Well, getting a college degree ensures a good job, right? Not so fast. A report issued by Burning Glass and the Strada Institute shows that 43 percent of recent graduates are underemployed in their first job out of college. That means their earning potential is lower than expected, which means their ability to reasonably pay back their student loan debt is reduced. But wait – of that 43 percent of graduates, two-thirds find themselves in the same predicament five years after graduation, and more than half are still unemployed after 10 years. Chances are that one of 10 people who find a first job that pays appropriately, will be underemployed after five years.

What’s wrong with this picture? Plenty. How to fix the broken student loan system is a question yet to be answered.

The times, they are a changin’

The cost of higher education today is not what it once was. In the 20 years between 1995 and 2015, things changed dramatically. A Yahoo! Finance report shows that student debt has risen faster than income. Income rose only 2.4 percent, but debt skyrocketed 78.1 percent. This tremendous disparity may be contributing to the default rate of borrowers. Researchers at New York’s Federal Reserve Bank discovered that 26 percent of those who completed their education in 2009 with debt defaulted at some point. At least 37 percent of 2009 graduates have been delinquent on repaying their loans. America’s student loan program simply does not work.

In her brief on the broken student loan system, Professor Joni E. Finney of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, states that we have the best 20^th century model for financing education. The problem is that this is the 21^st century, and the model for public financing of higher education is outdated.

Families are challenged with having to pay costs for education, while struggling with rising costs of living that are greater than their income growth. By 2020, for our economy to remain competitive, it will require that 65 percent of individuals have post-secondary credentials. However, students are coming from more diverse backgrounds and often from families with modest incomes. All they can do is take out more student debt.

What to do about an unsustainable higher education finance system

Several plans are being introduced, from “free college for all” to new models that shift the burden from students and their families to more of a shared responsibility with the institutions themselves. Dr. Finney offers suggestions for repairing the failing system:

• Because many state governments have had to slash their budgets due to structural budget deficits and elevated Medicaid expenses, she suggests that they insulate higher education funding during recessions.
• Incentivize innovation as an efficient use of public money.
• Prioritize funding for low-income and first-generation students, and link tuition policy to their families’ income level.

ISA vs. IBR vs. Standard Repayment Plan

Another experimental education finance model is an Income Share Agreement (ISA). Tony James, a Blackstone billionaire, came up with the idea that proposes that in exchange for higher education, students agree to pay back a certain percentage of their income for a set number of years. This means that their overall student loan program obligation adjusts with their income. The premise is that it:

• Incentivizes higher education institutions to keep costs low and quality education high
• Allows students to choose their career path without a fixed level of repayment
• Doesn’t accrue interest over time, and there’s no principal
• Means financial obligations will never exceed a student’s ability to pay

An ISA can be a good option for anyone – even for those who are not as successful as they had hoped to be. It can reduce stress levels because it’s adjusted to income. If a graduate had to take a job as a barista, the repayment is within that salary range. Likewise, if the graduate is not underemployed and earns more, his or her payment is adjusted to income.

An ISA is not the same as an IBR (Income-Based Repayment) plan that is offered by the government. Loan repayment amounts are based on your income, but there are stipulations. As long as you make 20 years’ worth of on-time payments (25 years’ worth if you took out the loan before 2014), any outstanding debt after that time will be forgiven. Payment amounts are recalculated annually, based on 10 percent of your discretionary income for loans taken out after 2014 and 15 percent for loans taken out before that. If your income remains low over 20 or 25 years or you expect your family size to grow, it may be a viable option.

The Standard Repayment Plan is a student loan program that requires a set monthly payment made for 10 years and is based on the amount of student debt incurred. If a student is underemployed, he or she still has to pay the required dollar amount, regardless of income.

Where higher education’s responsibility lies

U.S. News & World Report surveyed 300 colleges and universities about their average tuition rates. In 1998, private schools charged an average of $18,000 a year and $43,000 in 2019. Out-of-state tuition rose from $10,000 in 1998 to $26,000 in 2019, and in-state tuition from $3,500 to $11,000.

The bottom line is that higher education isn’t always providing value for education. The price of an education is affecting the economy because young people today are not able to buy homes. Their student debt, in some cases, is their 30-year mortgage. This begs the question: Are colleges more interested in providing an affordable, quality education, or are they more focused on maximizing revenue from tuition and putting together a list of high-profile donors?

