Day:
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Time:
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
First Learning Outcome: How research can be used to strengthen data-driven decision making
Second Learning Outcome: How data transparency across the institution is essential
Third Learning Outcome: How the ability to pivot and provide research quickly is essential for navigating a crisis
Core Competencies: Collaborative Decision-Making and Consensus-Building, Interpretation and Application of Institutional and External Data
Proficiencies: Enrollment Management: SEM Assessment, Enrollment Management: SEM Leadership
Intended Audience: Significant experience in the profession, Senior management (President, Provost, Vice President, Vice Provost)
Healing through data and research: What to do when everything is "unprecedented"
Category
Session
Description
What do you do when everything is unprecedented? Panic and fear pervades academia, yet everyone looks to enrollment management to solve the budgetary crises. Historical data provides little insight, as the landscape has changed. See how one institution took a multi-faceted, proactive approach to original research and data transparency to identify opportunities for strategic enrollment and targeted communication. Discussions and examples of research and data transparency across the university will include:
VCU conducted one of the first research studies on the impact of COVID-19 on graduating seniors, leveraging new technology for a strong response rate. Results predicted matriculation amongst freshmen. This identified research study also showed that each student needed different support, enabling tailored outreach to be developed to the needs of each student.
While historical data could not be used to forecast enrollment, VCU focused on leveraging historical data to track year-over-year changes and to maintain its commitment to access and equity. Ensuring that no groups were disadvantaged by administrative and modality changes was critical to ensuring success for our students.
Additional research was conducted on both new and continuing students to identify the impact of course modalities on student enrollment by health district. With COVID-19 cases affecting some regions more than others, assessing course modalities by health district isolated the impact of rising cases on course modality choices and whether students were willing to attend in person.
VCU not only uses institutional data and quantitative research, but interviews students and other key stakeholders to better understand the nuances of experiences at and with VCU. Quantitative data only shows one side of the picture, so this session will also demonstrate how strategic qualitative research is imperative for strong decision making.
While these research topics only provide a sampling of how VCU continues to navigate the pandemic, the ability to conduct research quickly and constantly navigate the impact of decisions on students is essential.
Submission ID:
13794
Presenter(s):
Amy Hutton Virginia Commonwealth University