispanics from the local area attended EMU one year ago. The university considers the local area to be Harrisonburg and Rockingham County and the counties that adjoin Rockingham.

Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Shirley Yoder is very encouraged by the enrollment of the local Hispanics.

“We had Spanish-speaking persons from other states and other parts of the state,” she said. When EMU realized that no local Hispanics attended EMU, Yoder said the university knew something was wrong, especially with the growth of that population in the area.

“It�s one thing to be involved in service activities overseas. It�s another,” she said, “to be a service in your own community.”

Enrollment Bump

The group of Hispanic students from the area helped EMU increase its overall enrollment from one year ago, which saw a record 406 graduate.

The school has 1,513 students compared to 1,436 students, both full-time and part-time, Yoder said. Of those, 933 are undergraduates.

The campus has 880 full-time undergrads compared to 882 last year.

The overall enrollment includes an increase of first year students, 208 compared to 196 one year ago. This year�s number is a step back toward the 240 first-year students EMU enrolled two years ago.

The 10 local Hispanic students also helped EMU increase the racial and ethnic diversity of the campus, Yoder said. U.S. minorities make up 21 percent of the freshman class, which Yoder said is a doubling of the previous class.

Contreras said he could recommend EMU to his friends.

“They help you learn,” he said of EMU, “and you also learn spiritually.