Establishing a brand is one of the main goals of Director of Admissions and Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Marc Harding.

Harding presented to the Government of the Study Body at its meeting Wednesday night about the changing demographics of Iowa State and recruitment strategies of the Office of Admissions.

The Office of Admissions, Harding said, works hard to brand Iowa State to the area in a 300-mile radius around Ames. It establishes its brand by using alumni in those areas and working three years ahead on the recruitment of a new freshman class.

“Campus visits are a critical part of our recruitment,” Harding said. “Potential students and their parents get to see our greatest asset, our students.”

The Office of Admissions uses a wide array of strategies to recruit students to Iowa State. It uses social media, apps, personalization of the university, the campus visit and the self-admittance process.

Harding also proceeded to break down the numbers on current students and incoming students. Currently, there are 5,600 transfer students on campus. This makes Iowa State one of the top 75 schools in the nation in regards to transfer students. This past fall, 1,781 transfer students came to Iowa State. Of those, 60 percent came from Iowa community colleges and 40 percent came from other colleges.

Harding also touched on the subject of expanding enrollment, stating that more than 30,000 students will attend Iowa State next fall.

“This just shows that we are a product in demand,” Harding said. “We will have space for students next year, but it is in jeopardy if we keep moving at this pace in enrollment.”

The bill “Funding Veishea 2012” was presented to GSB asking that $5,000 be allocated from the Events Account in order for them to rent Stephens Auditorium. They also asked that $4,500 be allocated from the Capitals Project to televise the Veishea Parade on Mediacom.

The bill passed 32-0-1.

Also, $530 was allocated to the Iowa State Racquetball Club in order for it to purchase new racquets and protective eyewear.