In higher education, the student experience continues to become more synonymous with the consumer experience. In fact, higher ed leaders identify “student consumer preferences” as the biggest threat facing the higher ed business model today. Community college student demographics are shifting, nontraditional is the new norm, mental health is in crisis, and learning flexibility is a growing demand. Knowing that consumers want seamless and personalized interactions—and that students are consumers—it’s critical for community college leaders to analyze their current student experience through the consumer lens.
Assess your Student Experience across Six Domains
Click on the dropdowns below to understand what each domain assesses. Then, download the diagnostic to complete your assessment.
Are there specific barriers in your digital onboarding process that are keeping students from matriculating? How long does a prospective student have to wait for follow-up outreach after expressing interest?
Are your student administrative tasks user-friendly? Do you employ digital-first processes to minimize the burden of admin steps and refocus student attention on the educational experience?
Do you offer your students digitally facilitated interactions to help them find their place on campus with options like student clubs, athletic teams, and peer mentorships?
Are your teaching, learning, and assessment modalities flexible? Can your advisors see which students have excess or wrong fit credits based on their major and proactively send them a nudge to schedule a meeting?
Does your campus have the staff, resources, and services to attend to students’ personal needs across mental, physical, and financial well-being? How are you using technology to fill in the gaps and support students equitably?
Do you offer tailored experiences (in person and digitally) to support career exploration, skill development, and preparation for success in the workplace post-completion?
The bar is now set by consumer industries, and it's up to community college leaders to bring their institutions up to modern standards.
More on modernizing your student experience
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