This document outlines strategies used by the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Texas at Arlington to double their M.A. student enrollment in one year. They targeted recruitment of undergraduate students through on-campus events and personalized outreach. Prospective students were informed about degree programs, scholarships, graduate teaching assistantships providing tuition remission, and career opportunities. The department also implemented a bridge program allowing undergraduates to take up to three graduate courses and maintained close advising relationships with enrolled students. They plan future recruitment expansion and program improvements based on student surveys.

1. Strategies for Recruitment in the
Humanities: How We Doubled Our
Enrollment in One Year
Amy M. Austin
Assistant Professor of Spanish
and Graduate Advisor
Department of Modern Languages
University of Texas at Arlington
amaustin@uta.edu

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M.A.StudentsEnrolled
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Academic Year
M.A. Student Enrollment in MODL at UTA

3.  M.A. in Modern Languages with a Concentration in
French (36 hours)
 M.A. in Modern Languages with a Concentration in
Spanish (36 hours)
 Graduate Certificate in French (18 hours)
 Graduate Certificate in Spanish (18 hours)

4. Graduate Teaching Assistantships*
GTA I – Assists in two courses each
semester
GTA II – Teaches two courses per semester
*GTAs are eligible for in-state tuition.

5. •Bart Lewis Memorial Scholarship
-Full-time graduate students, 12 credit
hours at UTA, 3.0 GPA (up to $1000)
•Tony Litsey Memorial Scholarship
-Graduate MODL-Spanish, 9 graduate
Spanish credit hours with a 3.5 GPA (up
to $1000)

6. Presentations in sophomore-, junior-, and
senior-level classes
Letters to outstanding students
GradChat
Letters and emails to alumni
 On-campus recruiting events
Graduate Student Test Drive, organized
and sponsored by the Dean’s Office of the
College of Liberal Arts

7.  Local high schools
 Letters
 Recruitment events
 Brochures
 Local colleges and universities
 Letters
 Brochures

8. Education
• Public and Private Schools
• Bilingual Education
• College Professor
Government
• Armed Forces
• Civil Service / Foreign Service
• Court Interpreter
• FBI or National Security Agent
• Immigration Officer / Customs
Tourism / Hospitality
• Airline Services
• Hospitality Industry
Business and Commerce
• Banking / Finance
• Bilingual Sales/Customer Support
• Bilingual Marketing
• Consulting
• Human Resources
• International Relations
• Importing / Exporting
Translation / Interpretation
Health Care Services
Arts / Media / Entertainment
• Journalism / Broadcasting
• Editing / Publishing

9. Inquiry: In-person meeting
 Follow-up emails catered to the students’ interests
or concerns
Personalized email on behalf of the Department
after acceptance
 Follow-up emails until the student in enrolled at UT
Arlington
In-person and Skype advising
In-person meetings at least once a semester to track
progress and increase retention.

10. Qualifications:
Completed at least 24 hours at UTA with a GPA of
3.0 in all courses and 3.25 in the last 30 hours.
 Completed the four required core courses in the
French or Spanish major (GPA 3.5).
 Completed at least two additional junior- or senior-
level courses in either French or Spanish (GPA
3.5)
Letters of recommendations (3) from graduate
faculty.

11. Students take up to three graduate courses (9
hours, one per semester) that count for both
their B.A and their M.A
.
If students maintain a minimum of 3.0 in their
graduate courses, they are invited to apply to the
graduate program.
 If students do not maintain a minimum of 3.0 in
their graduate courses, the courses only count
toward the completion of their B.A.

12. Professional Development
 Departmental orientations for newly
admitted students
 Receptions with faculty
 Workshops with the graduate advisor
 Conference presentations
 Life/work/school balance
 Exam-taking strategies
 Developing relationships with your
professors

13. Future Plans
 Departmental-level response to online
graduate survey
 Summer classes
 Changes in class times
 Increase online and hybrid classes (?)
 Courses in translation, interpreting, and
Spanish for the professions

14. Future Plans
 Increase community outreach
 Saturday sample classes/workshops on
campus or at local libraries.
 Open class hours for the community.
 Presentations and workshops at local
high schools, colleges, and
universities.

15. Thank you!
 Comments?
 Questions?