Author: Dwyer Education Strategies

John W. Dysart President The Dysart Group, Inc. Honors Programs can be beneficial to institutions in a variety of ways.? They can be useful in attracting high-ability students.? They can be effective in increasing enrollment and can improve retention rates.? Honors Programs can raise the academic discourse on campus and can even challenge faculty and staff in positive ways.? Many colleges and universities have Honors Programs but few are structured in a manner that make them very attractive to prospective students. There are several things that administrators should avoid when introducing or upgrading their Honors Programs: ??Do not set the […]

John W. Dysart President The Dysart Group, Inc. ? The poor economy is challenging for colleges and universities in many ways.? This has been a particularly difficult year for financial aid as states eliminate or reduce state grants.? Colleges and universities need to develop plans for dealing with reductions in state grants as this trend is likely to continue over the next several years. Some states are reducing commitments to state grants by making application deadlines earlier.? This has the political advantage of keeping award amounts level, while guaranteeing that overall expenditures will be reduced.? Fortunately for colleges and universities, […]

John W. Dysart President The Dysart Group, Inc. There are only a couple months left before the start of another school year and much to be done. 1.How many of your admission applicants and returning students have yet to apply for financial aid? ?Given the state of the economy, it is time to take extra measures to ensure all of these students apply for aid and are awarded before the end of August.? Think about telephone outreach campaigns and special mailings. Text messaging and social networks can also be effective. 2.?How many of your admission applicants and returning students have […]

John W. Dysart President The Dysart Group, Inc. ? Filling a new vacancy for chief enrollment officer can be a difficult task.? Many college and university Presidents simply do not have significant experience in issues related to recruitment, retention and financial aid.? Campus search committees are often comprised of individuals with limited knowledge regarding enrollment management.? The following are some suggestions that can be useful in selecting the right candidate for your school: Look for a track record of success. This seems so simple.? It is so obvious.? You would be surprised, however, in how often previous success is not […]

John W. Dysart President The Dysart Group, Inc. Colleges and universities often seek to attract and retain more students.? Higher enrollments can generate more revenue, increase diversity, foster improved academic quality and change the campus dynamic.? There is, however, so much more that growth can mean to an institution. Enrollment has increased significantly at Roosevelt University in Chicago in recent years.? The gains are fueling additional positive changes at the institution.? More traditional-aged undergraduates and a higher percentage of resident students have resulted in a major change in student activities. ? The University fielded athletic teams between 1948 and 1989.? […]

Carmen Afghani Consultant Financial Aid Services ? Webster defines consultant as ?to seek the opinion or advice of another person for making a decision.? Many people are randomly using the moniker ?Consultant,? but hiring one to assist with financial aid processing should be approached with as much caution, prudence and research as selecting an attorney or even surgeon. Selecting the right consultant can add untold value to your Financial Aid Office and yield a substantial return on your investment. For the purposes of this article, ?Consultant? can refer to either an individual consultant or a consulting firm. Determining Your Needs […]

John Hall Chief Executive Officer Greenwood & Hall The National Center for Education Statistics predicts that there will be just under 7 million adult learners by 2013. The growth of programs that cater to non-traditional students has been no less than explosive. Despite the vast financial resources that both institutions and the federal government have invested in continuing education programs, graduation rates have remained alarmingly low. As the number of adult learners continues to grow and Washington calls for increased accountability in terms of the outcomes institutions provide for their students, schools must take a fresh look at creative approaches […]

Micharl O’Grady Overture Technologies There has been much discussion over the last two years about financial aid offices maintaining a ?preferred lender list? for their students and families. Back in the 1980?s when many colleges and universities did not recommend specific lenders, schools would get student loan checks from credit unions, community banks and some large regional lenders. The processes were painfully slow and the cash flow was spread out over months. With the advent of better technology and sweeping standardization, schools in the mid 1980?s could start transmitting student loan data electronically and receive the funds through electronic fund […]

John W. Dysart President The Dysart Group, Inc. The economic downturn has had a direct impact at colleges and universities. In many cases, enrollments are stagnant or have declined. Financial aid costs have risen as increased unemployment and market drops have fueled growth in aggregate financial need for both new and returning students. Colleges are dealing with more financial need while simultaneously experiencing cuts in state financial aid. Often, institutional resources are scarce as returns on endowed investments have been disappointing. These conditions are likely to persist for at least the near future.

Douglas Spadaro, Ph.D. President Premier Communications ? David Waggoner, M.A. Vice President Premier Communications As graduation speakers often point out, commencement is a time of celebration and new beginnings. Administration, faculty and staff are happy about another job well done. Parents and families evidence pride in children and relatives. And, most importantly, new graduates exalt in their accomplishments and look forward to the future. ? A significant aspect of this future is the ongoing lifetime relationship that graduates have with the college as alumni. From your perspective, commencement is the start of cultivating positive relationships with your alumni. Clearly college […]