Contrary to popular misconception, our student-athletes in higher education are persisting and completing their programs of study on time. According to Gallup and collegiate athletic association reports, student-athletes actually outperform their non-athlete classmates in persistence and graduation in a wide and varied range of program majors. Increasingly, student-athletes have chosen to study the diversified fields […]
As textbook sales have declined, campus stores are relying on promotions to attract students who might not otherwise have a reason to visit. The wave of special events continues year-round in an attempt to drive business beyond the pre-semester rush.
As higher ed futurists, we are asked about craven competition, niche branding, and distinctive marketing opportunities for a wide range of schools, colleges, and universities. One emergent strategic option for Engineering Institutes is to burnish their unique engineering, science, and technology niche, yet leverage the attributes and competitive advantages that come with attaining University Status. […]
When it comes to underserved student populations, one group is often left out of the conversation: American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has launched a new consortium to address the needs of these populations, powered by a three-year, $990,000 Lumina Foundation grant. Angela Rochat, coordinator for evaluation policy and […]
In what ways do you see colleges falling short in utilizing data to make better admissions recruitment and acceptance decisions? What kinds of data should they be using more of or better? “Many colleges are not viewing their admissions decisions through the lens of retention and degree completion. Institutions should understand the profile of their […]
College admissions teams now go beyond zip codes and SAT scores to micromatch students who are most likely to apply to, enroll in and succeed at their institutions. In this new era, administrators consider everything from a student's interests and non-school activities to what they like on Facebook and how long they spent on the […]
In the winter of my first year at the University of Minnesota, a fellow student proposed screening his carefully made VHS recordings of the 16-hour Live Aid “super concert.” Seen by more than a billion people when it was broadcast earlier that year, the support for rebroadcast in the TV lounge of the Middlebrook Hall […]
In San Antonio, Texas, men's basketball teams from two higher ed institutions will soon play for a national title to conclude the "March Madness" tournament. The NCAA Division I championship will air in prime time on national television, with hundreds of media members on hand to chronicle the game. Just over a week earlier and […]
Mentorship is widely regarded as a high-impact practice in various learning environments—from hospitals to science laboratories to leadership development programs. With proven examples of the power of mentorship in place, it is time to approach this educational practice more systematically and intentionally. One area with tremendous promise for such a systemic approach is helping students […]
We are in the business of teaching and learning. So why not expand our learning and explore our mistakes—and the lessons we absorb from them? With almost 20 years on the communications side of higher education, I've learned a great deal from key stakeholders and my brilliant teams. But I've learned from my mistakes, too. […]
