
A few years ago, we interviewed W. Kent Barnds at Augustana College because we noticed his college had an especially proactive plan for talking with applicants, admits, and their families about both the value of attending that specific institution and about the return on their investment.
While the national conversation about completion and outcomes has become more complex since, we think these interviews with W. Kent Barnds are even more relevant today.
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Originally published in 2012
As the economy continues a slow recovery and media reports about student loan default persist, it's increasingly critical to communicate to prospective students how a college degree from your institution is worth the investment. But this important conversation needs to move beyond accurately estimating net price to demonstrating how your campus can deliver the outcomes students need – strong professional skills, employability, and earning potential.
This week, we reached out to W. Kent Barnds, vice president of enrollment, communication, and planning at Augustana College, who has made some significant strides in reframing those early conversations.