PSU: “Trustees committee hears update on enrollment strategies”

BobPSU92

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Oct 12, 2021
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See the link below. From the article:

”UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s efforts to enhance enrollment across all its campus locations in order to address demographic changes and competitive pressures were the focus of a recent update provided to a Board of Trustees committee.

Matt Melvin, vice president for enrollment management, discussed the University’s enrollment priorities and strategic challenges during a presentation to the Committee on Academic Affairs, Research and Student Life on March 16.“


And,

”Melvin discussed the overall market structure of higher education, and the market position of Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses versus private and public institutions around the country, based on demand and cost.

Penn State is prioritizing a stronger focus on a data-centric, research-based approach to enrollment management; removing traditional organizational silos between areas such as financial aid and enrollment; focusing on data analytics; and creating a consistent, unified pre-enrollment experience for students and their families as they navigate a complex decision-making process, he said.

“Rather than leading with facts about the University, let’s first talk with prospective students about their aspiration. What is driving their expectations?” Melvin said. “If we can talk to students about their preferences and motivations, we can then draw from our expansive portfolio of academic programs and student engagement opportunities across the commonwealth to connect them with the right campus and major to meet their needs. Whether it’s at University Park, whether it’s at a Commonwealth Campus, or through a combination of approaches, there’s something at Penn State for everyone.”

There are opportunities for growth at Penn State’s 19 undergraduate campuses located outside of University Park, he said. With a campus within 30 miles of 96% of Pennsylvania residents, Melvin emphasized that Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses are an integral part of local communities, helping to provide affordable world-class educational opportunities to students statewide and boosting regional economies as part of Penn State’s broader land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach.“



It is important to know what your customers, and prospective customers, want and need, their value drivers, and then deliver on that value. But that paragraph in bold (my emphasis). Jesus.
 
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GrimReaper

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2021
6,419
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See the link below. From the article:

”UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s efforts to enhance enrollment across all its campus locations in order to address demographic changes and competitive pressures were the focus of a recent update provided to a Board of Trustees committee.

Matt Melvin, vice president for enrollment management, discussed the University’s enrollment priorities and strategic challenges during a presentation to the Committee on Academic Affairs, Research and Student Life on March 16.“


And,

”Melvin discussed the overall market structure of higher education, and the market position of Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses versus private and public institutions around the country, based on demand and cost.

Penn State is prioritizing a stronger focus on a data-centric, research-based approach to enrollment management
; removing traditional organizational silos between areas such as financial aid and enrollment; focusing on data analytics; and creating a consistent, unified pre-enrollment experience for students and their families as they navigate a complex decision-making process, he said.

“Rather than leading with facts about the University, let’s first talk with prospective students about their aspiration. What is driving their expectations?” Melvin said. “If we can talk to students about their preferences and motivations, we can then draw from our expansive portfolio of academic programs and student engagement opportunities across the commonwealth to connect them with the right campus and major to meet their needs. Whether it’s at University Park, whether it’s at a Commonwealth Campus, or through a combination of approaches, there’s something at Penn State for everyone.”

There are opportunities for growth at Penn State’s 19 undergraduate campuses located outside of University Park, he said. With a campus within 30 miles of 96% of Pennsylvania residents, Melvin emphasized that Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses are an integral part of local communities, helping to provide affordable world-class educational opportunities to students statewide and boosting regional economies as part of Penn State’s broader land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach.“



It is important to know what your customers, and prospective customers, want and need, their value drivers, and then deliver on that value. But that paragraph in bold (my emphasis). Jesus.
Underlined a segment of the paragraph you put in boldface. Wonder if what he means by "enrollment" is "admissions." If so, that indicates that they are considering moving away from a policy of need-blind admissions (which they skirt anyway by other means). An additional, but by no means new, tool of "enrollment management" has been to move away from concentrating grant-based financial aid to applicants demonstrating the greatest need to families who can otherwise afford to pay, but for whom a grant might be an incentive to choose a school. By way of example, say the cost of attendance is $45k. Applicant A can afford nothing and would need a full ride. Rather than make that award, the school offers grants of $5k each to five applicants, each of whom can otherwise afford the full cost. You can see what it does to the student body and, more importantly, the school's cash flow.
 

PSUFTG

Well-known member
Nov 1, 2021
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See the link below. From the article:

”UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s efforts to enhance enrollment across all its campus locations in order to address demographic changes and competitive pressures were the focus of a recent update provided to a Board of Trustees committee.

Matt Melvin, vice president for enrollment management, discussed the University’s enrollment priorities and strategic challenges during a presentation to the Committee on Academic Affairs, Research and Student Life on March 16.“


And,

”Melvin discussed the overall market structure of higher education, and the market position of Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses versus private and public institutions around the country, based on demand and cost.

Penn State is prioritizing a stronger focus on a data-centric, research-based approach to enrollment management; removing traditional organizational silos between areas such as financial aid and enrollment; focusing on data analytics; and creating a consistent, unified pre-enrollment experience for students and their families as they navigate a complex decision-making process, he said.

“Rather than leading with facts about the University, let’s first talk with prospective students about their aspiration. What is driving their expectations?” Melvin said. “If we can talk to students about their preferences and motivations, we can then draw from our expansive portfolio of academic programs and student engagement opportunities across the commonwealth to connect them with the right campus and major to meet their needs. Whether it’s at University Park, whether it’s at a Commonwealth Campus, or through a combination of approaches, there’s something at Penn State for everyone.”

There are opportunities for growth at Penn State’s 19 undergraduate campuses located outside of University Park, he said. With a campus within 30 miles of 96% of Pennsylvania residents, Melvin emphasized that Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses are an integral part of local communities, helping to provide affordable world-class educational opportunities to students statewide and boosting regional economies as part of Penn State’s broader land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach.“



It is important to know what your customers, and prospective customers, want and need, their value drivers, and then deliver on that value. But that paragraph in bold (my emphasis). Jesus.
Here is the meeting that is cited in the story (it is publicly available/viewable):

March 16, 2023 Academic Affairs, Research & Student Life Committee Meeting - Penn State MediaSpace (kaltura.com)

Matt Melvin addresses some questions from the Trustees at around the 23 minutes mark - I pose some questions to Matt starting at around the 27 minute mark - which I think are critical issues (and have been critical issues for the last several years)
 
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