The recruiting process began this year with two new counselors. Admissions hired new admissions counselors Pono Lopez and Toriano Towns after losing two staff members last year, Dean of Enrollment Services Fred Pfursich said. Lopez graduated from Whit-worth in 2000 and Towns is from northern California. Towns and Lopez help recruit students and travel out of town to visit with perspective students. Towns said in a typical week he is out of town for at least four days.
Admissions also sets up hotel interviews in areas outside of Spokane for potential students.
For example, if a student is living in southern California and has been unable to visit campus, they can meet with a recruiter in a Los Angeles hotel and get an idea about Whitworth from them, Pfursich said. Many people think this job is similar to that of a car salesman, Lopez said. They think we have to push Whitworth and shove it down their throats. But in actuality, our jobs are just to tell prospective students what Whitworth is about, what we offer and to see if it fits what they are looking for. Towns said Whitworth s price can make students hesitant about Whitworth, but he appeals to them by mentioning merit scholarships and the free application.