Spelman College Joins the STARS College Network, Strengthening its Recruitment Strategy for Rural and Small-Town Students

ATLANTA (July 24, 2024) -- Spelman College is pleased to announce that it has joined the STARS (Small Town and Rural Students) College Network, a coalition of 32 of the nation’s most prominent institutions dedicated to ensuring students from rural and small-town America have the support they need to enroll and graduate from the college or university of their choice.

As one of 16 new member schools, Spelman will combine its own resources with STARS philanthropy to support pipeline programs and recruiting efforts, as well as offering financial aid and on-campus programs to support students from rural areas.

“We are incredibly excited to strengthen our rural student recruitment with this esteemed consortium devoted to access and exposure,” said Spelman’s Director of Admissions Chelsea Holley. “Our new initiative aims to bridge the gap and expose students to the rich academic and social traditions of Spelman College and HBCUs more broadly.” 

Students from rural America often face unique obstacles to attending college. In rural areas, college admissions offices may bypass small towns and rural communities due to distance and cost, making students in those areas less likely to encounter college-related ads or attend events on campuses. High school counselors in small towns and rural communities are often overburdened according to a recent report by Axios, with average caseloads reaching anywhere from 300-500 students. Only 29% of young adults from rural areas are enrolled in college, according to STARS College Network, and many of the students lack the networks and resources to help them navigate financial aid once admitted.

With the support of the STARS network, Spelman has developed a comprehensive strategy to expand its recruitment and outreach to rural and small-town communities. Some of the initiatives include:

• Hiring a full-time staff member to lead and execute Spelman’s rural student outreach and recruitment strategy
• Hosting counselor fly-ins to expose counselors from rural regions to the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the academic and social landscape of Spelman College
• Expanding its travel and recruitment strategy to include more rural communities in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas by conducting counselor outreach, high school visits, college fairs and/or meetings with community-based organizations
• Sponsoring up to eight students from rural areas or small towns each year to attend either a two-week college preparatory program for ninth and tenth graders, or a four-week credit granting pre-college program for eleventh graders
• Covering travel and lodging for students from rural areas to attend select open house events, such as SpelBound for admitted students, Junior Preview Day or A Day in Your Life
• Emphasizing a holistic merit scholarship and admissions review process that acknowledges the unique challenges of rural students, to provide context around their educational and extracurricular achievements

By highlighting the benefits of this work, the STARS College Network hopes to motivate other institutions, alumni and philanthropists to increase their own efforts on behalf of rural students. Research shows that college graduates from rural areas often return to their communities, so efforts to help rural students get the greatest benefit from higher education can create a virtuous cycle of support, success and giving back to the next generation.

Learn more at https://starscollegenetwork.org/.

Media Contact
Denise Ward
770.862.4028
deniseward@spelman.edu