The University Record, October 14, 1998
M-Pathways Admissions System: Attracting the best class yet
By Gretchen Weir
M-Pathways
When it comes to attracting the best students, the U-M’s admissions offices know that getting a student’s attention is an important first step. “If we can get their attention and get them to visit,” says Lorraine Lamey of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, “we can make a convincing case for what U-M has to offer. The trick is getting their attention.”
Eleven admissions offices and 100 schools, colleges or departments are using a new tool to help get the attention of students of their choice—the M-Pathways Admissions System, which went into operation Oct. 5. Expanding on the Recruiting software that was introduced last March, this system helps recruiters, advisors, and evaluators:
• Track all communication with prospective students.
• Share prospect information and application materials across schools and departments.
• Create letter templates for mass mailings or individual letters using Microsoft Word.
• Generate rosters, mailing labels, prospect lists, and a variety of reports.
The first of the Student Administration software to be implemented, Recruiting/Admissions captures personal information when a prospective student first contacts the University. This initial record is changed as the individual’s relationship evolves. As a prospect, for example, becomes an applicant, student, financial aid recipient, graduate, professional school applicant or employee, changes to addresses or names also can be recorded.
By sharing this information in what PeopleSoft calls the Campus Community database, schools, colleges and units can eliminate duplicate data entry and reduce the possibility of errors. Providing a single source of personal information for the University was one of M-Pathways major objectives. Eventually, when the remaining Student Administration and Human Resources Management systems are replaced, Campus Community will include all student, staff and faculty data. Student Administration and Human Resources Management functions will be incorporated into M-Pathways by 2001.
To prepare for this new information system, recruiters, evaluators and admissions office staff have been taking M-Pathways training since September. Like the Financial courses offered last summer, Recruiting/Admissions classes are geared to users’ needs and reflect U-M procedures. M-Pathways project team members are spending time in admissions offices this month to help new users get comfortable with the system.
The M-Pathways Help Desk (936-7000) and “Michigan-grown” online help also are available when users have questions. A detailed description of this system is on the M-Pathways Web site, www.mpathways.umich.edu/student/admrecsum.html.
John Gohsman, student subproject manager, says the Oct. 5 introduction of this new piece of M-Pathways “could not have been accomplished without the help of many important partners.” They include the Cashier’s Office, University Housing, Mcard Office, Office of Financial Aid, Office of New Student Programs, Office of the Registrar, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, Student Financial Operations and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Working with them were M-Pathways team members, who worked long hours to bring the system up on time.
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