Fewer international students have applied to and enrolled in US institutions, as 40 per cent of US institutions reported a drop in international applications since 2016. Subsequently, US institutions must ensure that their international admissions materials are as equitable and transparent as possible. Expanding previous work, this study examines…

Numerous reports on the US economy argue that American higher education institutions must prepare a greater number of workers for employment in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), in order for the US to remain globally competitive. To do so, addressing the underrepresentation of women and people of color who pursue degrees in STEM…

Modern higher education includes student-consumers who shop for educational opportunities and institutions that actively market themselves. This study examined the marketing of faith-based institutions to determine how faith-related missions are reflected in the printed recruitment materials, Web sites, and admissions portals of the 112 member…

US colleges and universities today intensively market themselves in order to compete for prospective students. One of the most widespread marketing tools used to attract students are admissions viewbooks, which are designed to provide potential students with favorable impressions of the many institutions to which they may apply. In this study, we…

The purpose of this single, intrinsic, evaluative case study was to examine the problem of nontraditional transfer student completion at a private, religious-based, doctoral degree-granting, moderate research university in North Carolina. The following research questions guided the study: (a) How do institutional policies, procedures, and…

Information Resource Management--State University System of Florida (IRM-SUS) is the primary collector and provider of data concerning state universities that is used to make sound education policy decisions. The office provides technical assistance to those using the information, state and federal reporting support, those supplying information,…

The four college years is the last important developmental period of a young person's life, and what happens then can and often does have substantial consequences. He can be awakened and fired up to develop himself and his talents, he can plod through largely untouched or unenlightened, he can be frustrated and turned off, he can transfer, or he…

Presents the theoretical basis and findings of a 1990 study that examined the admission materials and documents of four universities from 1975 to 1985 and beyond through 1990. Examines how the criteria for excellence presented in U.S. News and World Report "Best Colleges" rankings affect institutional repositioning. (MKA)

In contrast to technological predecessors, the Internet affords a prospective student with unlimited and uncontrolled access to formal and informal information about any institution. Article provides four vignettes that illustrate what a prospective student can find on the Internet. Discusses the implications of the Internet on the college…

School sampling has revealed a greater need for colleges to produce better written and more informative college catalogs. (RK)

A study to investigate whether admission personnel actually read letters received from prospective students and responded accordingly, or merely followed a set program--sending material they deemed essential regardless of specific requests for information--is discussed. (MLW)

Information wanted by college catalog readers was determined from a questionnaire in which 232 respondents rated as "essential,""useful," or of "no interest" each of 121 items. Forty-four items rated essential by at least 60 percent of the respondents are listed along with a statistical summary of all responses. (LBH)

Boston College (Massachusetts) conducted focus group research on its admission bulletin during high school visits by having students express preferences for bulletin cover format and content. Students expressed enjoyment of the task, and the process invigorated the visit. The findings resulted in a new cover design researched at little expense to…

Evaluates promotional mailings from 114 colleges and universities received in response to computerized request on Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Notes that few had student focus, many used third party endorsements. Concludes that majority of promotional materials could have been improved with more concise…

For college admissions and publications officers, a focus group of college-bound high school students can offer quick, anecdotal information about the general effectiveness of recruitment materials as well as about specific messages, themes, or design approaches. The insights gained by one publications specialist through the use of focus groups…