More than 600 prospective students traveled to Cheyney University of Pennsylvania's beautiful suburban campus March 24 for Spring Open House. Buses brought students from New York, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia, PA. Students flew in from Texas and North Carolina. Others came by car from all over Pennsylvania, nearby Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and from other states.
Some students arrived before registration began at 8 am, anxious to tour the 275 acre campus, hear about the university’s academic programs, scholarship opportunities, student organizations, and more. Cheyney Student Ambassadors greeted guests with big smiles, answered questions, gave plenty of directions and advice to high school seniors.
By 10 am when the Open House program was to begin, it was standing room only with every seat taken and guests lining the walls. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity kicked off the event with a lively step show, followed by remarks from Interim President Dr. Frank G. Pogue. Out of 11 institutions that he has led, this was the best Open House he’d ever experienced, he said later.
"This is just the best indication ever that Cheyney University attracts students who want to come here,” insisted Dr. Pogue. “Simply put, today was a wonderful and rewarding day for the university. Students and families continue to support this historic institution.”
In addition to the Alphas representing the Greek Life, Omega Psi Phi, Zeta Phi Beta, Iota Phi Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, and Kappa Alpha Psi got a chance to take to the stage and show their steps. The Cheerleaders and drum corps also performed. Quiyiim Saunders, a senior leader who was honored at the university’s Founder’s Day Convocation earlier this month with the Heart of the Wolf Award, served as Emcee, and encouraged the students to make Cheyney their home for the next four years. Dr. Robert M. Dixon, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, talked about the university’s academic offerings and interacted with the crowd, getting them to chime in on a rap-style poem about supporting Cheyney for life.
Power 99 FM Radio Personality Mina SayWhat, who graduated from Syracuse University, was on hand to greet students, sign autographs, hand out giveaways, take pictures and promote Cheyney University.
“I'm so happy to be helping students find their way to college,” she said, smiling broadly. “That's where I found my calling and that's where I think they can find their calling.”
Inside the Ada Georges Dining Hall, students got to taste campus cafeteria food and check out the Academic and Activity Fair in the Ballroom. Faculty, Coaches, Student Leaders and Staff hosted informational tables detailing all that Cheyney has to offer. Financial Aid and Admissions personnel had lines of students waiting to get their transcripts and SAT or ACT scores scrutinized so that they could get admitted on the spot and start the process of getting financial help to pay their bills.
Tarique Martin, a senior at Academy Park High School in Sharon Hill, PA, applied to a number of Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) and one Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Cheyney. It didn’t take long for him to learn that he passed Cheyney’s criteria and he was officially accepted. The certificate, admission letter and packet he was handed confirmed it.
“I’m fairly certain that I’ve found my home for the next four years,” he said. "I've been on a lot of campus tours but I never got the feeling that I have today. I feel so connected. This is a very welcoming environment. Everyone is tight-knit and everyone knows each other. It just feels like the right fit." He plans to major in Biology and become a Sports Medicine Doctor one day.
Stacey Goodman couldn’t stop crying after her daughter, Ayana, got her admission certificate and packet.
"I am so happy for her and so proud of her. I didn't make it to college but I'm so happy that she did and she chose Cheyney.”
“I’m speechless and excited,” her daughter exclaimed with a big sigh of relief. “My sister went to Cheyney and she loved it. I plan to major in Education here.”
Jim McKelvey ’82, President of the Philadelphia Cheyney University Alumni Chapter, wasted no time presenting her with scholarship information, telling her that, if she meets the criteria and keeps her grades up, she’ll have financial help all four years she’s enrolled at Cheyney.
"We want to support the students who are accepted at Cheyney and let the parents know that we've got your back. We're going to support your child all four years as long as they meet the criteria.”
Cheyney alumni, passionate about their alma mater, spent weeks calling prospective students to remind them about what they were missing from their application and to encourage them to come to the Spring Open House.
Tia Parks, Interim Director of Admissions, is thankful for their support and was more than pleased with the turnout.
“I’ve never seen the auditorium packed for Open House with people standing three, four and five people deep along the walls because there weren’t enough seats,” she said. “It just shows that there is just as much need for Cheyney University today, as it was when the school was founded in 1837.”
Jalen Sallie only applied to HBCUs. The Trenton, NJ native said he applied to Cheyney because all of the Cheyney alumni that he knows rant and rave about Cheyney.
"Now, I can see why,” he said with a grin after getting his acceptance certificate and packet. He plans to major in Sociology at Cheyney and, hopefully, play football for the Wolves.
“I got a chance to speak to the coach and I really enjoyed seeing the campus where I'm going to be for the next four years. This is definitely where I'm going to go.”
Shamora Jones got lost seven times on her drive from Queens, NY to Cheyney. She, too, wanted to go to a HBCU and did a lot of research before she zeroed in on Cheyney. The non-traditional student owns her own business managing Soca artists who produce Caribbean-type music. She plans to move to Pennsylvania while attending Cheyney, major in Fine Arts and minor in Music.
Kristy Matlock, from Elkins Park, PA already has her Associates Degree from Montgomery County Community College. She plans to transfer to Cheyney and major in Liberal Studies. "I'm very excited that Cheyney offers Liberal Studies,” she said, “and that the classes are offered” at Cheyney’s Center City Philadelphia location at 701 E. Market Street, just steps from a variety of public transportation.
Faculty members, pleased with the turnout, reported that students were very engaged and excited as they stopped to chat at the many tables in the ballroom, taking brochures, pamphlets and other information with them. While Cheyney is the nation’s first HBCU, diversity was clearly evident at Open House as Caucasians, Hispanics, Asians and African Americans made up the crowd.
In the days leading up to Open House, Cheyney was up 30% for the number of undergraduates who’d applied for Fall admission, compared to this time last year, up 30% for the number of students accepted for Fall compared to this time last year and up 200% compared to two years ago. In fact, in August 2016, when school started for this academic year, Cheyney was one of the few colleges in the PA State System to have an increase in enrollment.
Of the more than 600 students who attended Friday’s Open House, 163 of them left with acceptance letters.
With a new branding and message, Cheyney is moving forward in every way—with forward-thinking faculty, students who put their best foot forward, alumni who pay it forward and incoming students who are looking forward to continuing their education at a school with a rich legacy and commitment to grooming the next generation.
A liberal arts university, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania hosts signature programs such as the Keystone Honors Academy, the Aquaculture Research and Education Laboratory, and the accredited Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management program. Recognized as the nation’s 1st HBCU, Cheyney University has been educating students since 1837. The University offers baccalaureate and graduate degree programs at two locations, Cheyney and Philadelphia, PA – Center City. For more information, please visit the website at
www.cheyney.edu.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Monday, March 27th 2017 at 1:38PM
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