John Wessel, Dodge City freshman, chose to attend the University of Kansas largely based on his experience with the Rock Chalk Road Show last fall. Wessel liked the excitement and knowledge of the recruiters.

“They were really enthusiastic,” Wessel said. “They told us going to college is important and that they have scholarships to make it easier.”

The Rock Chalk Road Show is a University of Kansas recruitment event that targets western and central Kansas. It visits places such as Dodge City, Salina and Great Bend to promote the University to students who may not otherwise consider it a possibility.

Lisa Pinamonti Kress, director of the Office of Admissions and Scholarships, said she wants all Kansas students to know that the University is an opportunity for them. The road show began in Fall 2003.

Wessel is part of the first recruiting class of the road show. About 145 high school seniors across western and central Kansas attended the 2003 road show events.

But with only nine more students enrolled than in 2003 from targeted counties, it was hard to tell if the admission office-funded program had been successful, said Pinamonti Kress.

The University has a stigma of being focused on business while Kansas State University is more focused on agriculture, Shalie Gaskill, Dodge City, freshman said.

She also said that location is a big part of why students in western and central Kansas choose to attend Kansas State University instead of the University of Kansas.

“KU also has the stigma of being preppy and upper-class versus K-State, which has a more relaxed and hometown feeling,” Gaskill said.

Gaskill said she came to the University despite the stigma because she was looking for something different.

Out of 145 seniors who attended the 2003 road show, 83 students applied and 82 of them were admitted to the University. That is approximately 56 percent of students who attended the road show. Forty-one students enrolled out of the 82 admitted. That is 50 percent of students who were admitted, according to a report by the Office of Admissions and Scholarships.

“It is difficult to define whether or not goals have been met,” Pinamonti Kress said. “In my opinion, the road show is working because of the increased visibility in central and western Kansas.”

Pinamonti Kress said prospective members, parents, high school counselors and alumni were happy with the increased efforts for recruitment in the areas. She also said she did not think the success of the event could be determined only by numbers.

Scholarships are just one of the things admissions representatives focused on during the week-long program. The program also discussed academics and KU traditions.

During the day, admissions representatives traveled to high schools and community colleges in western and central Kansas and dropped off information about the University to students and counselors. At night, additional staff members joined the representatives, and they held receptions for prospective students and their parents.

The Rock Chalk Road Show will continue next fall, though visit locations haven’t yet been decided.

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Enrollment

In-state enrollment at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University

18,969, or 87 percent, of Kansas State University’s students came from the state of Kansas in Fall 2004.

26,814, or 69 percent, of the University of Kansas’ students came from the state of Kansas in Fall 2003.

On average, the University drew 33 fewer students than Kansas State from counties with populations of less than 13,500 people, comparing the latest data available.

Sources:

University of Kansas Office of Institutional Research & Planning

Kansas State Office of Planning & Analysis

United States Census