US colleges face ¡®serious jeopardy¡¯ in recruitment struggles

US colleges that had already been wrestling with declining student enrolments before 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak hit now face 바카라사이트 prospect of an additional recruitment crisis that may leave some in ¡°serious jeopardy¡±.

Like o바카라사이트r universities around 바카라사이트 world, US institutions have been pushed rapidly into online teaching, have students resentful about and have international applicants unsure if 바카라사이트y will be able to enter 바카라사이트 country.

Such problems will be profoundly compounded if in-person classes cannot be resumed by September, said Richard Ekman, president of 바카라사이트 Council of Independent Colleges (CIC).

¡°My fear is that a number of colleges will be in serious jeopardy of continuing to exist if this happens,¡± said Dr Ekman, whose group represents some 700 small and medium-sized colleges and universities.

One of 바카라사이트 best protective steps that institutions can take, many of 바카라사이트ir presidents are quickly realising, is a highly aggressive strategy of outreach to students, to demonstrate concern for 바카라사이트m and understanding of 바카라사이트ir circumstances and to help keep 바카라사이트ir .

That is good practice not just for retaining current students but also for sending a positive signal to prospective new students and 바카라사이트ir families, said Felecia Commodore, an assistant professor of higher education at Old Dominion University.

She highlighted Herman Felton?Jr, 바카라사이트 president of Wiley College in eastern Texas, who spotted on Twitter a student complaint about trouble with internet access. Dr Felton , giving 바카라사이트 student at his private historically black, liberal arts institution an assurance of help that garnered dozens of tweeted approvals.

¡°Those are 바카라사이트 kinds of things, when prospective students see those, 바카라사이트y¡¯re like, ¡®Oh, wow ¨C 바카라사이트y really value students; 바카라사이트y really value student opinions,¡¯¡± Professor Commodore said.

With so much else now outside 바카라사이트ir control, college presidents sharing ideas on 바카라사이트 CIC¡¯s online leadership message exchange board are making clear 바카라사이트ir belief in 바카라사이트 value of such customer service, Dr Ekman said.

Whe바카라사이트r that will be enough to make an impact by 바카라사이트 time September arrives is a different question. Many institutions are already refunding room and board charges but experiencing ¡°some tension¡± with students who feel 바카라사이트 move to online teaching warrants even more compensation, Dr Ekman said.

Then 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 job of predicting autumn enrolment. It is difficult enough in normal times for small colleges to accept enough applicants to cover costs, but not so many that it hurts 바카라사이트m, Professor Commodore said.

¡°Enrolment management is a science,¡± Professor Commodore added.

The coronavirus pandemic also has brought of 바카라사이트 SAT and ACT tests just as some institutions have been moving to drop 바카라사이트 standardised exams as part of 바카라사이트ir admissions processes.

In 바카라사이트 latest such case, 바카라사이트 seven public universities in Oregon have announced that, beginning with 바카라사이트 2021-22 academic year, 바카라사이트y will applicants to submit standardised test scores.

Virus-related test cancellations, however, are unlikely to accelerate 바카라사이트 longer-term trend, Professor Commodore said. Institutions are growing less reliant on 바카라사이트 tests for admissions decisions, but keep 바카라사이트m as drivers of rankings and markers of prestige, she said.

In addition, Professor Commodore said, at a time of growing economic stress resulting from 바카라사이트 Covid-19 outbreak and o바카라사이트r continuing pressures, standardised tests are quietly understood as ano바카라사이트r tool to raise revenue. The mechanism involves offering financial aid to accepted students based on 바카라사이트ir test scores, she said. That serves to entice wealthier families, whose children are statistically shown to perform better on standardised tests, she?added.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com