The Board of Visitors met Friday morning to discuss the admission process, the creation of three new professorships and the procedures for hiring faculty.
Gregory Roberts, dean of undergraduate admission, gave a presentation to the Board that included data about the number of applications received, how the University reviews applications and upcoming changes to the application process.
During the 2014-15 year, the University received over 33,000 applications and spent approximately 17,500 hours in application review.
“We’re really trying to get to know the students within their application, we consider the numbers to be the skeleton if you will, what we’re looking for is the flesh and blood,” Roberts said.
There are currently 17 to 18 full-time admission deans.
According to Roberts, the University takes a holistic approach to applications, taking into account a number of factors.
“We’re looking for good people, good citizens, students who are creative and love to learn, and will contribute not only in the classroom but also in the student activities, the residence halls and the like,” Roberts said.
Several people read each application, and then they are discussed by a team of people based on the applicant’s geographical residence, Roberts said.
With regard to diversity at the University, 73 foreign countries are represented in the first-year class.
Additionally, the University is planning to implement the Coalition Application in fall 2017, which Roberts says could benefit students and families from underserved backgrounds.
“The coalition app is working to develop some additional tools that will accompany the application that could be helpful for students and families from underrepresented backgrounds,” Roberts said. “It has potential to be a tool that will contribute to college access and diversity.”
In addition to changing admission practices, the Board also approved the addition of three new professorships — the Wallace C. Nunley Professorship in Family Practice, the G.J. Wand, M.D. Professorship in Orthopaedic Surgery and the Nelson W. Sisson, M.D. Eminent Scholars Professorship in Otolaryngology.
These professorships will help the University recruit and retain exceptional researchers and educators in each of these fields, University President Teresa Sullivan said.
The Board also held a discussion with Craig Benson, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and David Wilkes, dean of the School of Medicine, along with Sullivan. The discussion was a chance for the panel to address any questions the Board had about how the University hires new faculty.
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