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The SEMM Forum provides easy access to leading edge expertise in a one-day intensive conference format. The agenda will be comprised of a combination of plenary sessions and concurrent workshops with sufficient breaks for networking and information sharing.
The day will begin with a continental breakfast, include lunch and refreshment breaks, and wrap-up with a networking reception at the end of the day.
The following is a list of the workshops which will be presented at the Boston SEMM Forum. Presenter biographies can be viewed on the "About Our Presenters" page.
All details are subject to change.
To view the agenda for the Boston SEMM Forum - Please Click Here
Getting Serious about the Social Web
Brad Ward
CEO
BlueFuego, Inc.
Shaping and Evolving: How a large, private institution dramatically improved retention
Philomena Mantella
Senior Vice President, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
Northeastern University
Neal Fogg
Research Analyst
Northeastern University
Over the last decade, Northeastern University has improved its freshman retention rate by 13% and boosted its graduation rate by 27% through an evolution of research-based strategies, policies and goal setting. By modifying our approach to retention and engaging staff at all levels all areas of the University have been involved and impacted by this dramatic increase.
Join members of Northeastern’s senior leadership team for a case study on this improvement, and take away some practical advice on organizing a successful retention effort on your campus. This interactive discussion will include time for questions, comments and discussions.
Enrollment Management in Tumultuous Times: Emerging Trends 2010
Ken Steele
Senior Vice President, Education Marketing
Academica Group Inc.
Today, colleges and universities face an unprecedented pace of change in their political, demographic, technological, and competitive environment. Populations are shifting. Expectations are rising. Distinctions are blurring. Long-held assumptions about our students, our programs, and our very purpose need to be reconsidered in the face of inescapable shifts in the global economy and political climate.
Institutional marketers, enrollment managers and advancement professionals need to be vigilant to changes in the winds and tides, and responsive enough to capitalize on new opportunities and to toss outdated ideas overboard. “Business as usual” is almost certain to leave an institution adrift, off course – or even sunk.
Ken Steele, editor of Canada’s leading higher education news daily, will share his unique perspective on recent events affecting colleges and universities, and the trends that seem to be emerging from a wide range of seemingly minor announcements, major events, and relevant research studies. Earlier versions of this presentation have been delivered on campuses and at conferences across North America, and Ken’s observations have been eye-opening for faculty, student government, campus marketers, senior administration and boards of governors.
Delivering on Your Institution’s Promise
Dr. Jim Black
President & CEO
SEM Works
To effectively retain students and enhance institutional loyalty, begin by understanding the promises students believe are inherent in your college or university experience. Put simply, there must be congruence between what an institution claims to be and what its students actually experience when they interact with any individual or unit affiliated with the campus. When the expectations generated from promotional activities or other sources are incongruent with student reality, the image of the institution is tarnished and trust is eroded. Topics include defining the promise, living the promise, operationalizing the promise, delivering on the promise consistently, and building institutional loyalty.
SEM by the Numbers: Leveraging Quantitative Market Research for Evidence-Based Enrollment Management
Ken Steele
Senior Vice President, Education Marketing
Academica Group Inc.
Without reliable, quantitative market research data, your efforts at strategic enrollment management are based solely on intuition, anecdote, and perhaps a few ad hoc focus groups. Successful SEM practitioners apply market research to gain actionable insight into the perceptions and decision processes of prospects and students throughout the enrollment funnel and the student lifecycle. Quantitative research data is invaluable for definitively answering “how many” and “how much” questions, measuring variation between regions or programs, and tracking trends over time: Where are our biggest market opportunities? How is our institution perceived by which audiences? What are our greatest strengths and weaknesses? What financial aid strategies will best achieve our recruitment and retention goals? How far ahead or behind our competitors are we perceived to be? What resources should we invest in print advertising, broadcast advertising, or social media?
In this information-packed session, Ken Steele will draw on more than a decade of the most comprehensive higher education market research in North America to share some key findings and trends every recruitment marketer should know, to describe how some leading institutions have leveraged quantitative data into evidence-based branding, recruitment, conversion and retention strategies, and to share effective approaches for building campus consensus and support for SEM initiatives.
But Will You Get Me A Job? The Role of Career Development in Student Recruitment and Retention
Graham Donald
President
Brainstorm Consulting
Drawing on twenty years of experience working with major employers of students and consulting to campus career centers, Graham Donald will discuss the importance of career prospects and career development support as part of both student recruitment and retention. He will also share key insights into how students gather information about careers and who influences their decisions; how they view various industries and employers; and what they expect career services on campus.
Attend this presentation to better understand students’ career interests and learn how to make career development support, internship programs, and other career-related activities an asset in your student marketing and retention.
Creating or Enhancing Your SEM Plan
Dr. Jim Black
President & CEO
SEM Works
Networking Reception
Whatever you do, don’t leave early: this networking opportunity will be one of the highlights of the Forum. Talk with colleagues from other institutions, enjoy some complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and continue to explore the topics of the day. There will also be a variety of door prizes presented - so don’t miss out!.
