Navigating Enrollment Challenges: Ocean County College

As waves of change rock the world of higher education, institutions can be left scrambling for solid ground. Modern and unique challenges significantly impact student enrollment processes in colleges and universities. Amidst these shifting paradigms, Ocean County College (OCC) is charting a proactive path through the choppy seas of student enrollment and retention.

Challenges in Modern College Enrollment

The world of education is currently navigating two major changes:

1. Decreasing Student Population: Forecasts suggest a challenging future for universities and colleges. By 2037, they can expect fewer students to enroll. Reports suggest that the number of high school graduates in the US is expected to peak at 3.9 million with the class of 2025, with a predicted decline of 15% in the college-aged population between 2025 and 2029.
2. Impact of Homeschooling During the Pandemic: The pandemic caused many schools to close, leading to a spike in homeschooling. What began as a short-term solution for many families extended over a longer period. This rise in homeschooling has sparked concerns among educational experts. But are these homeschooled students as ready for college as those who attended traditional schools? Universities and colleges are now faced with understanding and addressing the unique needs and preparation levels of this new group of students.

Building Innovation with CRM Recruit

Ellucian's CRM Recruit, provided OCC with a centralized digital profile for every student to streamline interactions as a way to help counteract their 12-step matriculation process. Automated communication strategies and self-adjusting lists based on student activity effectively eliminated the need for manual email checks, moving the institution out of reactive approaches and into proactive solutions.

Not only did this updated system facilitate efficient communication, but it also enabled a team-oriented approach to boost student engagement. With a newly enhanced dashboard, calls were organized, offering a complete picture of a student's last communication, their next steps, and overall progression.

OCC's Tangible Success

The story of OCC's transformative journey offers several fundamental lessons for institutions aiming to move forward instead of looking back.

1. Adopt Technology, But Humanize the Experience: OCC seamlessly integrated cutting-edge systems such as CRM Recruit. However, they remained cognizant of the enduring importance of genuine human connections. Their goal was to harness technology to enhance, not replace, the personal aspects of student communication.
2. Stay Ahead of the Curve: Instead of passively waiting for students to come to them, OCC adopted a proactive stance. They anticipated student needs and crafted a dynamic communication strategy that responded to these needs while also setting the stage for future interactions.
3. Evolve with the Times: The rise of Gen Z learners in colleges comes with distinct expectations shaped by a lifetime in the digital age. Institutions face a dual task: prepare these students for academia and adapt their practices to cater to new perspectives. The focus should pivot from merely preparing students for college to reshaping colleges to be ready for these students. To remain relevant, institutions must customize their communications, move away from generic strategies, and keep pace with current educational trends and shifts.

A Beacon for the Future of Enrollment

Backed by Ellucian's CRM Recruit, OCC's journey stands as a testament to the evolving dynamics of higher education. Relying on broad, one-size-fits-all strategies is no longer viable. For institutions to thrive, they must integrate advanced technology while maintaining genuine human connections. By tailoring the enrollment process to prioritize students' individual needs and experiences, we can pave the way for a bright future of higher education that's more responsive, flexible, and student-focused.

Learn more about generating your student-centric strategies with Ellucian.