Admissions role in student retention
I feel this is very important. Admissions must not raise student expectations by promising them things that cannot be delivered. They should give the students honest and straight forward information. If everyone, including Admissions, is honest with the students, the students will trust the school, and will be more likely to remain in school to the completion of their degree.
Kevin I fully agree with you. Thank you.
Kevin,
I have worked in admissions and now under the academic umbrella. It is a very difficult task for a career college to balance enrollment and for lack of better wording enroll a good student. In the for profit sector of education we need admissions to enroll students with the intention of helping them make the best decisions regarding their education.
Often times I have used the amusement park analogy to describe what happens in our industry. It is like Six Flags, there is so much anticipation to get to the rides, the fun and the excitement, that standing in the lines, the high cost of all of the food items, and the often exilihrating feeling that we get once we have gotten on the ride, lets face it we can only be amused for so long. After awhile reality kicks in and we realize that we have to get back to work.
That is how many career college applicants seem to view the admissions process. It is only the responsibility of the academic team to provide a quality education, leadership, mentor/peer, tutoring and access to the things that make education a good experience at their campus. Admissions has completed their role which is to present the campus in the best manner possible. It is no different in a four year college when parents arrive utility vehicle filled to the roof with house hold items and the like with the same amusement value in mind and hopes of receiving the same rewards a career college student and their families expect.
Those students years later have the same reality check that admissions assisted them to get in, but they will not be there at the end. It is now time to go to work, do the work and get the job done. It is up to the individual to separate what they came for and if the value of the education is what they really want. Every institution has admissions for a reason.
Final thought - as a Student Services Associate I have first hand knowledge of many of the reasons some students are not staying with their career aspirations. Kevin, it is usually not what admissions did or did not tell them. I have recently read an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education where the person concluded by saying at commencement many graduates at career colleges look for their admissions representative, because they are the face that got them started, if need be kept them going and re-entered them if they left and encouraged them to stick with their dream. It is the amusement analogy they are back on top of the roller coaster headed to the finish.They have full filled their DREAM!
