Growing Your Graduate Footprint: A Conversation for Small College Leaders

Last updated September 22, 2020

Growing Your Graduate Footprint: A Conversation for Small College Leaders

Last updated September 22, 2020

Connect and share ideas with peers working to strengthen graduate enrollment.

Overview

As demographics shift and higher education faces declining undergraduate enrollments, many schools who have traditionally focused on undergraduate enrollment are pivoting their focus towards strengthening and growing their graduate programs. This shift can be especially challenging for smaller schools who often have fewer resources and less name recognition than their larger counterparts.

During this collaborative discussion, Dr. Marcus S. Cox will share the story of how Xavier University of Louisiana was able to increase graduate student enrollment by 30% this fall – despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a limited budget, and a host of other challenges facing the graduate education space. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Connect with leaders from other small institutions
  • Brainstorm ideas to grow and strengthen your graduate footprint in a sustainable way
  • Get feedback from your peers about your next steps to move this work forward

Who should attend?

This virtual training will benefit individuals at small institutions who are looking to expand their graduate student enrollment. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Faculty, Directors, and Coordinators of Graduate Programs
  • Deans of Graduate Education
  • Directors of Graduate Student Services
  • Directors of Graduate Enrollment

Agenda

October 23, 2020

1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Eastern

During this 90-minute virtual training, our expert will share a case study exploring how Xavier University of Louisiana – a small institution in the heart of New Orleans – was able to strengthen graduate student enrollment in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The dialogue-focused session will feature discussions around the following topics (the questions listed are illustrative and not exhaustive):

  • How can smaller institutions begin to grow their graduate programs in a sustainable way?
  • As budgets shrink amid the pandemic, how can we do more in this space while working with the same (or fewer) resources?
  • In schools that focused heavily on undergraduates, how can we work to make graduate education more embedded in the institution’s identity?
  • What strategies can be used to not just recruit graduate students but engage and keep them?