Perhaps higher education institutions need to re-evaluate their admission practices. Maybe they should assume some of the debt if a borrower defaults on his or her loan. At the very least, they could help potential students make informed borrowing decisions.

Outstanding student debt stands at $1.4 trillion in the United States. We have a broken student loan system that desperately needs to be fixed. In the meantime, what is the alternative?

Skilled trades: in-demand jobs, low-cost training options

Right now, there’s a shortage of skilled trades workers, from CDL drivers to HVAC technicians and welders. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that by 2022, one-third of new jobs will be in construction, healthcare, healthcare support or personal care. Most do not require a four-year college degree. Some fields require as few as three weeks of training – certainly not the four years needed for a bachelor’s degree – and some pay $50,000 to start.

For information about how colleges and universities can exceed their goals through training, marketing, and pre-enrollment advising contact Norton | Norris, Inc.

The post Doing Damage Control on a Broken Student Loan System appeared first on Norton Norris.

CHICAGO, March 5, 2019 – Tina Simmons, Ed.D., recently joined Norton Norris Inc. as director of Enrollment Solutions. She has worked in the education sector for over a decade starting as a high school teacher. Her career expanded into guidance counseling, and she was most recently the director of admissions for the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago.

“We’re thrilled to have Dr. Simmons on our team,” said Jean Norris, Ed.D., managing partner, Norton Norris Inc. “We look forward to the energy, perspective and skill set she will lend to our organization.”

Simmons said, “I see a lot of opportunities in connecting with our clients, and with my experience in higher education I hope to help them achieve their own goals.” She also looks forward to the challenges that come with her new role. “The EnrollMatch Admissions Training Program at Norton Norris is exceptional and growing by leaps and bounds! I can’t wait to become a master trainer myself and guide our team in helping colleges across the country.”

Simmons earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Illinois Wesleyan University. She continued her education at Lewis University, earning a Master of Arts in school counseling and guidance. After writing a dissertation titled “Employee Perception of Managerial Leadership Behavior and Its Effect on Job Satisfaction in Higher Education,” Simmons was awarded a doctoral degree in higher and post-secondary education from Argosy University.

Established in 1999 by Vince Norton and Dr. Jean Norris, Norton Norris Inc. is a full-service, results-driven agency that provides admissions and marketing solutions to colleges and universities. The company provides media production and placement, mystery shopping, EnrollMatch®Admissions Training and My Guidance Coach® software.

The post Norton Norris Names Dr. Tina Simmons as Director of Enrollment Solutions appeared first on Norton Norris.

That’s the power of referrals. When satisfied students tell others how much they enjoy going to your school, there’s a good chance some of their friends or siblings will want to attend as well. After all, people feel better choosing a place that has already been vetted by people they trust versus one they aren’t as familiar with. It elevates their comfort level, and that makes your job — recruiting potential students — a little easier.

Getting referrals can benefit your institution in several ways. I’ve already said that referrals often convert to starting students at a fairly high rate — generally much higher than from other types of leads or inquiries. They can also cut down on your marketing expenses because word of mouth is free publicity. Finally, when you have happy students, they’re more inclined to stay and are eager for their friends to have similar good experiences. Student retention is golden.

So you already know why referrals are good for business, but what may be fuzzy is how to generate them. There’s a simple approach to generating referrals that starts with trust and good communication. Here are a couple of tips that can get you started on the right track.

Ask for a referral the proper way.

You could ask your contacts if they know of anyone who might be interested in attending your institution, and you might get a name and email address. According to Jeffrey Gitomer, author of The Sales Bible, the better approach would be to ask someone permission to ask for a referral later, after they’ve personally seen the value you provide. You might say something to a current student like, “We’re really happy that you have enrolled here, but I’d like to ask you for just one thing. Once we’ve proven to you how wonderful this place is, could you please introduce me to friends or family members who may also benefit from what we have to offer?” This type of  “ask” is a much safer, more effective way to request a referral because you aren’t blindly asking for a list of names and numbers.  You are building trust first — and once you’ve delivered on your promise (i.e., a really good education), the contact is likely to be more than happy to accommodate your request for a referral.

