At the University of Houston-Downtown, enrollment management is a team sport. Every member of the faculty and staff plays a crucial role in recruiting and retaining students. Soon, the UHD Community will come together to learn about the institution's goals for attracting new Gators and bolstering the institution's enrollment.

UHD's Enrollment Challenge Kick-Off is set for 2 p.m., June 21st in A350. The event will officially launch the University's campaign to grow its enrollment to at least 14,500 students this fall. UHD President, Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz will be among the speakers addressing faculty and staff at this event and offering insights on how everyone can help the University reach this goal. Faculty and staff are encouraged to RSVP for the Kick-Off. Refreshments will be served at this event, and T-shirts, lapel pins and other items promoting the Enrollment Challenge will be distributed while supplies last.

"The Kick-Off comes at an appropriate time", said Daniel Villanueva Jr., assistant vice president for enrollment management. "The start of the fall semester begins UHD's base year for state funding, which takes into consideration student enrollment. Although many staff members may not directly interact with prospective or current students regularly, they should be aware that everyone is responsible for UHD's enrollment".

"We are all ambassadors for this great institution," Villanueva said. "It's important that everyone recognizes the part they play in driving UHD's enrollment. Even those who are not in student-facing positions are vital to our enrollment efforts. Those responsible for maintaining our facilities, organizing our library books, servicing computers in our labs, ensuring the safety of our students and performing other critical tasks help drive enrollment at UHD. There's no job too big or small to be exempt from the Enrollment Challenge."

During the event, audience members will view the premiere of a new Enrollment Challenge video that details the campaign and its goals. Student speakers also will address the audience to share their experiences at UHD. Additionally, the new Enrollment Challenge website will be unveiled at the event.

The Enrollment Challenge Kick-Off is just the start of a campaign that will extend through September. Other campaign components include an Enrollment Services Committee, which will include a variety of UHD constituents, and regular communications with campaign news.

Future Enrollment Challenge events are scheduled for July 20, Aug. 10 and Sept. 16 to spotlight campaign goals and milestones for colleges and departments.

"Growing our student body is a team effort, and there's no stronger team than the UHD Community," Villanueva said. "I look forward to collaborating with constituents from all areas of the campus as we undertake this Enrollment Challenge and ultimately, support current and future students."

Faculty and staff can RSVP for the Enrollment Challenge Kickoff here.