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.

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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!

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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.

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In my days as an admissions counselor, I wholeheartedly believed that helping my students determine if my college was the right fit for them was one of the most important tasks that I had to accomplish. The question was how?  I began my career in admissions in the mid-1990s, and let’s just say our process didn’t really lend itself to conversations around “fit.” It was more about getting to know students, their “hot buttons” and providing solutions that put my college at the top of their list. “Fit” was just a bit too subjective. I mean, c’mon … if the student is looking to get a degree in a field of study we offered, of course it was the right fit … right?

Well, as many of you know, that’s not always the case. When it comes to fit, it’s important to understand a person’s interests, skills and values related to what it is that they want – especially when talking about choosing a college or career path. In fact, there are a number of career theorists who believe a career plan is not the result of one decision, but a series of decisions made throughout a lifetime and that the process of exploring one’s interest, skills and values indicates reflection and knowledge of self to develop a satisfying and successful career and life plans.

So, what exactly do you need to know when it comes to these three key areas that contribute to overall fit? Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

Interests

It’s important to have your prospective students consider their interests when it comes to determining fit. Helping your student understand the activities, people, information and things they enjoy the most is important. As human beings, we tend to gravitate toward activities that allow us to spend our time on those interests. And the people who are most satisfied with their jobs are usually the ones who are doing what they enjoy most consistently.

Skills

In addition to exploring students’ interests, you also want to help them discover what skills they have and are willing to acquire for a particular career. When assessing skills, it’s important to think about job-specific skills (things they need to know), transferable skills (things they need to be able to do) and education/training required (what preparation is needed) in order to help determine what career success might look like.

Values

And last but definitely not least, it’s also important that your prospective students have an understanding of their values or what’s important to them when it comes to finding fit. If you don’t take your values into account when planning your career, there’s a good chance you’ll dislike your work and therefore not succeed in it. Looking at values helps you see if there is alignment between what is important to your student and your institution.

So what makes it important to explore these areas as an admissions professional? As you look to help your students discover what’s right for them, you’ll also see if you’re the right place for them. Many of the talented admissions professionals I have the privilege of working with say that helping students achieve and succeed is the reason that they’ve chosen this profession. When a student has the opportunity to explore all areas related to their decision to attend your school or enroll in your program, you’ve given them a gift. They can see what is most important to them and what they need to do to get there. And that gift is a win-win for all involved.

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Career Education Admissions Symposium – June 8th, following the APSCU 2016 Annual Conference

Join us on Wednesday, June 8th from 11:00am to 4:30pm for the Career Education Admissions Symposium in Orlando, FL.

REGISTER NOW!

ONLY $250 (INCLUDES LUNCH) Space is limited! Call 312-262-7433 or email info@nortonnorris.com. APSCU members can register online to receive a special discount.

3 Perspectives. 1 Goal.

The Symposium will cover topics dealing with serving students interested in alternative paths to higher education. You will join higher education marketing, admissions, and counseling professionals for a one of a kind event, featuring speakers from high school guidance, community colleges and career colleges to discuss:

We will also offer concrete, practical tips used by our panelists for best practices in: Marketing, Admissions, Coaching, Counseling, Recruitment, and Retention.

FEATURED SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Angelia Millender, President, City Colleges of Chicago, Olive-Harvey College
Christy Heckman, Counselor, Abraham Lincoln High School
Joe Sallustio, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing, National American University
Dr. Gary Carlson, President and CEO, gCarlson, Inc.
Rick Rios, Project Manager for Talent Development, Bridgepoint Education
Brent Passey, Chief Admissions Officer, Hodges University
Vincent Norton, Managing Partner, Norton|Norris, Inc.
Rhonda Cracco, Assistant Principal for Student Services, Tinley Park High School
Dr. Jim Black, CEO, SEM Works
Debbie Muno, Managing Partner, Muno, Summers and Assoc.
Bill Ojile, J.D., Partner, Armstrong Teasdale, LLC.
Carla Cheatham, M.Ed., NCC, LPC, Professional School Counselor, Bremen High School
Amanda Opperman, Sr. Institutional Effectiveness Specialist, Wonderlic, Inc.