Expand your network of contacts.

The more people you know, the better your chances of getting referrals. You have an opportunity to network and solicit a referral every time you’re out and about.  You can spread your network even farther by asking people you know to ask others to spread the word for you, too. Think about places where you can connect with people — the laundromat, the line at the coffee shop, your doctor’s waiting room, the movie theater. Then step out of your comfort zone and decide that you will meet two or three new people each and every day. There’s always the possibility that one of those new contacts will give you the ultimate referral.

You have your work cut out for you because generating referrals isn’t easy. It requires creating a plan and sticking to it. However, enlisting others with whom you’ve established trust to help you promote your business and get viable leads makes the process a little less daunting.

For more tips on generating referrals, visit careereducationreview.net.

The post Getting Referrals Takes Effort: Two Tips to Get You Started appeared first on Norton Norris.

When convenience, affordability, and substance come together, powerful things happen. At Norton Norris, we’ve known that for a long time.

It’s that principle that has driven many of our efforts over the years to deliver the highest quality solutions to the schools and higher education professions with whom we partner in a way that works best for them.

And the latest example of this mission is one of the biggest and most exciting to date.

We’ve gone virtual with our industry-leading EnrollMatch® Admissions Training (EM).

First, let’s talk about the substance.

Long-recognized as one of the most respected admissions training programs in the country, EM is at the leading edge of creating better informed prospective students and better-informed admissions professionals.

As anyone who’s worked in the higher education arena knows, more often than not the single most important choice factor for students is “fit.” For years, EnrollMatch® has empowered admissions professionals with the training to understand and decipher the differing preferences of today’s students so that, together, they can achieve that fit.

It begins with seminar training that can range anywhere from a half-day to two full days, and from there is strengthened by custom workshops, webinars, discussion forums, eLearning programs, Train-the-Trainer (T³) options, and ongoing consulting with comprehensive reports.

That’s kind of a long-winded way of saying EnrollMatch® works. It has earned all of the acclaims it’s received. And it’s the first and only admissions training program that’s been reviewed and approved by regulatory counsel for consistency with accrediting and federal admissions related standards.

But don’t just take it from us.

“After a thoughtful review of the training workshops and materials, our firm endorsed this program for alignment with all national and regional admissions related standards,” said Ron Holt, an education legal expert.

Now, about convenience and affordability.

It’s no secret that institutions of higher education across the country are in the midst of major budget constraints and enrollment shortfalls. Public universities continue to see cuts in state funding, and enrollment shortages at private colleges and universities that rely on tuition revenue are leading to cuts in faculty, staff, and program offerings.

Now more than ever, administrators need to find ways to give their admissions departments every advantage they can in terms of their effectiveness in recruiting incoming classes.

So, given the realities that we know schools are dealing with, it only makes sense to remove as many barriers as possible for schools seeking the exceptional offerings of our admissions training.

That’s exactly what going virtual with EnrollMatch® will accomplish.

“It was a natural progression,” said Dr. Jean Norris, managing partner at Norton Norris, Inc. and the primary developer of the training program. “Given the advanced nature of the content and pace, it was important for our team to see the participants and adjust their delivery in the moment. We also stand behind our results so we had to make sure each participant walked out of that room a changed person.  At the same time, the expense of travel and pulling employees away from their jobs for a few days can be a barrier.”

By offering virtual and hybrid models for the delivery of EnrollMatch® training, schools won’t have to incur the expenses associated with sending their admissions teams away, or the loss of productivity while they’re out.

With this endeavor, we’re essentially meeting them where they’re at by offering more affordable and convenient access to the training program, without compromising even a hint of the quality that’s always been associated with it.

“EnrollMatch is a solid, proven program with ongoing support long after the initial workshop,” said Joe Sallustio, seasoned EM trainer and vice president of marketing and enrollment at National American University. “It’s exciting to know the eLearning, discussion forums, coaching, and reinforcement training will still be available. And now we have an additional method to support our efforts for those who prefer the live, virtual option.”

And with the EM’s Train-the-Trainer (T³) program also being delivered virtually and through a hybrid model, more campus-based admissions professionals can earn a license to train their staff, help their team stay compliant, and make the most of their recruiting efforts and meeting the needs of their students.

