Category: Article Archives

John W. Dysart President The Dysart Group, Inc. The latest recruitment, financial aid and enrollment numbers have been finalized for the year and Ferrum College is shining! This small, liberal arts college located in Ferrum, Virginia has been a constant in the Commonwealth for almost a century, but the last two years have brought the institution to the forefront and people are taking notice. While many competitors in the state and the region are struggling with recruitment, discount rates and retention, Ferrum College stands out from the crowd. Presidential leadership and strong support from the Board of Trustees have served […]

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John W. Dysart President The Dysart Group, Inc. We have completed another year in enrollment management. The following questions are designed to make readers evaluate their results this cycle with a critical eye. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list applying equally to all colleges and universities. The intent is to encourage thought and examination of outcomes. Did you generate significant increases in admission applications this year? The number of admission applications is so important. More applications present an opportunity to increase new student enrollments if that is part of your strategic objective. More applications provide an opportunity […]

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Shirley E. Arnold Director Academic Enrichment Center Brevard College What is an Office of Admission to do with applicants who do not fit exactly into an institution’s matrix of scores (SAT/ACT/GPA) for automatic acceptance? No doubt, some schools feel they have the luxury of rejecting all such students out of hand. But others of us are more likely to give such students a second look – not simply because we are tuition-driven and want the numbers, but also because we recognize that the right kind of college education can awaken the skills and talents that have lain dorment in such […]

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April Clark CAS One of the challenges for colleges and universities in the twenty-first century is to keep adult programs full of qualified students. This segment of our society has many options. They are usually working full-time, have families with multiple activities, and have many other competing activities for their available time.

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Shirley E. Arnold Director Academic Enrichment Center Brevard College One of the hot button topics on college campuses today is retention! Today?s college students love to flirt with transferring, as many of them do not have a strong commitment or allegiance to the college at which they matriculate. Students seem to change colleges on a whim: a girl friend talks her boy friend into coming to the school she?s attending after their first semester apart; another student leaves due to a (perceived) lack of campus social activity; yet a third student never intended to stay in the first place; etc. […]

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Robert Waggoner Vice President Premier Collegiate Communications Successful recruitment has become an arms race. Colleges and universities are continuously seeking to find better ways to communicate with prospective students. The personalization of communication with prospective students has evolved from individualized direct mail and specific messages based upon student interest to tailored web experiences. Well, you have to see the latest in personalized communication. Variable digital printing is the next phase. Imagine the ability to send color, picture postcards to students in a manner that personalizes the name and message. The options are virtually unlimited. You can specify the picture, the […]

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David Archibald Vice President for Marketing and Enrollment Ohio Dominican University John W. Dysart President The Dysart Group, Inc. Dr. Jack Calareso was appointed President of Ohio Dominican College in 2001. He immediately set a vision for the institution to grow the enrollment, increase the number of residential students, improve academic quality and better control institutional financial aid expenditures. Total enrollment at Ohio Dominican University has increased more than 50% in the ensuing years. Institutional financial aid expenditures have stabilized and become predictable despite the significant growth. Net revenue has increased dramatically. The academic quality of entering students has increased […]

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Dr. Wally Sanders President Vanguard Global Institute Globalization is one of the most important factors in today?s business environment. The success of Japan, the Asian Dragons (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan) have been past reminders of a progressive global economy.? However, we now face an even greater challenge from Asia ? China. The increasing competitiveness of the global environment has been well established and business educators have begun to focus on the need to internationalize the curricula. Many universities are currently adopting a global mind-set for the good of the institution and students.?

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Michael Tapscott Director of the Multicultural Student Center George Washington University It is no secret that as higher education costs go up, inevitably, many students will be more dependent on financial aid. Recent federal legislation ensures that eligibility for a higher loan amounts will grow while federal grant programs remain stagnant. Loan maximums for freshmen and sophomore students will increase but there will be no corresponding increase in federal grants.

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John W. Dysart President The Dysart Group, Inc. The beginning of April is upon us and there are a few benchmarks that can be reviewed by top administrators at private colleges and universities. The following do not apply to institutions that can consistently rely on the national reply date to secure their class of new students.? At least 70 percent of applications for admission should either be accepted or rejected at this point. Percentages lower than the recommended amount might be a sigh of poor admission counselor follow-up with admission applicants. Low folder completion rates can also be a sign […]

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