Community College Voice

Is your community college adult-friendly?

2012-02-28T21:01:00.000-08:00

About a week ago I published a guest blog post for Evolllution.com on why for-profit and career/technical programs can be good options for some students, particularly adult students. I highlighted the flexibility, convenience, and relevance of such programs as great selling points because a lot of adults are seeking training that will accommodate tight work schedules and family obligations.

Another point to consider is that a lot of adult students seeking further education already have a degree and are looking to be trained in very specific skill sets.

While community colleges are, of course, the very apple of my eye, I would be remiss to turn a blind eye to an issue that continually causes us to miss out on potential enrollment opportunities. Our Achilles heel is our academic calendar. Determined to hold on to the traditional calendar year, we offer courses all year round, but in a time frame that still caters to the traditional college student. However, we all know that at most community colleges, the 18-24 year old is not the typical student. For example, at the community college I work for, the average student is 29.

Our typical community college student wears many hats and has to, in a sense, "get in where they fit in". So if they represent the majority of our student population, then why do we make it so hard for them to fit in? I've had countless admissions counseling appointments with prospective adult students who, after years of putting everyone else first, have now managed to carve out a limited window of time to pursue a degree, and are in the mindset that it's either now or never and they would prefer if it didn't take forever. They want to get started as soon as possible. So I cringe at the prospect that comes to me in February knowing that I will have to tell them that they have to wait until May or June to even take a class.

I'll be honest. At my brief educational stint at the University of Phoenix (I was contemplating getting a second master's degree), one of the things that I really liked about them was that there was always a cycle of classes beginning in the near future. Now I'm not the biggest fan of for-profit or proprietary schools, but one must give credit where credit is due and this level of convenience is something that they deliver well.

If community colleges would offer more feasible options to adult students, I think it could drastically cut down on the number who wind up at for-profit schools, paying exponentially larger prices for the same, or in some cases, less quality education than they would have received at a community college.

Now, with that said, a number of community colleges are answering the call for greater flexibility by offering more accelerated degree program options, particularly within the business discipline. Harrisburg Area Community College in the central Pennsylvania region is a great example. They have even offered opportunities for students to complete their bachelor degree on campus, through a four-year university.

So we are making strides, but there is still room for improvement.

What are local community colleges in your area doing to increase flexible course options for adult learners?

Fundraising for Dummies: Tips From an Allocation Panel Insider

2012-02-15T08:59:00.000-08:00

In December I was asked to sit on an allocation panel for the United Way Capital Region. After a series of site visits and pouring over pages and pages of fund allocation requests and current budgets, I must give kudos to grant writers, financial officers, and other non-profit managers who have to hustle each year to get funding. You really have to go through the fire.

Today we met to hear presentations from community agencies requesting funding for the new fiscal year. I must say that hearing the panel deliberate has been a huge learning experience for me. I thought I'd share in this week's post, some of the biggest take aways that I thought were valuable to know when positioning yourself to receive money from funding allocation agencies.

Diversity, diversity, diversity
If you want your non-profit to get funding, show that your agency or program serves diverse populations. Also take a look at your boards. Is your board reflective of the populations you wish to serve?

Collaboration
Also demonstrate that you can play nice in the sand box with others. In other words, collaborate and communicate. There isn't a lot of money in the pot to begin with so allocation committees really want to see their dollars stretch. If you can show how the money will benefit more people in the community than just the populations you are seeking to serve, the better your chances.

Diversify your streams of revenue
Do not make one allocation agency your sole source of funding. Allocation panels like the United Way are interested in sustainability and they want to know how the program will go on if their funding went away.

Learn to fishDemonstrate that you can fish. There's certainly nothing wrong with asking for help, but allocation boards are impressed to see that you also know how to fund raise and campaign for yourself.

Outcomes
And lastly have measurable outcomes and solid bench marks. Show how your program will produce beneficial outcomes over time. Again, sustainability is the key. Note that fly-by-night events typically don't get funding unless you're going for a grant that specifically earmarks money for those purposes.