“Our team is able to effectively onboard new employees, as well as provide ongoing learning and development,” said Wendy Olivieri, long-time EM trainer, and director of admissions at San Joaquin Valley College. “The live, virtual option allows campus-based trainers to work right alongside Norton Norris Master Facilitators. It’s fabulous.”

Learn more right now about our virtual training for admissions, faculty, leadership development management, career services, and financial aid!

The post Virtual Training – A Natural Progression appeared first on Norton Norris.

Deciding on going to college or even finding the right college depends on how one actually defines value, doesn’t it? For some, the value of a college education can come in the form of self-development. The sheer opportunity and joy of learning and growing can be enough to motivate someone to attend college and rationalize the expense. And yet others are looking for a more definitive return on investment such as a job immediately following graduation that pays enough to cover the bills and have a meaningful quality of life. Even more so, a college education should also pay dividends into the future through promotions and even higher earnings, right?

Is college worth the cost? There is evidence through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to support the correlation of educational attainment and increases in median earnings. Those with a bachelor’s degree earn, on average, $459 more each week than someone with only a high school diploma. Even further, the unemployment rate decreases significantly with a degree. Those with an associate’s degree have a 3.8% unemployment rate while those with a high school diploma average 5.4% unemployment (a master’s degree is only 2.4% unemployment).

The investment to earn the credential or degree is a major piece of the value proposition. Vocational training can average $33,000 with average earnings near or above the tuition while a bachelor’s degree can cost $127,000 and average annual income for an entry-level position around $46,900.

According to the Detroit Free Press, college grads in the class of 2016 will have a record level of about $37,000 in student loan debt for a bachelor’s degree. Those graduating with a master’s degree will have an average of $43,500 in college loans and for those studying medicine or law – the debt can easily be over six figures. Keep in mind that not everyone graduates on time either which adds to the debt and delayed earnings by not being in the workforce faster.

It is also worthwhile to consider the future of higher education given other options. Will the traditional four years, brick and mortar experience sustain? Many are still getting used to the “click” and mortar hybrid education models and yet there is so much more out there. For instance, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have been around since 2008 and credentialing and badging have grown substantially since the introduction of open badges by Mozilla in 2011. In fact, millions of badges have been awarded to hundreds of thousands of participants and the open badges community is working on the next version. Keep in mind that the new specifications are focused on verifiable learning similar to those of higher education accrediting agencies.

A 2016 study conducted by the University Professional Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), found that one in five colleges have issued digital badges. They also coined the term “T-shaped” graduates who have a combination of deep, “vertical” knowledge in a particular area (such as a college major) and a broader set of “horizontal” skills in areas like communication skills, teamwork, and appreciate diverse cultures. The sheer speed of knowledge acquisition may bring value to this type of credential (not to mention it’s low cost and ease of access).

The good news is the acting Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, is a big fan of education whether public or private. She also believes in less federal oversight and regulations with more power going to the state. Under her tenure, alternate forms of education and learning may see more growth and acceptance.

Where does all this information leave the person considering college? And if so, choosing the right college? My guess is probably in a more confused state. That is why we suggest anyone considering any form of higher education to adopt the “Five Factors of Fit” to sort through the options.

The “Five Factors of Fit” begins by considering the initial question about value. What does value mean to you? Relatedly, one has to determine their goals and where they want to be in the future. With this information in hand, we encourage an exploration of programs and interests. There are several online resources to help determine what major/program might be a good fit.

Next, it’s important to determine what skills you currently have as well as those that will be required to be successful in your chosen career field. Are you willing to spend the time and resources necessary to acquire these skills? If not, take a step back and look at other areas of interest to find something more in line with your abilities and interests. A good place to start is to determine what skills you already find as strengths. At that point, you can then determine what further skills you are willing to develop.

One area that warrants focus is an in-depth understanding of what you value. Think about it. If the direction you are moving toward doesn’t align with what you believe in or value than you will more than likely feel a great tension and ultimately drop out. For example, at a recent high school presentation one of the students stated they wanted to become a surgeon but when another classmate informed them about the rigor, time commitment and life of a surgeon, there was a value question raised. Did their priorities align with this kind of commitment? This factor is something that represents the core of who you are. It will include your entire life outlook. Psychology Today offers a Values Profile survey to help you uncover what is most important to you. Take your time on this factor. But most importantly, be honest with yourself. It will go a long way.

