How to recruit, keep, and graduate lower-income students

Muhlenberg College this month was named an American Talent Initiative (ATI) High-Flier by Bloomberg Philanthropies, one of a group of 28 high-graduation-rate institutions nationwide recognized as leaders in college access and success for lower-income students. ATI was formed in December 2016 with a goal to attract, enroll, and graduate an additional 50,000 lower-income students at the 341 colleges and universities that consistently graduate at least 70 percent of their students in six years. 

The 28 American Talent Initiative High-Flier institutions include Brown University, Princeton University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Texas-Austin, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Yale University. Muhlenberg received the distinction for the school’s steady gains in lower-income student enrollment since 2015-16, growing share of Pell Grant recipients (awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need), and its innovative recruitment, enrollment and retention practices. 

I was able to discuss these achievements with Muhlenberg College President Kathleen Harring. Click below to listen to the conversation and scroll down for some of the edited highlights:…Read More

4 ways colleges can leverage recruitment

Colleges can gain a competitive advantage and better leverage for lasting success

colleges-leverage-recruitmentFor college recruitment efforts, traditional “push marketing” programs via broadcast television, direct mail and printed marketing collateral materials are consistently showing diminishing returns on investment, while innovative digital “pull marketing” like social media, interactive content marketing and search engine optimization are stimulating true engagement and increasing conversions.

Recognizing this, savvy college recruitment officers are finding new ways to transition their recruitment efforts to advanced digital marketing programs.

Here are four key emerging trends that college recruiters should keep in mind to implement successful “college recruitment 2.0” programs:…Read More

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