Have you ever requested a grant or some other type of funding for your program or agency? Am I missing any tips here? Tell me about it.

Community Colleges: The Great Remediators?

2012-02-11T16:01:00.000-08:00

One of the things that made me fall in love with the mission of the community college is the fact that it is equal opportunity and open admissions. We've been affectionately coined "the Ellis Island of higher education". I tell that to scores of prospective students and family during my admissions presentations and I say it with pride.

But with the pool of resources, particularly at the state levels, shrinking ever so steadily and the cost of tuition at four-year schools rising so rapidly, students are flocking to community colleges in droves because, let's face it, we're the best deal in town.

Okay so this is not necessarily a bad thing for us, but, are community colleges prepared to handle the myriad of issues that come with this? One issue that comes to mind is the ongoing struggle with developmental education.

Today I read an article in the Community College Times on this very issue. As many four-year schools begin to phase out, or at least severely limit their developmental options, more students are being referred to community colleges to get them up to speed. On the surface, it seems like a good bone to be thrown. But is it really?

Remedial education has long been part of the many services that we offer to our students. But with the pressure being increasingly placed upon community colleges to provide what, in truth, should have been given at the K-12 level, one must ask at what point the heat will be put back on the K-12 institutions to produce more college-ready students rather than pushing those students off on community colleges to re-educate them (Just a caveat...I'm speaking specifically about students coming right out of high school. Adult students are a different story) I fail to see the reasoning behind high school graduates paying to take developmental courses that do not count toward degree requirements, to learn skills they could have learned for free in grade school. How does that help our students?

Why should our resources be drained by remedial education when we have other responsibilities to our community beyond that? Community colleges are also workforce training centers. We are research institutions (maybe not in the Carnegie classification sense) and hubs for recreational community learning.

By no means am I advocating that community colleges not offer development education. I think there is a need for it, but I do not believe that it should be our responsibility to carry alone. My hope is that community colleges and local high schools can partner together more on initiatives that will help produce more college-ready students such as offering non-credit supplemental math instruction or essay-writing camps over the summer.

Thoughts? How do you think community colleges should handle developmental education?

So I'm a blogger...who knew??

2012-02-11T11:31:00.000-08:00

Over the past several weeks I've been pretty busy writing, not just for this blog, but I've been doing some guest pieces for other blogs. I originally started blogging because I just have a lot to say and quite frankly, I just needed an outlet to get it out. I wasn't sure if anyone would even want to read it, but lo and behold...someone did. So here are a few links to what I've pubbed so far.

Don't Hate on Your Own Shine: How to Supercharge Your Confidence (Brazen Life)

Networking Your Way to Your Dream Job (The LI$T)

Part-time Gigs to Full Time Digs: Finding Quality Jobs and Internships in College (The LI$T)

So these pieces are more young professional-ish and career-advicy-based (yes, I just made up my own words), but I'm also working on some pieces that are more closely tied to my higher ed roots and really speak to questions I've been mulling over in my head the past several weeks like whether for-profit institutions make valuable contributions to the world of higher education or if multicultural recruitment still should be a priority for colleges and universities.

Stay tuned!

Why I Love My Email...A Valentine for My Inbox

2012-02-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

I love email. I just do. It's efficient and as a busy young professional who is constantly on the move, it's essential for keeping my life organized, next to my trusty calendar, of course. But lately I'm hearing the faint buzzing of the tech trend police. They say that this current generation isn't really using email as much and that text messaging and social networking is what's in. Some trenders have even gone so far as to say that email is the new snail mail. I say ha! Here is what I know to be true about email......

It's a keepsake...
I still have saved helpful pieces of both personal and professional advice given to me through email or heartfelt messages from a loved one. I also like to email myself snippets of articles or photos that inspire me.

It's a task master...
It can be a to do list. I often email myself tasks that I need to accomplish for the day or week. Particularly when I'm at recruitment events and I need to follow up on something specific with a prospective student, I shoot myself a quick email with "TO DO" in the subject line so that when I get back to the office, I can get right on it.