Another element that needs to be considered within the “Five Factors of Fit” is one’s life situation. Through a series of self-discovery questions, one must explore their motivations, potential obstacles to enrollment along with possible solutions. Further, there must be consideration of others involved in the decision and how their opinions and resources play a role in the decision. Finally, what is most important in a learning environment? Is it self-paced learning such as MOOCs or an online option? Or do you prefer a campus with a lively and engaged study body?

Putting all of this information together is key to determining “Fit.” The alignment of one’s goals to the school, program/interests, values and life situation is the key. For those seeking a resource that puts this all together, check and see if the colleges you are considering offer pre-enrollment advising through their admissions office or an automated solution such as MyGuidance Coach^®. This legally endorsed, pre-enrollment advising software helps prospective students explore their interests, research career options, proactively identify and resolve potential challenges, and review customized school resources from any desktop or mobile device 24/7.

Given the high drop out rates in college it’s essential to take the time to review these areas to make a meaningful decision about what college is right for me. Talk to people you trust, do your in-depth research and take some time for introspection. The more time spent in this phase, the easier the rest of the process will be. Good luck on the journey!

SOURCES

5 Things to Know About Trump’s Pick for Education Secretary by Emily Deruy, The Atlantic, Nov 3, 2016.

Digital Badges and Academic Transformation by Veronica Diaz, Published: Thursday, September 1, 2016. EDUCASE Review

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Earnings and Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment, 2015.

The post Is College Worth It? appeared first on Norton Norris.

Writing in The New York Times, Danny Hakim observed: “The reaction to the scandal has been swift. A recent Harris Poll of Americans’ attitudes toward the 100 most visible companies ranked Volkswagen dead last.”

Or perhaps you are familiar with the plight of the Live Strong campaign after its icon, Lance Armstrong, was stripped of his Tour de France titles amid a doping scandal.

If you think there isn’t a correlation between these stories and higher education, think again. There are more similarities than you might imagine.

For career colleges, 2016 will go down in history as a year of orchestrated attacks resulting in a swarm of bad press, consumer outrage and financial hardship. And it didn’t happen at just a few schools – the entire career college sector was negatively impacted.

Whether the claims are actually true is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to regaining consumer confidence. The media, which itself struggles with negative public perception, tends to focus on the dramatic. Perhaps this is to raise ratings or support a particular political agenda, but either way, the battle is multifaceted and must include a strategy to win back consumers and increase supporters of the career college sector.

 Where to Begin?

With the public relations nightmares mentioned earlier, dramatic changes were necessary to fix the problems and appease consumers. What strategies can career colleges adopt to reestablish a sense of comfort with consumers, accreditors, the media and government agencies?

As we examine what others have done to regain public trust, there are five steps to consider:

1. Look in the Mirror

They say the first step is the hardest, and this hurdle is no exception. It’s easy to claim the opposition is out for revenge and dismiss the allegations of the naysayers. However, those who are willing to step back and take an objective, unbiased look at their own motives, business practices, unwritten rules and alignment with mission may find a kernel or two of truth. Although the profit motive is nothing to apologize for, if it outweighs meaningful student outcomes, then you may have some work to do.

2. Align Resources

The next step is to ensure that resources are aligned with quality student outcomes. Follow the student’s journey from inquiry generation to career placement to determine if qualified people and services are offered to help students find the right fit and reach their goals through your school.

3. Assess Leadership

Anytime you make changes, there are those who will push back. It’s time to ask: Do you have the right players on the team, or do you have some with limited mindsets pushing for self-preservation rather than what benefits students and the organization? It’s also time to empower those who are in alignment by removing obstacles to success.

4. Update Models and Measurements

This one is tricky, because business models and related metrics have been in place for decades. When examining the traditional enrollment funnel, it’s easy to see the declining return on investment. The new world of higher education begins by determining how many successful graduates are needed to support the business operations. Use that number to calculate what else is necessary in conversion rates from enrollments, applications, etc. Let’s face it: people will work to what they are measured on, so nothing else you do will matter without this critical piece.

