With an eye on the recent past, admissions leaders implement new strategies
The lessons the higher education community has learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles will remain relevant for years to come.
While it’s impossible to predict the future, here are five lessons the recent crisis has taught us about how to overcome future enrollment challenges:
#1: You need to get creative
Christopher A. Smith, Ph.D., Executive Director of Enrollment Management, Marketing and Financial Aid at Kansas State University Polytechnic, said that involves using custom print communications. “We went through a period of time when millennials didn’t necessarily respond to print material,” said Dr. Smith. “But that’s changing, especially with younger millennials. So, I wanted to find one strategic partner I could work with throughout the entire 15-month lifecycle of my admissions process. Liaison was the right fit. Using their variable print services really separated us from the rest of the pack.”
#2: Moving online increases efficiencies
Rick del Rosario, a former director of admissions and recruitment, believes the COVID-19 outbreak could result in an “effective new approach that could entail not only a greater emphasis on online courses but also a move toward cloud-based processes in admissions. Admissions and enrollment efforts that prioritize efficiency, as well as more sophisticated interaction with applicants, can help institutions weather a crisis.”
#3: Strategic partnerships can ensure business continuity
By processing applications for more hours per day as well as on weekends and holidays, Liaison helps schools overcome staff and time limitations imposed by unforeseen events. With Liaison, your institution will protect itself from disruptive events and maintain “business as usual” admissions operations even if your physical campuses must shut down operations.
#4: You’re stronger as a member of a community
Joining a Centralized Application Service(CAS) means you’ll be participating in a community of like-minded admissions professionals who are working toward goals that are similar to yours and facing challenges similar to those you face. CAS members regularly convene to share their best practices at in-person and digital networking events, such as Liaison’s popular live and on-demand webinars. Being part of a CAS community also increases your program’s visibility to potential applicants.
#5: Constant change requires meaningful communication
Liaison’s CAS and Enrollment Marketing Platform (EMP) allow you to do that easily, regardless of the challenges your institution is facing. “There is nobody else doing what Liaison is doing right now in terms of their partnerships and marketing pieces,” said Dr. Smith. “Working with Liaison is like having a combined enrollment and marketing department.”
The learn more about what COVID-19 has taught the higher education community about overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, read Liaison’s free ebook, “5 Key Lessons from the Pandemic: Overcoming Future Enrollment Management Global Crises.”