Main Content

Syllabus

HIED 860: Enrollment Management

Studies three stages of enrollment management: Pre-admission, initial student experience, and student success and completion.

The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.



Overview

This course is designed to introduce you to key components of strategic enrollment management. The course is divided into three parts. The first part, which contains the initial three lessons, introduces core themes that permeate the class while also introducing you to field of enrollment management. The second part addresses the core activities associated within enrollment management: recruitment, admissions, financial aid, and retention. The final part of the course focuses on current trends in enrollment management.


Course Objectives

  1. Explore the key theoretical and conceptual frameworks that help one better understand the work conducted by enrollment managers.
  2. Recognize that enrollment management varies in terms of organizational structure, job functions, and required competencies among higher education institutions.
  3. Become familiar with the fundamentals of student recruitment, including: marketing, identifying potential students, and data-driven recruitment.
  4. Describe the admissions process and alternative approaches to admissions, e.g. rolling admissions vs. selective admissions and eligibility vs. holistic evaluation.
  5. Describe the key components of an overall tuition and aid program: tuition and fees, need-based aid programs, merit-based aid programs, and aid programs designed to increase net tuition revenue.
  6. Examine the complexities associated with measuring student retention, theories and models of student success, and policies and practices that can promote student success.

Required Course Materials

Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.

Using the Library

Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can

  • access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
  • borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
  • get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
  • much more. 

You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service.  The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.


Technical Requirements

Technical Requirements
Operating System

Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. 

To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications.

Browser

Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using.

Please note that Canvas does not support the use of Internet Explorer. Students and instructors should choose a different browser to use.   

To determine if your browser is supported, please review the list of Canvas Supported Browsers.


Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites.
Additional Canvas Requirements For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications.
Additional Software

All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Students will need a PDF reader, such as Adobe Reader.

Hardware

Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution
Audio: Microphone, Speakers
Camera (optional, recommended): Standard webcam - many courses may require a webcam for assignments or exam proctoring software.

Mobile Device (optional) The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements.


Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)

During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.


If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.

For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!


Course Requirements and Grading

Grading

Assignment Breakdown
Assignment Name Location Point/Percentage Value
Discussion Forums: Total: 5 12 pts
Introductions Discussion Forum Lesson 1 1 pt
Admit One: Last Minute Applicant Selections Lesson 1 4 pts
Current Event: Connecting to the Pipeline, Funnel, and Iron Triangle Lesson 2 4 pts
Admission Issues - Discussion Forum Lesson 6, Part 1 3 pts
Lessons Learned Discussion Lesson 12, Part 2 N/A
Course-Long Discussion Forum Every Lesson N/A
Writing Assignments & Quizzes Total: 11 60 pts
Demonstrating Competency Lesson 3 4 pts
Importance of Characteristics Quiz Lesson 4, Part 1 3 pts
Perception of Characteristics Quiz Lesson 4, Part 2 3 pts
Institutional Website Analysis Lesson 4, Part 2 7 pts
Name Buy Lesson 4, Part 3 8 pts
Key Philosophical Issues in Admission Lesson 5, Part 3 4 pts
Promoting Access Quiz Lesson 6, Part 2 3 pts
Tuition Discounting, Part A Lesson 6, Part 2 6 pts
Tuition Discounting, Part B Lesson 6, Part 3 6 pts
Review of Retention Data Lesson 7, Part 1 8 pts
Student Success Interventions Lesson 7, Part 2 8 pts
Topic Exploration Total: 5 28 pts
Selection of Topic Discussion Lesson 4, Part 1 2 pts
Topic Exploration Check-In Discussion Lesson 6, Part 1 2 pts
Topic Presentation Discussion Lesson 8, Part 1 12 pts
Topics Synchronous Discussion Lesson 8, Part 2 6 pts
Topic Reflection Paper Lesson 8, Part 2 6 pts
 
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies. If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.

For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.

Course Schedule

Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).

Course Schedule
Lesson Breakdown
Lesson 1: Course Introduction
Readings:

Textbook

  • Chapter 2: Understanding the Context - pp. 18-30
Assignments:
  1. Introduction Discussion Forum
  2. Admit One Discussion Forum
Lesson 2: What is Enrollment Management
Readings:

Textbook

  • Chapter 1: Origins of Strategic Enrollment Management - pp. 3-17

Other Readings

  • Hossler, Don. (2004). How Enrollment Management Has Transformed – or Ruined – Higher Education. Chronicle of Higher Education. April 30.
  • Quirk, Matthew. (2005). The Best Class Money Can Buy: The Rise of the “Enrollment Manager” and the Cutthroat Quest for Competitive Advantage.  The Secret Weapon: Financial-Aid Leveraging. The Atlantic Monthly. November.  
Assignments:
  1. Current Event Discussion Forum
Lesson 3: Practicing Enrollment Management
Readings:

Textbook

  • Chapter 3: Successful Strategic Enrollment Management Organizations, pp. 31 - 46

Other Readings

  • Hoover, E. (September 15, 2014). The hottest seat on campus. The Chronicle of Higher Education.
  • Schulz, S. & Lucido, J. (2011). Who we are. Journal of College Admission. 