5. Tell Your Story

Much of the pushback by career colleges has been targeted at the government. Currently though, there isn’t a cohesive, consumer-focused plan. My guess is that many schools have opted out of public relations, since it can be difficult to pinpoint a specific return on investment. The problem with not doing PR, though, is that someone else will tell your story if you don’t. You also lose the buffer of built-up goodwill that can deflect a negative story in the press.

We have entered a new political environment, but that in no way guarantees a favorable perception by the consumers entering career colleges. Prospective students are more aware than ever of their educational options and the negative view of a career education. It’s time to turn this perception around. Perhaps we begin in the department that is perfectly positioned to lead the charge: admissions!

Dr. Jean Norris, Managing Partner

Norton|Norris, Inc.

Dr. Jean Norris began her educational pursuit in a 10-month medical assisting diploma program. In the 27 years since, she has served in the role of admissions rep, dean of admissions, faculty member, vice president of marketing, vice president of enrollment management and vice president of organizational development. Currently Jean is a managing partner at Norton|Norris, Inc.

The post How Career Colleges Can Regain Public Trust (and Why It Matters) appeared first on Norton Norris.

As for us at Norton Norris Inc., if you can name an acronym used by a higher education conference over the past few weeks, we can assure you that we have been there. From OACCS (Ohio Association of Career Colleges and Schools), CAPPS (California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools), CSPEN (Central States Private Education Network), NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling), ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training) to AACS (American Association of Cosmetology Schools) and PSCNJ (Private Schools and Colleges of New Jersey, we have attended them all.

With over 30 years in the higher education sector, I have been attending conferences for a long time. However, I noticed some big changes this year: All of higher education is reeling from a barrage of demands to stay viable and relevant.

For those working in career education, the news of a friendlier administration is hopeful but the urgency to adapt is heightened with multiple school closings, the fall of a major accrediting agency, Gainful Employment (GE), Cohort Default Rates (CDR) and a strong desire to never live through this period of time again. When examining the conference presentations and discussions amongst members, there are five themes that have emerged and can turn career colleges around:

1. The role of the accrediting agency will shift.

As accrediting agencies fight for their own survival, it has become necessary to reexamine the concept of peer evaluation. Let’s face it. If the Department of Education (DOE) can swoop down and invalidate an agency, agencies have no choice but to comply with the agenda from above. Accreditors will need to take on an enforcement role above one of collaboration.

2. Schools must be hyper-vigilant in compliance.

One presenter used the term “white space around compliance” to stress the need for more proactive measures on following the law and best practices. No longer can a school get away with doing the bare minimum on making sure all the I’s are dotted and T’s crossed. Management will have to ensure that each rule and regulation is followed, along with making sure admissions and financial aid personnel are transparent, accurate and complete. Even a hint of misrepresentation or distasteful practices can be met with scrutiny leading to devastating outcomes. Looking to stay hyper-vigilant in compliance? Our Career College Mystery Shopping can give you the insight you need to protect yourself.

3. Student outcomes take center stage.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but schools definitely need to step it up in this area. No longer is the business model of enrolling volumes of students who deserve a chance at an education going to cut it (this is the role of the community college). This concept may be hard for many career colleges to adapt to, but it is precisely what has gotten many into trouble. In order to improve student outcomes, there must be admission standards on the front end that improve the chances of academic success and ultimately gainful employment. For those who already have amazing student outcomes, more has to be done to get the word out.

4. Embed your school in the community.

The once-believed mantra of “us against them” has to take on a different tone. There are enough students to go around and the battle has to be about helping those students achieve their goals versus everyone belongs at my school. Seek to partner with other schools and organizations, and be an upstanding citizen in the communities you serve.

5. There needs to be a transformation in admissions.

As someone working in the field of admissions for over 30 years, this theme is near and dear to my heart. A high school counselor recently asked me why career colleges make it so hard for a prospective student to get the information they need to make a decision or to even apply. While other colleges make every detail accessible, career colleges add extra steps, such as filling out a form to inquire and then calling incessantly to come on campus for an interview or visit.

These high school guidance professionals are so overwhelmed with their other responsibilities that career/college planning takes a back seat, and yet career colleges make it even harder.

