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February, 2007

Recruitment & Retention - February, 2007 - Full Issue PDF
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Focusing Energies: Findings from the 2006 Community College Survey of Student Engagement
The focus of the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) is helping community colleges gather and use data effectively. This annual benchmarking survey highlights several important challenges for colleges and factors for student success that colleges across the nation can learn from.

Double Deposits: Rules? What Rules?
It’s the elephant in the living room. Everybody knows it’s there, but no one wants to talk about it. “It” is the phenomenon of double depositing. Students used to choose just one college and commit to it with a monetary deposit. But times have changed, and so have student and parent behavior.

Case Study: Making Commuters a Priority
Many research studies show that an engaged student is a retained student. But commuters, because of their transience, are difficult to connect with programs and resources. How do you engage these students without leaving them feeling like they’re being smothered?

Better Marketing, Better Retention: Working Across the Student Life Cycle
When does your institution engage in marketing activities? For many colleges and universities, the traditional answer is that marketing occurs when trying to attract potential students to contact, apply to, and eventually enroll in the institution—in short, that marketing is an admission function. However, all thoughts of marketing disappear as soon as students enroll.

OK to Withhold Transcripts for Debts?
Is it OK to withhold official copies of academic transcripts from current students or graduates who owe institutions money? Probably, but not always. Policies requiring students to pay their bills before getting transcripts are enforceable. Court decisions about withholding from students in bankruptcy may vary, however, so consultation with legal counsel on policy and enforcement is recommended.

Developing a Student-Athlete Skills and Support Program
Although student-athletes often have college experiences distinct from other students, not all institutions adequately address the pressures their student-athletes face, says Dr. Julian P. Morrow, a certified sports psychologist who has worked as a consultant to a number of college and professional athletic organizations.

Applicant Background Checks
In fall 2006, the University of North Carolina system denied admission to 84 potential students based on new background checks. After the 2004 murders of two UNC-Wilmington students by other college students, the entire UNC system increased scrutiny of student applications.

Reach Out to Hispanic Families Electronically, Recruiting Study Says
Reaching out electronically to families of prospective students can be particularly important when working with Hispanic populations, according to a recent study of college-bound students.