Optional Reading

  • Schulz, S. & Lucido, J. (2011) What enrollment management structures reveal about institutional priorities. Enrollment Management Journal, vol. 5, issue 4. (Note: this link will upload the volume and issue of the journal. You will need to navigate to the referenced article.)
Assignments:
  1. Demonstrating Competency Writing Assignment
Lesson 4: Marketing and Recruitment: Part 1: Student Mindset
Readings:

Textbook

  • Chapter 4: Understanding Student College Choice, pp. 49 - 76
Assignments:
  1. Importance of Characteristics Quiz
  2. Perception of Characteristics Quiz
  3. Selection of Topic Discussion
Lesson 4: Part 2: Messaging
Readings:

Textbook

  • Chapter 6: Admission and Recruitment Marketing, pp. 103 - 123.
Assignments:
  1. Institutional Website Analysis
Lesson 4: Part 3: Building the Playbook
Readings:

Other Readings

  • Wexler, Ellen (May 2, 2016). Your future starts here. Or here. Or here. Inside Higher Ed.

Course Reserves

  • Steven, Mitchell (2007). Creating a Class: College Admissions and the Education of Elites. Cambridge, MA; Harvard University Press, pp. 52 - 94
Assignments:
  1. Name Buy Writing Assignment
Lesson 5: Admissions: Part 1
Readings:

Textbook

  • Chapter 8: How Admission Decisions Get Made, pp. 147 - 174.
Assignments:
  1. Rolling Admissions Self-Check
Lesson 5: Part 2
Readings:

Textbook

  • N/A
Assignments:
  1. Admission Issues - Position Paper
Lesson 6: Financial Aid and Tuition: Part 1
Readings:

Textbook

  • Chapter 9: Economic Perspectives on Pricing and What it Means for SEM,  pp. 177 - 195
Assignments:
  1. Tuition Increase Self-Check
  2. Admission Issues, Discussion Forum
  3. Topic Exploration Check-In Discussion
Lesson 6: Part 2
Readings:

Textbook

  • Chapter 10: Understanding Financial Aid and Its Effects on Student Enrollment and Institutional Finance, pp. 196 - 212
Assignments:
  1. PMU Financial Aid Proposal Self-Check
  2. Promoting Access Quiz
  3. Tuition Discounting, Part A Writing Assignment
Lesson 6: Part 3
Readings:

Textbook

  • Chapter 11: Using Campus-Based Financial Aid Strategically, pp. 213 - 227
Assignments:
  1. Tuition Discounting, Part B Writing Assignment
Lesson 7: Retaining and Graduating Students: Part 1
Readings:

Textbook

  • ​For this lesson, we will be assigning chapters 13-18 from the Handbook of Strategic Enrollment Management. We do not expect you to read all six of these chapters closely. We do, however, expect you to skim through all six chapters and identify portions to read more closely. We are hoping that you will read the equivalent of three of these chapters.
  • As you will see, the chapters cover material that is vital for the completion of the assignments for this lesson. The relevant portions will vary by students, because you will be asked to select specific student populations and interventions to examine in your assignment. So, we recommend that you review and contemplate the assignment prior to selecting which portion of these chapters to read closely.
  • Here are the chapters to review for this lesson.
    • Chapter 13: New context for retention and persistence, pp. 249 - 267.
    • Chapter 14: Models of student retention and persistence. pp. 268 - 288.
    • Chapter 15: Students at risk in residential and commuter colleges and universities, pp. 289 - 310.
    • Chapter 16: The persistence of students of color, pp. 311 - 332.
    • Chapter 17: Nontraditional students and student persistence, pp. 333 - 350.
    • Chapter 18: The role of the institution in increasing student persistence, pp. 351 - 374.
Assignments:
  1. Review of Retention Data
Lesson 7: Part 2
Readings:

Textbook

  • Continue to review the following chapters:
    • Chapter 13: New context for retention and persistence, pp. 249 - 267.
    • Chapter 14: Models of student retention and persistence. pp. 268 - 288.
    • Chapter 15: Students at risk in residential and commuter colleges and universities, pp. 289 - 310.
    • Chapter 16: The persistence of students of color, pp. 311 - 332.
    • Chapter 17: Nontraditional students and student persistence, pp. 333 - 350.
    • Chapter 18: The role of the institution in increasing student persistence, pp. 351 - 374.
Assignments:
  1. Student Success Interventions
Lesson 8: Bringing It All Together
Readings:

