Lawlor Advisory’s Post

This month's Lawlor Focus headline is "Catalyst for Future Success" and as we have already referenced this month and mention in the April Focus, AGB’s most recent Trusteeship magazine was full of informative insights that are so relevant to today’s market conditions. AGB’s executive vice president, Mary A. Papazian, opens with a headline that is a dose of reality: “Don’t Sell Higher Ed’s ROI Short.” She writes, “Immediate economic returns are certainly important—no institution wants a student to be in debt decades after they graduate—but relying on this sole metric diminishes the benefits that higher education provides to individuals, our society, and our democracy as a whole.” None of this is a surprise to Lawlor Advisory, but it continues to be a lingering problem for so many colleges and universities. For years we have conducted research with various client constituents on campus and off campus, finding not only price sensitivity, but more importantly, a need for all prospects to hear and know the inherent benefits and value of investing in a particular college or university. Actions speak louder than words, and when the value of a college experience is articulated to others by students, faculty, staff and alumni, the word spreads about why a specific college is a great investment today and tomorrow. This is another reminder for the campus community to collaborate together about viable solutions that are relevant today. The result will be people supporting what they help create, and their passion will definitely be persuasive to so many others. #higheredleadership #highered #collegesanduniversities #enrollmentmanagement #alumnisuccess #value #smartinvestment https://lnkd.in/gW2738PW

Higher education faces rising skepticism from all quarters. But, as I argue in my essay in AGB's Trusteeship, measuring the ROI to students isn’t just about playing defense. Analyzing student outcomes is also key to boosting student success: helping administrators understand how each program is delivering for students over the long-term and identifying the work needed to ensure that all students are able to reach their full potential. While faculty may bristle at reducing the value of an education to a monetary figure, the right basket of measures – including not only earnings but also graduate underemployment, economic mobility, social mobility, and further degree attainment – can offer a more holistic perspective on how well schools are serving their students. Educators are trained to put students first. But putting students first means putting graduates’ opportunities first. When the price of college continues to rise even as long-term wage growth largely stagnates, opting to disregard the economics of the bachelor’s degree is a luxury most Americans can’t afford. Please have a read through my essay – including an overview of some recent experiments The Burning Glass Institute has undertaken to develop a wider array of outcomes metrics – and let me know what you think.  Thanks much to the AGB (Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges) for the opportunity to write on this topic, and to Merrill Schwartz, Erin Taylor Geraghty, Doug Goldenberg-Hart, and of course Burning Glass Senior Fellow and AGB EVP Mary Papazian for their help. #highereducation #collegesanduniversities #careers #career #university https://lnkd.in/eAWc3g2f

In his article "Why ROI Matters: Colleges Should Embrace Accountability for What Happens After Graduation," Matt Sigelman discusses how higher education is moving away from traditional metrics like selectivity and research achievements towards a growing emphasis on providing clear, financial evidence of student success post-graduation. University leaders have an opportunity to prove the degree’s worth through data on graduate outcomes. A comprehensive set of measures, including earnings, underemployment, and economic mobility, can provide a more nuanced understanding of educational effectiveness. #highereducation #collegesanduniversities #careers

It is time individual #universities & the sector at large started measuring the ROI of #internationaleducation, with anti-#immigration rhetoric & policy on the rise, the sector needs a well evidenced counter narrative. Collecting international outcomes & destinations data for #internationalgraduates returning to their home countries to embark on their #earlycareers should be fundamental to all #university’s strategies now & in the #future! Matt Sigelman writes “Today, #highereducation institutions face growing skepticism from all quarters. Timeworn tropes about the self-actualization & honed powers of critical thinking #students achieve through a #degree or about the formative nature of the #college experience, however accurate, seem to have lost their prior persuasiveness. Similarly, the public seems less willing than in the past to accept selectivity, faculty publications, or #research advances as barometers of #educational quality. For #university leaders & trustees, this newfound scrutiny is often as uncomfortable as it feels unwarranted. Yet, in this moment of skepticism also lies an opportunity. By measuring post-completion success, institutions can build a powerful evidence base for the #degree’s positive impacts, facilitate data-driven conversations with concerned stakeholders, & justify line items in state appropriations. The information can also help administrators to understand where & how various programs are best delivering returns on investment (ROI) for students over the long-term, & identify the targeted actions needed to ensure that all students are able to reach their full potential. While faculty may bristle at reducing the value of an #education to a monetary figure, the right basket of measures, including not only earnings but also #graduate underemployment & economic mobility, can offer a more holistic perspective on how well #schools are serving their students … With that in mind, we will assume as a matter of principle that gauging #career success is an important measure of accountability for any institution’s commitment to students. Educators put students first everyday but somehow feel that measuring #graduateoutcomes is antithetical to the foundational tenets of the academy. Yet, in study after study, students report that they see a college education as the key to unlocking a great #career. In our silence, however, other voices–many increasingly hostile to higher education–are filling the void. While we may pretend it isn’t true, money does talk. In the case of college, it can have a great story to tell.” Asia Careers Group SDN BHD AIEA - Association of International Education Administrators AUIDF British Council BUILA International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) NAFSA: Association of International Educators National Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (NAGCAS) Regional Universities Network The Group of Eight UCAS UKCISA Universities Australia Universities Canada Universities UK