Click on the flyer image below to learn more!

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Something that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is practice.  Being a mom of three involves a lot of running from one practice to the next and it can be overwhelming trying to manage staggered drop off and pick up times, practice days and non-practice days, and who I’m picking up from practice all after a full day of work!

Recently, my son was invited to compete in his first conference swim meet.   Not all swimmers are invited to conference, so the invitation also meant  that after regular swim season practices have ended, our little fish is still practicing five times a wee
k while many of his friends and teammates are home playing on their tablets or with friends.  Suddenly, the idea of the conference meet didn’t seem as exciting to my son.    However, with this experience comes a great lesson.  In order to improve and enhance performance, one must practice regularly.  For my son, this means endless laps in the pool while his friends are playing Minecraft (his favorite past time), with the hope that after that conference meet, he’ll bring home some kind of hardware to symbolize his hard work, hours of practice and ultimately, his achievement.

In thinking about my son’s practice schedule, I can’t help but also think of our clients in terms of continued practice after their initial training workshop.   In order to make change stick, regular practice becomes essential for a number of reasons.

One, practice allows for immediate application of training content.  This helps participants get a complete understanding of the concepts trained and implement those concepts in a real-time environment.

Two, after training, practice helps us to identify areas that are still a bit “gritty”.  This is crucial because it helps trainers support and coach their teams for maximum effectiveness and success in using the process.

Finally, consistent practice helps identify what is working!   Identifying wins with regards to what participants learned through training is equally critical to the teams’ success.  Whether it’s enrolling a new student mere hours after the training has ended – using the new approach – or enhancing communication between departments.

Consistent practice is a must in order to achieve mastery.  Keep pushing yourself to move beyond the “grittiness” and improve your level of understanding.  As you incorporate practice into your routine, don’t forget to celebrate the wins that you have along the way.  So…what will you be practicing today?

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It’s extremely rewarding to see someone casually stroll out the door of our training/facilitating with a smile on their face after initially walking in with a scowl. We’ve held sessions for people who were hesitant, unwilling, and even a little scared. Still, every single person who’s walked through our doors has held a positive outlook by the end of the final session.

Here are some excerpts that I’ve found to be among the most fulfilling:

• “Life Changing!” – Sam, an Admissions Representative from Santa Ana, California
• “An engaging and informative experience that was filled with “AH-HA” moments right and left. It helped me to see a more effective and powerful ways to help students.” – Whitney, a Learning & Development Consultant from Iowa
• “It was very engaging. It was fun and it was exciting to come every day. It made me think outside of what we were usually doing. I even use it in my personal life.” – Lauren, an Admissions Representative from Kansas City, Missouri
• “I believe this was one of the most effective and enjoyable training sessions that I’ve done. It was relevant to what the company is looking for and gave me a new perspective on my duties.” – Liz, an Admissions Representative from Springfield, Illinois
• “AMAZING! ENGAGING! INCREDIBLE!” – Natalie, an Admissions Representative from Arlington, Texas
• “The workshop exceeded my expectations. The presenters were very engaging and informative. The workshop set me up for success!” Terrent, an Admissions Representative from Ardmore, Texas

As I look back at these quotes I get a feeling of elation knowing that I have positively impacted someone’s life in one way or another. And when people ask me what I do for a living I say, “I change people’s lives. What do you do?”

You can learn more about Virtual Training and Admission Mystery shopping by just a single click over here.

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Friends are great. You can watch movies, talk on the phone for hours, hit the town, and grab lunch or dinner with them pretty much whenever you’d like.

But your BEST friend?

Your best friend knows you better than you know yourself. They remain at your side through thick and thin, no matter the situation. The two of you just get each other in a way nobody else could really understand (or even want to understand).

Well, we have a best friend we couldn’t be any more proud of, Higher Education (or “Ed” for short).

