The needs of those who work and learn in institutions of higher education require environments that reflect their preferences and culture more than ever before. That's why experiential branding and wayfinding have become integral parts of an institution's architectural expression. While the brand—the story of who you are and why you exist as an institution— […]
There is no greater financial investment in one's future than a college degree. While this viewpoint has its critics, the reality is the value of a degree has never been greater. Despite public questions about a degree's worth, the pay gap between college graduates and those without a degree reached a high in 2013. According […]
The number of Americans age 18 to 21, the traditional college age, has decreased by nearly 700,000 since 2011—from 18.1 to 17.4 million—according to research from the University of Virginia. With this decline, many colleges could turn to older non-first-time students to maintain enrollment numbers and financial goals. Yet, more than 2.5 million adult learners […]
In the business world, products sometimes price themselves out of the market and provide an opening for competitors. Because of strong demand for what they offer, universities have long been able to raise tuitions without triggering this effect. But today we have controversy about the burden of student loans (a movie expose, "Ivory Tower," opened […]
The go-to data point used to indicate whether an institution is helping students reach success has tended to be its graduation rate. Post-graduation employment is another indicator that colleges and universities will note for ROI-focused students and families. While these signs of success aren't going anywhere, the definition of student success has evolved to include […]
Strategic planning is a serious business. At Emerson College in Boston, it's also been turned into an online game that everyone on campus can play. The private college with 3,700 students tapped its own Engagement Game Lab to create a series of question-based missions that allow students, faculty, staff and alumni to share ideas about […]
More transfer students will now have the chance to obtain an associate degree—with-out extra administrative burden—thanks to a Lumina Foundation grant that National Student Clearinghouse received to provide an automated solution for exchanging reverse transfer student data. With this technology (currently in phase-one development in Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin), four-year schools will send academic data […]
Paying students to explore entrepreneurial ideas: Hope College in Michigan pays students $10 an hour for up to 10 hours a week when they enroll in entrepreneurial programs offered by its Center for Faithful Leadership (CFL). In the CFL Incubator course, students create ideas for businesses and products; in the consulting track, future entrepreneurs help […]
Last January, The Campaign for Oregon State University surpassed its $1 billion goal—almost a year ahead of schedule. It was the university's first comprehensive campaign, and it also exceeded its goal of raising $200 million for facilities and equipment—providing all or part of the funds for building, renovating or acquiring more than two dozen facilities. […]
Even in this age of tight budgets, college and university leaders are directing funds and attention to the all-important issues of institutional and student success. This is mission-critical because while the number of students attending college is increasing, the number of those who complete is not. The federal government reported a 31 percent graduation rate […]
