By Heather Zimar, Managing Editor, Journals and Publications, ̽»¨Â¥
Facing nearly a decade of declining enrollment, UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ, revitalized its institution through strategic enrollment management planning. Gregory Benedict, Jr., the former assistant dean of enrollment management, highlights in SEMQ’s July issue the college’s historical challenges, including decreasing enrollment and low graduation rates, within the context of the state’s socioeconomic landscape and national higher education trends, such as the “enrollment cliff.”
“UCNJ worked to establish goals that lived throughout the entire enrollment funnel, not just one area, team, or division,” Benedict wrote. “This ‘holistic learning journey,’ the college learned, started from every access point but lived through touch points of the student life cycle during college and as alumni.”
The article details UCNJ's shift in focus to student success under new leadership, the implementation of data-driven initiatives such as "Operation Graduation" and “Project Achievement,” and the college's rebranding efforts to attract a diverse student body, particularly post-traditional learners. Ultimately, it showcases how a holistic SEM approach led to significant increases in graduation and enrollment rates, establishing a new culture of success and strategic growth for the institution.
“The first year of SEM for UCNJ was a great success; however, it is the beginning of a new journey of strategy, assessment, and innovation that requires community buy-in,” Benedict wrote. “UCNJ is fortunate to have an administration that understands that need and doubles down by embedding it in their mission and values for the community it serves.”
Benedict’s article is the latest in the SEM and Community Colleges series in SEMQ. Other articles in the July issue include:
Are We Student Ready? An Exploration into the Experiences of First-Generation Students at a Private, Business-Focused University
by Aimee Leturmy
Dual Credit Students: College Bound or Not? A Qualitative Analysis
by Polly Hulsey
The Role of Preplanning in Organic Strategic Enrollment Management
by Stefanie Ivan
Leading with the Platinum Rule: Engagement Principles for Students and Staff
by Joseph Mews
Potential Bias within Holistic Master’s Admission Processes
by Alyssa Orlando
Review of: The Equality Machine: Harnessing Digital Technology for a Brighter, More Inclusive Future
by Tammy Johnson
For more information or to submit a manuscript, contact the SEMQ managing editor.