The Committee met ten times during this semester, including holding an open meeting to brainstorm ideas, ask questions, and raise concerns about the changes to the Henry Wells Scholars Program and another meeting with Jim Scannell and Kathy Kurz to discuss these changes. At the meeting with Scannell and Kurz Chairs of AS&A, OCS, and representatives from APPC also attended.

Our meeting discussions were focused on how to best approach the changes to the HWS Program and how to gain maximum faculty input in the process. We worked closely with representatives from APPC Professor Welsh, Professor Morfei and Dean Koester, created a Website, and developed a survey for faculty. Nancy Karpinski regularly attended our meetings and provided an important contribution to this process. The result was a model developed in AFA which we sent on to APPC. (Please see attached HWS Model)

The applications are up this year with a total of 63 applicants so far and 27 early decisions. The Legacy Open House hosted 51 students, the Sciences Open House hosted 23 students, the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Open House hosted 62 students, and 110 students are expected for the Undecided Open House. Campus visits have more than doubled this year.

This fall, 4 students withdrew and 5 more are expected to withdraw. This is comparable to last year when 8 students withdrew in fall term. The class is larger this year so that number is a smaller percentage but the number of withdrawals is still a concern. Next spring, we expect a ÒCohort Retention Analysis ReportÓ to be available which will help pinpoint students who are at risk for transferring and will help better understand why students withdraw.

Financial Aid is not yet being awarded and so there is nothing to report at this time. But the logistics of the new HWS Program are still under discussion and the Financial Aid office will address these issues in spring, 99.

AFA will work with the Admissions Office to develop and plan the March 6 event which will bring the new Henry Wells Scholars on campus and will seek faculty input and participation for this event.

Respectfully Submitted,

Victoria Muñoz, Chair, AFA