Admissions & Recruitment
Attendees enjoy professional development and networking as they develop tools and resources for taking enrollment outcomes to a new level. Build, enhance, and revamp your foundation for a comprehensive enrollment management plan, develop insights and ideas to position you and your institution at the forefront of the profession, and improve student success through creative recruitment and retention strategies.
This course provides an introduction to and overview of the foundations of Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM). From these foundations, the applications can then be tailored to the challenges, opportunities, mission and vision of each institutional setting.
The AACRAO Enrollment Management: Environmental Scanning course provides a fundamental understanding of Environmental Scanning within a Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) framework, and how it is used by institutions as guidance for decisions about the institution’s enrollment future.
This course familiarizes new enrollment leaders with the history, tools, data, and campus partners to successfully engage in and lead student success initiatives at a university or college.
Participants receive guidance from recognized SEM experts over a period of 31 continuous days, this online professional development program provides grounding in the fundamental principles of SEM from the perspective of 2-year, 4-year, public and private institutions.
The SEM Endorsement Program features webinars, field visits, online courses, and a capstone. SEM-EP graduates receive the SEM-EP Badge and inclusion on the national registry.
The ASCEND Program is designed to prepare mid-level professionals in the competencies required to take the next step in enrollment management leadership. The year-long intensive program uses self-paced modules and live discussions to cover the technical topics of enrollment management.
AACRAO Strategic Enrollment Management publications available for online purchase
Admit It: AACRAO's college admissions and enrollment management podcast
AACRAO special topics research reports
Student Identity
SEMQ provides knowledge and insight into the ongoing evolution of strategic enrollment management (SEM). SEMQ bridges the gap between theory and practice with articles by thought leaders and practitioners who address the emerging dynamics of SEM, including: executive-level leadership, leading strategies, internationalization, research, academic orientation, and current trends.
Read SEMQ
AACRAO is excited to announce the launch of the AACRAO LEAD Initiative: Leaders in Enrollment Advancing Diversity. The LEAD initiative will take a multi-pronged approach at identifying and preparing a diverse group of enrollment leaders to take on leadership roles in Enrollment Management in North America and across the globe. Last year’s U.S. Chief Enrollment Management Officer Career Profile indicated that in the next 5-10 years, amidst a wave of retirements and career changes, 40% of enrollment managers will be leaving their current positions. “In light of those results, AACRAO has committed to take the lead to prepare the next wave of diverse leaders to take on Chief Enrollment Management Officer roles across the continent, to help make the face of Enrollment Management fully reflective of the communities we serve," said AACRAO Deputy Director Melanie Gottlieb.
The LEAD initiative will kickoff at the 2018 SEM Conference with a Monday evening reception hosted by women enrollment leaders who have taken the lead on inculcating diversity and inclusivity values in SEM. At the reception, the hosts will introduce the AACRAO LEAD theme, which will be built upon at future events. Plans include:
Undergraduate enrollment is increasing, according to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Community colleges focused on vocational training in particular made major gains last fall.
Federal data suggest larger shares of students at two-year colleges are enrolling online. Higher ed experts say the trend calls for more online support.