NEAR

National Enrollment Action Roundtable (NEAR)

2025 NEAR main logoAccording to DASL data, half of NAIS member schools currently struggle with enrollment decline, and many lack the resources to get help. Some schools have successfully discovered ways to combat decline, but admissions professionals are often working in isolation, and the odds against them remain steep, given demographic trends.

Founded in 2020 by Olaf Jorgenson (Almaden Country Day School) and Zaq Roberts (Gateway School), NEAR is a coalition of nonprofit school leaders seeking to address the enrollment epidemic impacting our schools.

This coalition operates as a grassroots organization with a shared leadership model. It was established to enable sharing and collaboration, fortifying individual efforts while helping others better address their challenges.

Mission

NEAR has two purposes:

  • To convene a series of meetings (roundtables) to discuss the critical challenges we’re facing, ask questions and share ideas. Member schools will be invited to submit topics/questions, from which the most heavily subscribed will form the roundtable agenda. The first roundtable was held in 2021.

  • To establish a network of NEAR schools for ongoing dialogue and resource exchange. We have within our own schools the expertise and ideas necessary to address the enrollment epidemic. If we unite and collaborate, we propagate best practices and help one another thrive.

Membership

NEAR membership is free and there is no registration cost for the roundtable events. The only expectation of NEAR schools is that all members add ideas and insights to the conversation, not just take them. We want to make enrollment support available to anyone who needs it and is willing to contribute in kind.

JOIN NEAR!

You can sign up here 

Questions

Please contact Janice Crampton  at janice@aisap.org with any questions.