Admissions offices need to let go of old and ineffective habits – especially the admission interview, and replace it with a more valuable (and defensible) activity such as pre-enrollment advising. Yes, this will take training and skill development, but that’s the easy part (check out EnrollMatch.com).

Having an entire profession let go of a business model that it has used for decades is the harder part. With reduced conversion rates, bad press, government oversight, unhappy admissions professionals and an awesome opportunity to really help students, what more evidence is needed?

There is one more theme that cannot be forgotten, and we will give this to you as an extra tip. Note that this is probably most important: This is a group that will simply never ever give up.

Even as the public floggings continue, there are stories of the need for employees in many of the fields taught by these schools. The career college owner and employees are passionate professionals and will give 110 percent when given the opportunity. What other segment of higher education provides the service and one-on-one attention like these schools do?

True, career colleges are not for everyone. But for some, they are the ONLY option to a better life.

The post 5 Major Themes to Turn Career Colleges Around appeared first on Norton Norris.

Whether we like it or not, there’s a certain stigma that comes along with the for-profit title. Here is how one organization that supports high school counselors and prospective students defines the difference between non-profit and for-profit colleges:

• Non-profits receive funding from a variety of sources, such as the government, tuition fees, and donations. The money they bring in goes back to the school.

• For-profits are businesses that have investors who expect to make money.

Wow! No bias there, huh? I didn’t realize that non-profits didn’t need to make money by the way. And the subtle omission of our tax dollars as another form of funding for non-profits is interesting.

Perhaps the money made by non-profits does go back to the school, but in whose pocket? A review by the Huffington Post of the annual report from The Chronicle of Higher Ed showed that the heads of 93 non-profit colleges made more than $500,000 a year and nine public university presidents made more than $1 million in 2013.

Some are even calling into question the international student recruitment tactics of non-profits. For many, the influx of cash paying, foreign students is a financial enticement that can be viewed as displacing U.S. students.

As taxpayers, shouldn’t we all expect a return on our tax dollar investment from public colleges and universities?

The Overcrowding and Retention Problem

Is the attack on for-profit colleges based on a fear there aren’t enough students to go around?

Of course there are.

In fact, the big push for everyone to attend the community college will only inflate already overcrowded classes and negatively impact retention.  They’re not alone either with student outcomes as a major conversation on campuses across the nation. When stacked up against the competition, drop out rates show that these students aren’t being served at an optimum level by public and private non-profits.

On the other side of the coin are the selective schools across the country that deny thousands of students access to their institutions each year. It’ll always be that way, too because their selection methods are a huge part of what sets them apart and makes them desirable.

But we need to find a middle ground here.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, America isn’t exactly leading the race when it comes to college degree attainment.

Don’t we deserve more than just a few options when pursuing training or a degree? You bet we do!

The Rise of the Career College Was Not a Mistake

Community colleges, state universities, and private colleges have been around for hundreds of years. Yet many people vote with their feet by choosing to attend a for-profit career college. Could it simply be that people prefer short-term training or online options with scheduling flexibility and a small school feel?

If there is any comfort for the for-profit college industry, one only has to look back at the journey of for-profit hospitals.

Yep, they do indeed exist. They’re thriving too.

After the first for-profit hospital chain opened in 1960, it also had to go through their share of scrutiny, fraud scandals, and government interventions. Many non-profit hospitals feared change and felt threatened by the focus on business practices.

In 2014, roughly one-fifth of community acute-care hospitals in the U.S. were investor-owned and that number has been trending upward since 1994.

And get this:

“The firms you see today are actually held to somewhat higher standards than their not-for-profit competitors in their economic dealings with physicians, because of the past regulatory scrutiny,” said Jeff Goldsmith, national adviser to Navigant Healthcare and associate professor of public health sciences at the University of Virginia.

Fast forward 50 years and the labels of for-profit or non-profit don’t even exist. We now live in a world where consumers have choice. The emergence of the for-profit system has actually helped the non-profit counterparts by forcing them to improve their business practices and outcomes.

This is called healthy competition. And we all benefit as a result.

In fact, another lesson to be learned is the blending of for-profit and non-profit systems to more efficiently and effectively run hospitals.

The for-profit hospital movement inspired healthy competition, encouraged operational efficiency, decreased waste, and ultimately expanded choices for Americans.

