HIGHER EDUCATION CONSULTING

Strategic Enrollment Management is the practice of considering all factors, internal and external that influence college enrollment trends over time. The political and economic landscape, institutional funding, market position, program mix, enrollment proceses and more. How can you prepare for tomorrow’s students and ensure relevancy in today’s shiftng market?

College is going to look different in the next 10-20 years. Market signals indicate a move toward a skills-based curriculum, accelerated pathways, and just-in-time learning. Employers are creating their own learning platforms and relying less on credentials in the hiring process. Gone are the yesteryear models of academia—change and agility just gained critical mass.

The Amazon Effect has impacted higher education too—students and families’ expectations of service, response time, customizability, and efficiency have moved beyond clunky enrollment processes and lengthy financial aid backlogs. It’s time to look at our institutions as a student does and adapt accordingly. If we don’t, students will vote with their feet and go elsewhere.

There is a growing mismatch between academic learning outcomes and what employers need in the workforce. As one example, the trades are desperate for new pipelines of students as they watch their industries buckle under market demand and waves of retirements. Partnerships between employers and education have never been more important as we all adjust to the post-pandemic labor market.