Tech’s NCAA Tourney Bid Draws Admissions Attention

Free advertising. That’s one of the added benefits of Tennessee Tech’s game Friday in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Interim Admissions Director Ted McWilliams said there is not a direct jump in enrollment or applications from tournaments like this but it does bring valuable exposure to the university. McWilliams said it is a large boost for Tech’s image to be able to prove that it is not just an engineering college as many people think but can field championship teams as well.

“I think if they can at least see us on that national stage and (say) like, ‘wow, Tennessee Tech, OVC, I’ve heard a little bit about this,’” McWilliams said. “It may garner them to have a little bit more interest to check further through websites or visits or something like that. So I would hope that if we do catch their attention in the sports arena that they start looking a little bit further and such.”

McWilliams said being featured on such a large stage shows that Tech has solid and successful programs of all kinds, whether they are academic or athletic. He said he hopes students and families would take a broader look at the university as a whole once they become aware of the school.

“I think it takes a lot of examination across the board of academics and sports and student support, location, cost, all the rest,” McWilliams said.

McWilliams said this eye-catching opportunity can lead people to discover the academics and positive metrics that the university is constantly promoting.

“I would hope that that would be one of the things that we could, I don’t want to say leverage for our benefit, but leverage for the benefit of our students who are here, our future students and families to look a little bit more at Tennessee Tech and see if it’s a good fit for them,” McWilliams said.