You Are Not Alone
By David McBride, Vice Principal of Enrollment Management, Upper Canada College
I am very fortunate to work at a wonderful school in downtown Toronto. In our city, there is a healthy interest in independent schools and decent collaboration between our schools, so when I hear some of the stories from other regions of North America, as well as from admission professionals who are challenged to fill their schools, I count my blessings.
Like many schools, my institution has not written a strategic enrollment management plan. Have we been strategic in my seven years here? I would like to think so. Have we made tough decisions or changed our processes? Of course. Is my Office of Admission team aware of the strategy each year? Absolutely. But do we have a formal plan that I can hand to a new Head, the Board Chair, or a colleague from another school who asks to see our strategic enrollment management plan? Well, no.
So, I have been laboring away on a plan for months now. I have asked colleagues at other schools to send me their strategic enrollment plan’s table of contents—some of those had 10 pages and one had 100 pages. Most of those I received were loose plans, but I’m not sure I would call them formal strategic enrollment management plans. Many of the admission and enrollment professionals I have spoken with have no plan at all, and some asked me to share any good plans I received with them.
This past July at AISAP’s Annual Institute, I had a discussion about strategic enrollment plans with a few folks who were feeling similar pain, fear, and anxiety. Our shared uncertainty reminded me of the following:
- Admission and enrollment professionals are amazingly supportive of one another so don’t be afraid to ask others for help, samples, or ideas. Your colleagues at other schools are willing to help you, and you should always be prepared to return the favor.
- AISAP is always willing to help. AISAP Executive Director/CEO Janice Crampton just met with 20 admission and enrollment leaders in Toronto this month with a primary topic focusing on strategic enrollment management plans. Additionally, I learned of the 360 Assessment: consulting services that AISAP offers, which are customized to each school’s needs.
We all share a meaningful profession, and a number of friends in the admission world are helping to guide me through this journey. And with that help, I’m getting there. Remember that although you may feel isolated—you’re not alone.