February is the month of love, so it's fitting that Counselor Appreciation Week falls in this month! We hope you feel appreciated year-round, but we hope you felt especially loved during this designated time for others to acknowledge and celebrate the amazing work you do!

This newsletter features three staff members who love TU so much, they've each been with TU's Office of Admission for 20+ years! In this profession wrought with high turnover, hear why they've stayed so long.

Teresa Erker Bont, Senior Associate Director of Admission

Before starting with TU in 2003, Teresa had worked in college admission for more than a decade. As a TU regional rep for 19 years, she recruited 1000+ St. Louis-area students to TU, including her older son! After living elsewhere for 35 years, this native Tulsan moved home last year and is now working "behind the scenes" with TU’s Office of Admission. Teresa loves the friendships built with colleagues on both sides of the desk. She specifically appreciates TU’s culture with a tight-knit community of proud, but not boastful, open-minded scholars, and remains energized by the intelligent, curious, and kind members of the TU community. She especially enjoys hearing from, and running into, TU alumni and their families. 

Alicia Townsend, Administrative Assistant

After working in the corporate world, Alicia began with TU's Office of Admission in 1994 and noticed a "mile-wide" difference! Alicia enjoys the office's general philosophy to work hard/play hard and recognizes that staff members appreciate and support each other. Alicia values being able to have put her daughters (both TU graduates) through "one of the best schools in the country" by working here. Witnessing the development of students and younger coworkers has been inspiring to Alicia. "It’s so much fun to see them reach or exceed their career/life goals." She lives a bit vicariously through them by seeing the world - and work - through their eyes. Alicia is held in high regard by her colleagues and students at TU.

Becky Wiseman, Director of Admission Data

When Becky joined TU as an Admission Counselor in 1991, she quickly learned why TU is so well-respected. Though she worked elsewhere due to relocations, her heart never left TU. When the opportunity to return arose in 2001, she jumped at the chance! Becky has explored different aspects of college admission from “this side of the desk” and her current role encompasses diverse responsibilities, all with the end goal of improving the college admission experience. About her career, Becky said, “I’ve worked in higher ed because I love the environment, and I’ve stayed at TU because it’s truly a special place. Over the years, I’ve made lasting friendships here, and feel a genuine connection to the TU spirit and our mission.”

So, what do YOU love about Tulsa? We'd love to hear from you; reply to let us know! You might just receive some extra love from TU in return!

JumpStartTU , a one-week summer international experience for incoming first-year TU students, is designed to serve as an introduction to TU’s academic and campus life through a transformative, intensive experience in Panama, Mexico, or Germany. JumpStartTU exposes these students to the importance of collaborating with a multitude of experts to learn global issues, unique biodiversities, global trade, world consumption, and much more. This program is for students who have never left the U.S. as well as for those who have traveled extensively. Sharing the experience with other incoming TU students allows those in the group to become lifelong friends! 

Panama

Mexico

Germany

Costs include airfare from Tulsa or a hub city (such as Dallas, Houston or Atlanta), accommodations, local transportation, all entrance fees and activities, three-day field experiences with the Panamanian, Mexican or German partners, some meals, local guides, and travel insurance. Students will be accompanied by TU staff, faculty, and peer mentors. Need-based travel grants are available ranging from $500-$2,250.

First-year admitted students for fall 2024 have until April 1 to submit the application for JumpStartTU. The application is found in the student's Hurricane Tracker (TU's application portal). Encourage your admitted students to take advantage of this unique opportunity!

Preview TU for high school juniors - 3/8/24 and 4/5/24

This half-day visit program for high school juniors and their parents provides a broad overview of TU opportunities. This is a great way for your class of 2025 students to get to know Tulsa! Encourge them to register for our next Preview TU event on March 8 to be introduced to The University of Tulsa! 

TU Up Close for admitted students - 4/19/24

Encourage your admitted students to register for TU Up Close, an admitted student event on Friday, April 19. Admitted high school seniors and their parents are invited to this campus-wide open house filled with lots of energy and excitement to see what being a part of the Golden Hurricane family is all about! 

Daily visits for any prospective TU students - anytime!

Prospective TU students can join a Daily Visit at The University of Tulsa Monday-Friday featuring admission sessions, campus tours, and faculty appointments. Additional office appointments on topics like diversity and honors are available upon request. Some Saturday visit options exist as well!

With another FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) delay announced by the U.S. Department of Education earlier this month, we understand the frustrations families are facing and are doing what we can to mitigate their stress. While all universities are delayed in issuing full financial aid packages, 

The University of Tulsa has offered the opportunity to our admitted students to receive an estimate of their TU Grant amount based on their Student Aid Index (SAI) as determined by the Federal Student Aid Estimator. TU Grant funding is gift aid and can be combined with the TU scholarship included in the offer of admission. Both the TU scholarship and grant will later be combined with federal/state aid once we have official FAFSA data. We hope this will eliminate some of the anxiety families might be feeling in the meantime. 

TU recently revived the “minimester” to allow students the opportunity to earn credit during short-term, intensive courses or participate in faculty-led study abroad courses. This new J-term (short for January) included classes such as Artists and Publics and  Leading Ladies: The Cinema of Greta Gerwig; two faculty-led study abroad courses, Latin American Foodways and Politics and Culture in Japan; and Liberal Arts and Life, a career and life preparation course.

The Universidad de Piura community welcomed these TU students in "Latin American Foodways" to their campus to teach them about Peruvian culture.

 TU students in "Politics and Culture in Japan" are pictured in front of Kotoku-in Temple’s Great Buddha in Kamakura, the political center of medieval Japan.

Have a question? Have a suggestion? Whatever your reason, please reach out to us! We’d love to hear from you! 

The University of Tulsa
Office of Admission
800 S. Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104
800-331-3050
918-631-2307
admission@utulsa.edu