Yes, they had to iron out the kinks and cut the sharks loose, but then look at what happened.

I wonder if the woes in higher education could benefit from an expansion of options and blending of practices, too.  Surely quality healthcare is paramount over tax status, right?  So wouldn’t it make sense to follow a proven path where a mission can be accomplished because the money was there to fund it.  And as Americans, wouldn’t it be nice to know our tax dollars are being spent wisely?

Don’t think it’s possible? Consider this.

When it comes to choosing your own doctor and the affiliated hospital, is tax status a consideration? or is it quality care?   Yeah….I thought so.

The post For-Profit vs. Non-Profit Mindsets in Higher Education appeared first on Norton Norris.

There are two ways to go with this: get pissed or celebrate. I choose the latter.

You see, I learned a long time ago that there’s enough business to go around – especially for those serving the higher education sector. In fact, this is the perfect time for “competitors” to band together because the battle isn’t between the vendors, it’s convincing a sector mired in ineffective practices and outdated approaches to change.

Just like a pebble thrown into a pond; change causes ripples in an organization. The first ring of ripples (closest to the change (or pebble) are the true soldiers or change agents. They support change; push for change and try and move the organization forward. The farther the rings are from the center point, represents the degree of those who don’t support change until you get to the outer edges. This is where you find the pond scrum.

You know them – those who sit back with crossed arms and a know-it-all attitude. They hate change and even worse…they have power. They play on fear and prefer things stay the same. The scary thing is they can get others to follow them by causing unrest, highlighting any glitches as a failure and searching for evidence to support keeping things the same. In effect, they pull others to the outer edges with them to increase their power while the good soldiers in the inner ring are trying to pull people into the light of change.

It’s strange, isn’t it? New ideas are often met with a harsh degree of skepticism. It’s silly now to imagine Galileo’s suggestion of the Earth moving around the Sun landing him on house arrest for the rest of his life, but when people’s deeply held beliefs are called into question, they often act irrationally.

And that’s why innovators are so widely praised. When constantly faced with suspicion, doubt, and apprehension, they soldier on and drown out the noise.

The world of Higher Education needs more people like that.

Heck, the entire world needs more people like that.

While we’d certainly all agree that we need to celebrate the ones who are clawing tooth and nail to change our lives for the better, they’re few and far between. And sadly, sometimes they can be drowned out for not shouting at the top of their lungs and shoving their idea in people’s faces.

Take Nikola Tesla for example. Without boring you to death with details, Tesla and American cultural icon Thomas Edison once butted heads over their respective electrical current systems. While Tesla’s superior alternating-current (AC) system is still used today, Edison was able to attract enough attention to delay its takeover, even though he knew in his heart his product was inferior.

Long story short, Tesla died poor.

Not to bash Edison, who was clearly one of the most gifted inventors of his time, but despite being one of the most brilliant minds to ever exist, many people today only know the Tesla name because of Elon Musk’s luxury car line.

So if you’re pushing your idea and the road seems bleak, know this: true innovation will live on and see its day no matter what. Sure, you might get overshadowed. You might not even credit for your work. But there are a few things no copycat can ever take from you.

They can’t steal your long-term vision. They can’t steal your talent, your experience, or your insight.

And most of all, they can’t steal your passion.

Looking around the field of Higher Ed today, there’s no shortage of it. Many of you care about what you do. You want to see potential students make their dreams come true, and you’re willing to make sacrifices of your own to get them there.

I encourage you to innovate. Open yourself to others’ ideas. Stand face-to-face with the criticism. Meet your detractors head on, and do what you know in your heart is right. It’s not about taking credit or gaining recognition for your efforts. At the end of the day, how many people’s lives did you change for the better?

Our minds may have led us here, but our hearts are what helped us navigate the bumpy road.

And while we may forget the journey, we’ll never forget the way it made us feel.

The post How Pond Scum Drowns Innovation in Higher Education appeared first on Norton Norris.

Click the link below and you will be taken to a PDF copy of the article that you can download for later reading (link opens in a new window).

Advising for Fit: The Common Thread Between School Counselors and College Admission Professionals.

The post Our Latest Career Education Review Article. appeared first on Norton Norris.