Strategic enrollment management (SEM) decisions and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for community colleges.

摘要

With the changing landscape in enrollment options for potential community college students, community college administrators are looking for ways to forecast enrollment by using strategic enrollment management models. Today, community colleges' administration is challenged to develop, use, and implement enrollment models that support their strategic enrollment decisions. Publications are limited about strategic enrollment models and enrollment decision support systems like a Geographic Information System (GIS) which can be used as a tool for making strategic enrollment decisions; where unique variables identified from a GIS could positively affect enrollment at community colleges. The intent of this research is to determine what influence enrollment systems have on community college enrollment projections. This study surveyed administrators at community colleges governed by the Higher Learning Commission that analyze enrollment information to make decisions regarding enrollment. These administrators were solicited for their experience and opinions of what variables impact enrollment management; how those variables impact enrollment, and what type of strategic enrollment model was used at their college. Results indicated that when community colleges used an enrollment system, the model used, SEM or GIS Enabled SEM, would positively impact enrollment growth with three geographic variables, prospect's demographics, prospect's location and CC district boundaries identified as very important in those models. In addition, it was determined that more than three-fourths of the respondents have not invested in an enrollment system due to cost. Given the importance of enrollment, this suggests community colleges should consider investment in an enrollment management system.