What is Higher Ed Success? It Starts with Successful Student Recruitment
Student recruitment goes beyond even sharing what a future after attending will look like, though higher ed success is an important factor in a lot of students’ minds.
When looking at Generation Z’s needs in a school, we see priorities of communication and engagement being authentic and supportive. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach that will work for every student, but there are solutions that can be applied on a case-by-case basis with the right data.
Making the Right Connections
Providing students with personalized information can help them make an informed decision. Tools that let potential students connect immediately with a student ambassador they can trust and relate to can assuage feelings of anxiety and create a sense of being supported in their journey. The road to higher education can be fraught with many challenges, especially for students who are the first in their families to attend, haven’t secured funding, or have other competing priorities.
A big factor in a student choosing and attending a school can be based on how much support they believe they will get. Making student connections can be difficult for a lot of incoming students, especially if they haven’t been able to attend the campus in person and participate in social and orientation events. With a peer-to-peer solution like Unibuddy Chat and Unibuddy Community, you can facilitate peer connections, which can be a significant determinant in the quality and quantity of support a possible student receives. You can then use data from these chats to determine what other supports might be helpful in retaining interest and commitment to your institution and offer those as needed.
Related: Student Retention Tools for Higher Education Recruitment
Building a Community
Part of student recruitment is in retention because a student may accept an offer but if they find they’re not getting what they want out of their experience, they may not stay to follow through. Making it easy for students to find what they need, through a community platform, can assure them that they’re making the right decision and can feel confident that it will lead to a good future for them. Aspects like good education delivery and school culture and environment can really sway a potential (and current) student’s attitude and behaviour
The community platform gives students a chance to connect with each other, share information about classes and expectations, clubs and programs, and general student life. Plus, Unibuddy Community can easily scale to fit the resources your administrators and recruiters have by allowing students to seek their own community and source the answers to their questions, as it can be more efficient to help students connect with the community rather than an ambassador. In this way, a student can assess whether or not the institution is a good fit for them, and once they’ve seen that it is, retention becomes easier. Retention can be more about addressing specific issues when they arise and directing students to the departments and support services that can best assist them.
Addressing Student Questions Efficiently
No student wants to feel like they’re not a priority, especially when they’re going to be spending a lot of time, money, and effort to complete a program. Unibuddy Chat can give them quick answers to their questions, fostering the feeling that others care about and are invested in their success and know they have someone to turn to for support and information. Connecting directly with a student ambassador allows a potential student to feel heard and have an authentic experience, where they can learn firsthand of the current solutions, programs, and events that can guide them toward success in their academic path. Before they ever attend their first class, peer support can boost confidence and make them feel like part of the community.
Related: 5 Higher Ed Student Recruitment Tips from the Pros
With proper technology and tools in place, staff working on retention can keep an eye on the chats to see what individual students need. Resources that are tailored to the individual can be sent out, like scholarships and bursaries for the student who is struggling to secure funding or is anxious about the cost of tuition. Students concerned with disability accommodations can be connected directly with information, counsellors and accessibility services on campus.
Continue Extending the Welcome Mat
Reaching out to students to let them know that they are welcomed and supported at your institution is a top priority when students are trying to choose where they’d like to spend the next few years of their academic careers. Being able to offer community and friends before they start can help them make the decision to pick your school. With the data from chats and communities, recruitment officers can make sure that students that are vulnerable to melt or anxiety don’t fall through the cracks by offering solutions specifically for their situations and placing them in the right environments that encourage them to succeed.
