While many women’s colleges have been struggling to attract students, Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina, reports encouraging news. The college reports that it expects 440 women in its entering class this fall and a total of 670 new students in its undergraduate program and co-educational graduate programs. All told, the college expects enrollments to be about 1,900 students.
The college reports that its retention rate is the highest in more than a decade, which the college attributes to its StrongPoints program. The program is an advising and personal coaching program aimed at academic success. Jo Allen, president of Meredith College, says that “StrongPoints teaches the value of setting goals, determining passions and priorities, and then planning throughout one’s education and life experiences. The StrongPoints strategy makes clear to each student that this is a personal journey, focusing on individual strengths, passions, goals, resources, and decisions.”
President Allen went on to explain Meredith success by noting its 125-year reputation for academic excellence. “That kind of history and stability are attractive to women who see the investment of time and resources in the college resulting in big pay-offs for career pursuits,” President Allen said. “Among our recent graduates, 94 percent are employed or in top-tier graduate programs within a few short months of graduation.”
Dr. Allen has been president of her alma mater since 2011. She holds a master’s degree from East Carolina University and a Ph.D. in English literature from Oklahoma State University.