Our team has known Higher Ed now over 114 years working in a variety of positions at schools and colleges. We’ve gone through the ups, the downs – the good days, and the bad days. Through it all, we came to learn that we loved Ed so much, we wanted to start working more closely together and help schools across the country.

That’s where Norton Norris comes in. Our organization was created to be the single greatest, most supportive friend we could be. Here’s a little bit about what we do for Higher Ed and our specific mutual friends within “Ed.”

Assessment

Your Admissions staff is a vital cog in the Higher Ed machine. Why? It’s their sole purpose to ensure potential students are making the well-informed, correct choice to attend your school. With such a large weight placed on their shoulders, it’s important to determine just how well they’re performing – not just on conversions, but also with compliance.

That’s where our Assessment Team enters the conversation. Our national team of highly-trained evaluators work online and face-to-face to provide a detailed report on the admissions process from beginning to end. Their evaluation includes everything from attitude to compliance questions to follow up, and we even cater our surveys directly to our clients’ needs. This allows our clients to accurately assess their Admissions process and identify areas of need.

Training

Training is closely linked to Assessment. As I mentioned above, it’s absolutely essential to have your Admissions team at the top of their game at all times. Our turn-key EnrollMatch^® Admissions training brings your staff to a different mindset altogether. Our revolutionary Student Empowerment Approach seamlessly blends science, emotion, and even a bit of common sense.

We’ve seen campuses turn the ship in little to no time at all by using our techniques. To put it simply, our approach works, and it works well.

My Guidance Coach^® 

Talk about taking it to the next level? Our innovative (and patent pending) software provides 24/7 access for students and admission professionals to engage in a proven coaching process. With the focus on an ethical sales process, improved student fit, and measureable outcomes, MGC is the future and it’s here NOW!

Marketing

You know Marketing is critical, and so do we.

In fact, Marketing is our largest department, and we take pride in the tremendous turnarounds we’ve orchestrated for some of our most trusted clients. By utilizing SEO & inbound marketing techniques, we know how to stay on top of the digital world. We also understand the need for traditional media to create awareness and drive traffic to your digital properties.

Finally, we know that cost per inquiry and inquiry volume is just one measure. We believe strongly in shaping the inquiry pool to provide schools with the right mix of organic website inquires, adwords/PPC, PPL, television, outdoor and referrals.

Want to make a new friend? We’d love to chat. Give us a call at 312-262-7400 and ask for Vince or Jean or try us at info@nortonnorris.com

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We’ve all had them at one point in our lives. They keep us upright while we learn to pedal on and move forward.

But what happens when we take them off?

We lose our balance. We fall, and we end up with a couple of nicks and bruises to show for it.

Don’t get me wrong, training wheels are great. They serve the purpose of maintaining some sort of balance and making sure we don’t hurt ourselves, and sometimes that’s necessary. But in the long run, you eventually take the wheels off and let it ride.

In much of the same way, training can feel like stepping back in time and jumping on that bike for the first time. You might feel wobbly and out of control. But you know what? That’s ok. To learn something new one has to be willing to step back, be open to new ideas, and yes, even fall on occasion. Having a trusted partner to guide you on this journey is critical though. That’s where facilitation comes in.

The Norton Norris Approach

At Nn we strive to facilitate learning vs. teaching AT people. We want each and every individual in our class to learn and embrace the content through their own lens. Because — and let’s be real here — if we crammed it down your throat, you wouldn’t follow it anyway.

This methodology allows us to connect with people on a much deeper level. Instead of scratching the surface with the terms, concepts, and best practices on a bunch of PowerPoint slides — we engage you, and we actually want to know YOUR opinion too.

In our mind, this is what separates a Trainer from a Facilitator. Anyone can spew facts & information at you, but it takes a special person to form relationships, bonds, and connections with others, especially adult learners.

Learning something new can be scary, but a facilitator can guide you with training wheels and then pull them off in a matter of days so you can reach new heights you never imagined possible. Yes, we’ve had people get emotional. Some have cried. Others have said the experience was “Life Changing.”

Are you ready to take a step back to go forward?

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