The NACAC Conference is quickly approaching, and the MARKETview team is thrilled to get together with leaders from across higher ed and attend the thought-provoking sessions our partners are presenting. Jackie Stoneburner, MARKETview Founding Partner, shares why NACAC is such an important moment for the industry.
“There’s nothing better than that face-to-face connection with our partners, and NACAC enables that for us,” Stoneburner said. “It’s a great forum for idea sharing and collaboration with peers across the industry, where you’re learning new things and exchanging ideas. We want to facilitate that in as many ways as we can.”
That spirit of collaboration is shown in all the upcoming presentations. Here are a few we’re most excited about:
1. Reflections from our First Post-SFFA Admissions Cycle
Thursday, September 26 at 1:30 p.m.
Last year’s cycle was full of changes to the status quo for enrollment leaders, among the most impactful of them was the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action. Now that admissions offices can’t consider race, campuses with diversity goals have had to find new avenues for achieving their goals.
Three experts in college opportunity and access from around the marketplace — Eva Blanco Masias from Santa Clara University, Heath Einstein from Texas Christian University and Donnell Wiggins from University of Dayton — are sharing how they used comparative data to identify the critical elements necessary to achieve their mission of promoting diversity. This session will be especially poignant for those who are trying to reach their diversity goals after the SFFA ruling.
2. The Future of Test-Optional: Creating a Measurable and Mission-Driven Case for Your Testing Policy
Friday, September 27 at 9:15 a.m.
With the onset of the pandemic, many schools were forced to adopt ‘test-optional’ admissions policies, with some going even further to be ‘test-free’, meaning test scores are not required or not considered in students’ evaluation at all. As we return to pre-pandemic norms, institutions across the industry are weighing the value of these policies and whether they align with their strategic goals.
A group of campus leaders who are well versed in the admissions data surrounding testing policy — Jason Hale from Texas Tech, Marcela Mejia-Martinez from Chapman University and Steve Pultz from University of San Diego — are sharing how remaining test-optional (or test-blind) has helped them reach their objectives of diversifying their student bodies and increasing enrollment over time. They’ll also be examining some other insightful observations regarding their testing policy and its effect on retention and academic performance.
3. Student Academic Interests are Shifting: New Strategies for Enrolling the Right Students for the Right Programs at the Right Price Point
Friday, September 27 at 9:15 a.m.
As the academic interests of students continue to shift, schools are adapting their programs to meet demand and continue to hit enrollment, revenue and retention goals. To make these difficult choices, campus decision-makers are looking at data from across the marketplace to get the full picture of where students’ preferences lie.
Hear from a panel of higher ed professionals featuring: Michelle Lewis from Washington State University, Matt López from Arizona State University and James Miller from Seattle University, on how they observe aggregated market data to determine the best approach for finding the right-fit students for the right program. They’ll also cover how student interest levels can affect retention and net revenue, as well as the competitive benefits of academic program expansion.
4. The Changing Pell Landscape: Who Benefitted Most – Schools or Families?
Saturday, September 28 at 9:30 a.m.
The recent expansion of Pell-eligibility was intended to grant wider access to higher education for families across the country. This change in the college landscape has prompted enrollment offices to adapt their strategies to better serve this rapidly evolving demographic.
Learn how Susan Dileno from Mount Saint Mary’s University, Lauren Keeling from Bellarmine University, and Matt Magruder from Missouri State University have changed their approach to better recruit and retain Pell-eligible students. They’ll each share their school’s unique stories of Pell success, and how they used marketplace data to achieve their goals.
5. Establishing a Data Playbook: The VPEM’s Guide to Succeeding at a New Institution
Sunday, September 29 at 11:00 a.m.
Stepping into a VPEM role is no easy task in today’s challenging college landscape. Learning the complex nuances of your new institution’s enrollment picture while trying to implement your own direction and objectives can be a delicate balancing act. That’s why a panel of leaders who have been in that tough position are coming together to share how they utilized an analytical approach to succeed in their first year at their respective institutions.
Monica Ingram from Seattle University, Emily Roper-Doten from Clark University, Mark Steinlage Jr. from Rockhurst University and Evelyn Thimba from American University are presenting their firsthand tips for succeeding in a new VPEM role (or any role). Attendees will gain valuable insights on how to best leverage data to develop new enrollment strategies and identify new areas to invest and drive value.
For MARKETview partners, make sure to attend the pre-conference group sessions: Strategic Data Management for Enrollment Leaders and NACAC’s Character Focus Initiative, where MARKETview experts will share their perspectives on how you can better reach your institution’s objectives. We’re looking forward to hearing from all the insightful speakers lined up, and we can’t wait to see all our partners while also making new connections this year!
If you want to learn more about MARKETview’s presence at NACAC, or schedule some one-on-one time with our team, check out our Conference Info Page.