Enrollment Insights Podcast #55 – John McGreal and the Similar Roles and Recruitment Strategies at 2 and 4 Year Colleges
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In this episode:
In the Enrollment Insights Podcast, you’ll hear about novel solutions to problems, ways to make processes better for students and families, and the questions that spark internal reflection and end up changing entire processes.
In this episode, you will hear from John McGreal, Dean of Enrollment Services at Waukesha County Technical College. John has been an enrollment professional for his entire career and has worked at large public universities, small private universities, and now is the Dean of Enrollment Services at Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee, WI. John has also been involved with NACAC and his state affiliate the Wisconsin ACAC, serving as a member of the Presidents cycle for WACAC and on the Affiliates Presidents Council for NACAC. During his free time, John spends time with his family, watching and reading science fiction, is an avid sports fan, running, and being a grill master.
1:44 – The unsuccessful application completion event and what John learned from it
4:53 – Brainstorming by starting with a forest and focusing down to the trees (plus Diet Dr. Pepper, Pringles, and Twizzlers)
7:00 – Whether at a 2-year or 4-year college students want to be excited about their education and future
9:26 – Comparing messaging and processes at 2-year and 4-year colleges
11:05 – A surprising transition – the roles are similar enough that there weren’t many surprises!
12:04 – Your competitors aren’t just other colleges, it’s industry paying more and adding benefits. Can you pivot to professional development and career training?
15:10 – Relationship building, storytelling, and the ability to make data-driven decisions are essential skills regardless of instituton type
17:16 – The unsaid – Be student-centered first and foremost
19:44 – Skills to add and 4-year mindsets to unlearn
22:40 – Comm flow planning for rolling starts
26:08 – Incorporating outcomes and ROI into outreach while dispelling myths about 2-year education
30:05 – Engaging parents, advocates, and influencers in 2-year recruitment
33:14 – Celebrating moments with students and their community
36:18 – Final thoughts