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While institutions would like to be looking at long-term strategic planning, most are still embroiled in short-term decisions related to the upcoming fall semester. When asked to select where their primary focus is today, 77% of respondents chose the fall 2020 term. When asked about their top three priorities for student success, retaining current students (80%), offering more online/hybrid classes (55%) and enrolling more students (48%) topped the list.
Despite the rapid growth in working adult, online and part-time learners over the last decade — and the high numbers of these post-traditional students expected to pursue further higher education in an economic recession — most institutional leaders indicated they are much more likely to focus on enrolling traditional-aged, first-time, full-time residential students.
Among leaders at four-year public institutions, 42% listed enrollment of traditional students among their top three priorities versus just 15% who listed enrolling post-traditional students. The results from four-year private institutions showed an even wider range, with 62% listing traditional student enrollment in the top while only 16% cited working adult, online and part-time learners. For leaders at public two-year schools, the numbers were a coin toss, at 34% versus 32%.
Facing uncertain enrollment numbers and budget shortfalls, higher ed leaders surveyed expect budgets to either remain similar or be cut across most student success areas. As a result, they plan to address their student success concerns with training and development for existing staff, rather than hiring new staff or contracting with outside services providers.
Even amid the economic uncertainty, there are a few areas where a significant number of administrators are optimistic about having additional financial resources. This includes student financial aid (53%), mental health/counseling services (38%) online/hybrid program development (34%) and closing equity/achievement gaps (26%). Respondents said they are most likely to leverage outside services providers to support mental health/counseling services (31%).
While the top-level results were fairly consistent across institution types and sizes, there were some interesting distinctions.
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