Pearl River Community College Unveils Innovative ‘One-Stop-Shop’ Enrollment Center to Streamline Student Experience

January 10, 2024

Pearl River Community College (PRCC) revolutionizes its enrollment process by launching a new ‘one-stop-shop’ Enrollment Center designed to simplify the student journey from application to graduation. Located on the first floor of the Ted J. Alexander Administration Building on the Poplarville Campus, this innovative center represents a strategic reimagining of student support services. 

The Enrollment Center represents the culmination of PRCC’s ‘Happy to Help’ customer service campaign launched in the fall of 2021 to remove roadblocks faced by students during the enrollment process and beyond. Over the past few years, improved customer service efforts included an easy-to-navigate financial aid self-portal, friendly payment plan options for students, and accelerated admissions application rates. Annual satisfaction surveys validate this approach, with each office achieving remarkable customer satisfaction rates of between 95-99% in the past year. 

Inside the Enrollment Center at Pearl River Community College’s Poplarville campus, a clean and welcoming space is shown. A wall on the left displays bold white lettering that reads “Enrollment Center: Admissions, Financial Aid, Records, Student Accounts.” The center features a front desk with a sleek marble countertop and a wooden base, staffed by PRCC employees working at their stations. The background wall displays a vibrant gradient design with the phrases “Welcome to The River” and “Do Good Things,” emphasizing the college’s positive and inspiring message. The area is brightly lit, with modern ceiling lights and decorative plants adding warmth to the professional setting.

The Enrollment Center model combines services from all three offices students have historically needed to contact during the onboarding process: Admissions, Student Accounts & Records, and Financial Aid. The new Enrollment Center continues that initiative by focusing on customer service, personalized attention, and creating a more effective and efficient enrollment process using existing staff.  

Each student who applies to PRCC will be assigned to an Enrollment Specialist who will handle their application and reach out to them for the next steps.   

“We are so excited to launch our new Enrollment Center this spring, which brings together the Offices of Admissions, Records, Student Accounts, and Financial Aid into one streamlined space,” said Director of Enrollment Services, Dr. Dalton Spiers. “This unified approach will significantly enhance the student experience by providing students with a more personalized and supportive experience throughout their time at PRCC!” 

To support this innovative model, staff from the Admissions and Student Accounts offices have been strategically retrained as Enrollment Specialists. These professionals now provide comprehensive support across multiple service areas, while Financial Aid Counselors can focus on more in-depth, individualized student assistance. 

Inside the Enrollment Center, visitors can handle common needs such as checking on their admission application, turning in transcripts, getting their student ID, and making payments on their accounts. 

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new Enrollment Center model at all campuses,” said Executive Vice President for Enrollment Services Candace Harper. “This milestone reflects the growth of our enrollment, the valuable feedback from our students, and our commitment to enhancing efficiency. 

“With this new one-stop shop, we’re excited to offer a personalized experience and bring an elevated level of customer service to our students. Here’s to a brighter future for all!” 

The Forrest County Campus piloted the program last year with great success. Visitors to the campus will find help quickly at a desk space inside the main door for Building 3. The Hancock County Campus implemented the approach upon moving to the new campus in August with an Enrollment Specialist stationed adjacent to the main lobby.  

The Poplarville Campus Enrollment Center will host a grand opening on Monday, January 13, and Tuesday, January 14. Visitors are invited to explore the new space and enjoy complimentary cotton candy and popcorn. 

For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), Facebook (@PRCCMKTG), and TikTok (@prcc_wildcats).

Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by Lauren Johnson.

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