Deans, executive officers, staff take part in enrollment management retreat

During Wright State’s enrollment management retreat, David Kalsbeek (second from left), senior vice president for enrollment management & marketing at DePaul University in Chicago, talks with Robert Sweeney (far left), executive vice president for planning; Berkwood Farmer (second from right), dean of the Raj Soin College of Business; and Bonnie Mathies, dean of the Lake Campus.

In an effort to shape Wright State University’s future enrollment strategy, the deans and vice presidents met in a retreat that featured one of the fathers of enrollment management.

David Kalsbeek, Ph.D., senior vice president for enrollment management & marketing at DePaul University in Chicago, also shared his experience with associate deans, college and student support staff and the enrollment management leadership team during the day-long retreat, which was held August 18 in the Student Union.

“This year’s retreat was unique because we’re partnering with the academic units in this way for the first time,” said Jacqueline McMillan, Ph.D., vice president for enrollment management. “We’ve come together to determine how we can be more intentional in managing our enrollment growth and supporting student academic success. We’re hoping to coordinate our efforts in ways we haven’t before.”

McMillan said the discussions focused on using market analysis and research data to support strategic enrollment decisions, developing academic programs that meet both mission and market demand, considering alternative delivery methods for academic programs, and strategies for optimizing financial aid and scholarship resources.

Kalsbeek detailed his experience at DePaul, which has seen its enrollment grow 20 percent over the past 10 years.

He discussed the history and evolution of enrollment management and its core concepts. He talked about models that characterize institutions that have become more intentional in shaping their enrollment outcomes, including student success and degree completion.

“Enrollment is not just something that happens to an institution,” Kalsbeek said. “It isn’t just a function of demography; it isn’t just a function of the programs you offer. You can deliberately shape the profile, the quality, the mix of the students that come through by mobilizing institutional resources.”

Kalsbeek said the key to good enrollment management is to effectively collaborate among all units, including the colleges, admissions, financial aid, marketing and student services. Objectives can include improvements in enrollment, program mix, pricing, diversity, access, graduation, employment outcomes and student satisfaction.