Textbook

  • Chapter 28: Trends in Strategic Management, pp. 549-564.
  • Chapter 30: Summing Up: The Present and Future Tense for SEM, pp. 585
Activities:A synchronous session will occur in Part 1 of this lesson. You will receive an announcement closer to the time of the event with a specific date/time. Please look at your calendars and let us know if you have any known scheduling conflicts.
Assignments:
  1. Topic Presentation Discussion (Note this assignment has two components)
Lesson 8: Part 2
Readings:
  • None
Assignments:
  1. Topics Synchronous Discussion
  2. Lessons Learned Discussion
  3. Topic Reflection Paper

Zoom Recording and Submission
Overview

Zoom at Penn State is a web conferencing tool that you can use to record both your individual and group presentations. The recorded videos can then be embedded in a Canvas assignment or discussion.

Record and Submit Your Video

To record group presentations, one member will need to schedule a Zoom meeting to work synchronously with the rest of the group. The following instructions outline how to schedule a Zoom meeting (for group work), record the meeting, publish the recording, and embed the video in Canvas.

To schedule or join a Zoom meeting, you must first download the Zoom desktop client (launcher).

Step 1: Schedule the Zoom Meeting (for Group Work)
  1. One member of the group will need to be the host of the meeting. The host will schedule the meeting in Zoom, send the meeting invitation to the members of the group well in advance, and publish and embed the recording.
  2. So that meeting recordings are automatically added to Kaltura, when scheduling the meeting, the host should select the Settings tab in the Zoom navigation menu, then the Recordings tab, and enable Cloud recording.   Additionally, enabling automated meeting captions and transcripts for recordings is a recommended best practice. All of these settings will remain enabled for your subsequent Zoom meetings.                

Step 2: Record the Zoom Meeting
  1. When you are in the Zoom room and ready to record, the host should select Record in the Zoom menu bar and choose to save the recording to the cloud. The recording will stop when the host selects Stop Recording or when they end the meeting.
  2. Cloud recordings are automatically uploaded to the host's Kaltura MediaSpace. The host will receive an email from Penn State Kaltura Support with the recording link when it is ready. Read the email carefully, and please note that viewers cannot access the link until the host publishes it as Unlisted in MediaSpace.

It's strongly recommended that the host rename the video to include the name of the assignment, your name or group name/number, and the course and semester information (such as "PADM516 SP23 Project Presentation by Group 3," or "MKTG342 SP23 Individual Introduction by Jane Smith"). Additionally, update the descriptions so that files are easier to identify in the host's Kaltura MediaSpace.

Step 3: Submit the Recording
  1. Before you submit the recording, please note again that viewers cannot access the recording until it is published as Unlisted in MediaSpace.
  2. Once your Zoom recording is set as Unlisted, go to the activity in Canvas.
  3. For a text-entry submission assignment, do the following:
     
    • Select Start Assignment.
    • Select the Text Entry tab.
    • Select the Apps icon in the Rich Content Editor (RCE). Note: If you do not see the Apps icon, select the three vertical dots for more options.
    • In the Apps drop-down, select Embed Kaltura Media. Note: You may have to select View All to find Embed Kaltura Media.
    • Find the video recording and select the Embed button next to it. This will embed the video into your assignment submission in Canvas. Play the video to make sure that everything looks good.
    • In the Comments text box, you can add comments for the instructor if applicable.
    • Select Submit Assignment.
       
  4. For a reply to a discussion, do the following:
     
    • Select Reply.
    • Select the Apps icon in the RCE. Note: If you do not see the Apps icon, select the three vertical dots for more options.
    • In the Apps drop-down, select Embed Kaltura Media. Note: You may have to select View All to find Embed Kaltura Media.
    • Find the video recording and select the Embed button next to it. This will embed the video into your discussion response in Canvas. Play the video to make sure that everything looks good.
    • Select Post Reply.
Zoom Resources

In case you are not familiar with Zoom, here are resources that you may find helpful:

For technical questions and issues, please contact the IT Service Desk.


Academic Integrity

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.

How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.

In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.

All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .

  1. Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor.  As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
  2. Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
  3. Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
  4. Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
    1. Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
    2. Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
  5. Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
  6. Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
  7. For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
    1. Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
    2. Penn State Values.

Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.


Accommodating Disabilities

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.

In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.


Additional Policies

Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.

If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:

For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.

Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.

Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.

In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.

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