Admissions surge in music and film, but board hears continuing shortfall in male applicants

Admissions and student development staff told the board the school's recruitment cycle is progressing and noted notable shifts in applicant pools.

"We've gained approximately 60 additional applicants over the last three weeks," Vice President for Student Development Matthew Burns said, and he highlighted a "125%" year-over-year increase in music applicants. Burns said the film program continues to grow as a high-school art area and that the admissions team is actively scheduling auditions and helping incomplete applicants finish submissions ahead of the priority April 1 notification date.

Burns also said approximately 37% of this year's students receive financial assistance and praised the foundation for meal-plan support that ensures no admitted student is turned away for financial reasons.

Board discussion focused on a persistent shortfall of male applicants. "Male applicants remain a challenge for us," Burns said, and the leadership outlined steps to recruit more young men: increased visibility of male arts role models, targeted outreach to schools, early pipeline work through summer programs, and curricular adjustments in departments such as music and dance. Dr. Adderley and other board members noted that national and statewide patterns show declines in young men participating in arts pathways post-COVID, which complicates local recruitment.

Admissions also reported geographic progress: applicants now represent 43 of South Carolina's 46 counties, with work continuing to reach the remaining three rural counties.

Next steps: admissions will continue targeted recruitment for specific instrumental needs, expand summer-program pipelines, and return metrics on male-applicant recruitment and county coverage at future meetings.