Do reasurch before adding a new program.
Accurate and good ressearch along with knowledge and understanding your present, past and potential student bases, companies that hire and do not hire your graduates is imprtant when consiering a new program.
Forming a commitee is an undertaking which requires you to have good networking skills. Also, you need your stakeholders to be representative of the community, and this itself is no easy task. The community in which our organization is located is very diverse. This tells me that we are going to have to determine who is best able to represent these individuals.
At my institution we advocate a "culture of data" and track and report on indicators similar to the ones listed as Institutional Data here. There are absolutely vital to strategic planning, not just for new academic programs but for every move the Institute makes.
One challenge I've found is getting data from withdrawals or prospects who choose not to enroll. I'd love to have a more active pipeline into objections and reasons for withdrawals, but the usual instruments (surveys, phone calls, text messages) don't often work because those constituants have busy lives in which they've already decided my Institute doesn't fit. I'd love to hear how others get those data.
Thanks!
You have to very inclusive in how you obstain infromation! There were a lot of members that were mentioned, so I would have to carefully consider everything before diong or implementing something.
When it comes to national, online programs that span multiple states, narrowing in on communities is a greater challenge. This is something I will consider as I continue my journey.
It is important to reach out to a variety of stakeholders to obtain information. This section listed several members of the community that I did not anticipate or consider contacting to obtain information about the feasibility of a new program.
