Virtual Preview Day highlights fast-adapting services

Virtual Preview Day highlights fast-adapting services

April 20, 2020 LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University held its most highly attended Preview Day on record on April 18, but unlike previous admissions events, all 150 prospective students and their families tuned in virtually. 

Incoming freshmen and transfer students listened to presentations about financial aid, student life and the admissions process over Zoom. The long-distance visit day was a hit.

“This was the most rewarding admissions event I’ve ever been a part of. It went really well and the student engagement was incredible,” Director of Admissions Genesis Meaderds said. “Students and families from Saipan, Colombia, New Jersey and Georgia joined us! Most times, families from distant locations can’t attend an on-campus event, but taking it online eliminated the barriers to visiting EOU.” 

Meaderds said the Admissions Office plans to hold more virtual events in the future. Meanwhile, the university’s enrollment services have shifted to accommodate social distancing requirements while assisting students and families. 

“EOU admissions staff have been working one-on-one with students to guide them through the application process remotely,” Meaderds said. “All of EOU’s enrollment services that had been offered in person are now offered virtually.”

Twice-daily campus visits now take place over the web, and admissions counselors meet with families over the phone and on video calls. Advising, academic support, Title IX resources, financial aid counseling, student accounts and other services are all available as incoming students navigate this unprecedented landscape. 

This fall, students can go far without going far away. EOU’s dedicated faculty are experts at mentoring and engaging with students in any modality. As many institutions and families adjust to this new environment, EOU offers modern learning tools operated with a practiced hand. Almost half of EOU’s student body was learning online last fall, and the university is well-equipped to provide high-quality education to every student wherever they are — online, on-campus or remotely. 

EOU has adapted, and continues to expand, to meet students’ academic and individual needs in this rapidly changing landscape. As Oregon’s Rural University, EOU is accustomed to reaching across wide-open spaces to foster tight-knit communities of support. 

Visit eou.edu/admissions for more information about the application process and to schedule a one-on-one meeting with an admissions counselor.