One great advantage of applying to college Early Decision or Early Action is getting an admissions decision before the new year. Unfortunately, the reality isn't always so kind. Many applicants find that they've been neither accepted nor rejected but deferred. If you find yourself in this limbo, I have for you here some guidelines for proceeding...... Keep reading this informative article from ThoughtCo. https://lnkd.in/gjDvXVDe

An Early Decision application is a serious commitment on both sides. When a student decides to apply to a college ED, that student may apply to other institutions under an Early Action (EA) plan, but they may submit only one ED application. If an ED applicant is not admitted but is deferred to the Regular Decision (RD) cycle, they’re released from the ED agreement and are free to accept any other college’s offer of admission. Read on here: https://lnkd.in/dzxs-mcF #collegeadvisor #collegeadmissions

“In my experience working with transfer students, especially highly engaged #PTK members, I have learned they want to connect sooner rather than later. I know I had to keep the channels open and respond to them individually, which can be challenging but worth it since higher touch points result in higher yield.” Wise words from Paul Singh, M.A., couldn't agree with you more! 👏 #transferrecruitment #emchat #highered #transfer #studentsuccess #collegeadmission #collegesanduniversities #ptkconnect #iamptk #partnersinexcellence

Transfer enrollment rates are on the rise, and your search and yield strategy for transfers should be as unique as these students. We talked with Paul Singh, M.A., the Associate Director of College Relations at Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society International, to better understand how admissions can provide the utmost support for transfer students. Special thanks to Paul for his insight on this article! #transfer #enrollmentmanagement #higheredmarketing #PTK https://bit.ly/3RhbEqE

It's March, which means that over the next four weeks each of the campuses in the University of California system will begin releasing admissions decisions, which each year reminds of how stressful it can be to watch your child hear back from schools. In light of the stress that comes with watching your child hear back about which colleges he/she/they gets admitted to or not, I felt like sharing with those going through it what I shared with my daughters when they went through it... It is hard to hear when you're not admitted or that you're wait-listed to some places. So here is a shoulder to cry on, and a hug to hold you, and it'll be there as long as you need it. Please remember this... Your self-worth is not based on to which colleges you get admitted to or not. The place you attend is not what makes you great. You are already great, and you will continue to be great. The way in which you will change the world - and you will change the world - does not require that you attend a particular university or college, or pursue a particular major. Try not to spend the energy comparing yourself to others you know who got into places you didn't. The college admissions process is more complicated than just a 1:1 comparison of GPA or some other variable. And, dwelling on comparison to others, in this and in life, is just a waste of your energy. Instead... Know that we believe in you and the change you will make in this world. Know that we are so very proud of you for who you have been, who you are now, and who you will become. In all things, whether college choice, relationships, friendships, etc... go where you are wanted, go where you are appreciated.

https://lnkd.in/efeNtDXg The conclusion here is fantastic “All this reveals that the ultimate win in the game of admissions is less about the applicant and their needs, and much more about a college protecting its prestige (or better yet, improving its standing) as well as its bottom line in filling a class that meets certain enrollment and revenue goals.’ Less and less in university admission is about the student The juggernaut of the institution rolls on (or folds when the numbers don’t add up!) For colleagues, recognize this playing field and talk to your senior administrators about the reality on the ground. For students and parents, encourage diversification. Relying on past knowledge is not enough.