Inside Higher Ed
April 16, 2019 Enrollment Management Trends
A study conducted across 10 community colleges in Ohio showed that personalizing emails and other correspondence for students increased enrollment in summer courses. Specifically, informing students about available tuition assistance and gap funding, as well as potential courses in which to enroll had a positive impact on summer attendance.
Inside Higher Ed
April 11, 2019 Student Success
Historical support of first-generation students tends to focus on potential knowledge gaps the students may have and how to overcome them. In order to best support first-generation students on campus, a necessary recognition of the challenges they face balanced with identifying and expressing the skills and unique perspective these students possess is essential.
NPR
April 04, 2019 Student Success
Free college programs for adult students, such as Tennessee Reconnect, help eliminate the financial burden that comes with enrolling in school. However, other factors such as work and family also hinder an adult student’s ability to stay enrolled in and complete school. Targeted additional support and ensuring processes for enrolling, registering, and advising are seamless are a few ways to provide assistance to this specialized population of students.
Inside Higher Ed
April 01, 2019 Admissions
More than 30 colleges and universities across the country have announced that they will no longer require SAT or ACT scores with their applications for admission. The decision to do so is guided by an effort to increase diversity, as many institutions that have dropped testing requirements have reported gains in minority applications and enrollment, without a decrease in graduation rates. This movement to test optional began with small, liberal arts schools, but is now moving to larger and more competitive schools.
Education Dive
March 22, 2019 Student Success
James Jacobs, president emeritus of Macomb Community College outlines the ways in which community colleges must change to help their students transfer successfully into the workforce. STEM programs in particular assist students transferring in to four-year colleges. Workforce training and apprenticeship programs help students who intend on obtaining full time employement upon graduation.
NPR
March 13, 2019 Enrollment Management Trends, Research
The current average six-year completion rate for post-secondary institutions is 58.3%. While the numbers are up overall, they are far too low and can vary widely depending on the type of school. As the student body continues to diversify, colleges and universities need to examine how to best adapt to the changing needs of those enrolled.
Education Dive
March 12, 2019 Student Success, Value and Affordability
Work-study programs can both improve career readiness and retention on college campuses. A new report from NASPA explores how colleges and universities can design and administer on-campus student employment as a high-impact practice.
The Education Trust
March 06, 2019 Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success
The vast majority of colleges and universities across the United States do not have a Black student population that reflects the state’s demographics. Less than half of Americans (43 percent), hold a college degree, and less than one-third of the Black population holds a college degree. A recent report published by Education Trust provides actionable questions for leaders in states to ask as part of a statewide review of educational equity.
Education Dive
March 04, 2019 Student Success
Studies have shown that less than half of college students use their college’s career services. To make these career services more accessible and applicable to students, colleges are beginning to change the way they present career preparedness. Initiatives such as exposing students to careers as early as freshman year, and setting up required milestones for students to meet are beginning to be implemented.
Education Dive
February 26, 2019 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
Despite state funding for public two- and four-year colleges decreasing in recent years, only 29% of U.S. adults correctly recognized this trend. Across the country, colleges are trying to make up the deficits by increasing tuition, retaining less faculty, removing courses, and even shutting down campuses. If voters do not see this as a prevalent issue, it will be difficult to make the case for increased state investment.