Higher Ed Pulse

Episode 63: A Recruitment-Centered Approach to Enrollment Planning and Financial Aid in the Era of COVID-19

Episode Summary

On this week's episode, Zach is joined by Rob Bielby, the Vice President of Analytics & Insights at Whiteboard Higher Education, to discuss how enrollment marketers can more effectively leverage data to make informed enrollment planning and financial aid strategic decisions.

Episode Notes

In a recent Inside Higher Ed piece co-written by leaders at Huron Consulting and Whiteboard Higher Education, the authors noted that “as a rising chorus of higher education leaders and commentators is observing, now may be the time for a great many institutions to set aside hope as the foundation of their strategies going forward and fundamentally reimagine their business models.” 

On this week's episode, Zach is joined by Rob Bielby, the Vice President of Analytics & Insights at Whiteboard Higher Education, to discuss how enrollment marketers can more effectively leverage data to make informed enrollment planning and financial aid strategic decisions.

In light of the higher ed challenges brought on by COVID-19, Rob and Zach dive into the following topics and questions:

• Where does friction exist when it comes to the business model of higher education and how should individuals working in enrollment management, marketing, and graduate admissions have productive conversations about reexamining business models?
• What indicators can enrollment marketers use this fall and into next spring to discern inquiry and applicant quality when they can’t rely as much on some of the things they’re used to depending on, like campus visits?
• How can marketing and communications and enrollment management professionals cultivate, as Rob puts it, a "longer-term enrollment perspective" while managing short-term demands?

Tune in for an exciting discussion about making the best use of your resources to find and attract your best-fit, high-quality applicants, even (and especially) amidst a pandemic.