It's a highly efficient storage bin...
I have Gmail and have had it for almost 6 years. I love love love it because I can sort and organize my emails by topic which is great when I'm coordinating a project and I need to make sure that I didn't miss any details sent to me. Clicking on that particular label will bring up all communication sent about that project. Awesome!

It's a collaborative agent...
It allows me to track conversations on a project that I've been working on over the months. Again, another Gmail reference, but only because I don't know about other email clients. But the conversation view of emails is wonderful. There are plenty of "email meetings" that I've had to keep track of where a topic is thrown out to the team and responses start pouring in. Email helps me to keep track of who said what and when.

It's a networker...
I can't tell you how many first intros I made through email that has led to some pretty cool opportunities, one of which was having a guest post featured on Brazen Careerist blog for young professionals. It also led me to fellow young professionals Cameron Butler and Courtney Murray who offered me a position as a staff writer for their college and career advice blog, The LI$T.

It's accessible everywhere...
Nowadays, who doesn't have a smart phone, laptop or tablet? If you do, you have instant access to your inbox, anywhere, and at anytime. Gmail even allows you access to your inbox offline for times that you don't have an internet connection.

So why aren't you using your email? To some email is slowly on it's way out, but to that I say, perhaps you just haven't found the right email client to suit your needs. Perhaps the next generation of young professionals just need to be better educated about the different functions of electronic communication and how it can help organize their lives and build relationships.

I want to hear from you. How do you use your email?

Is the traditional resume dead, and are we preparing our students for its burial?

2012-02-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.bestsampleresume.com/resume-tips.html

As I was catching up on a little weekend blog reading, I stumbled upon an interesting piece the Wall Street Journal had posted on the demise of the resume . The huge irony is that I'm currently working on the last post in my "backpack to briefcase" series on The LI$T and guess what I'm writing about?? You guessed it. Resume writing!!

So reading this little "extra extra item" gave me some pause. It made me think about the hundreds of students who have been trained since junior high (myself included), that having a solid resume was the best way to make a good impression on a potential employer.

In the digital age where most Americans have a strong online presence, some even from birth (thank proud mommies and daddies who post pics and videos of their bundles of joy on Facebook in real-time), it begs the question of why we are still encouraging our young people to prepare for their careers by agonizing over the best way to craft a piece of paper.

Is it time for our career services offices to start preparing students for a new type of resume? One that focuses on crafting the most effective Linkedin profile, assembles together one's best Slideshare presentations, and highlights their most intuitive and thought-provoking Google+ and Facebook posts.

No doubt, our world is changing and our students, both young and seasoned, are expected to know how to relate to a highly digital, paperless world. I'm curious to know how colleges and universities will adapt.

Keeping the Community in Community Colleges: Blurring the Lines of Recruitment and Good Ol' Fashioned Community Outreach

2012-01-24T20:35:00.000-08:00

www.thinkimagine.com

For decades, community colleges have been pillars of intellectual enlightenment and economic advancement in their communities. They have prepared generation after generation of local citizens (both young and seasoned) for the workforce, and to transfer to our nation's finest colleges and universities. The fate of these colleges have always been inextricably linked to the fate of the communities that house them.

Why? In short, because that's where their students and biggest supporters come from.

So as recruiters, why do we often scoff at the idea of doing neighborhood block parties and community festivals? Why the heavy sighs when asked to set up an info table in a church basement? It's understandable with so much to do and so little human resources to do it, we have to be selective in the events we are asked to participate in. However, if we begin to take on the attitude that our communities are irrelevant to us, will we eventually become irrelevant to them?

Maybe you're reading this and thinking, "I would LOVE to do more community events, but I just don't have the time."...or you're saying..."But they just don't fit into our enrollment/recruitment goals for this year." I wouldn't bring this important topic up just to disappoint you. Here's a few tips on how to keep the recruitment of hard leads a top priority, but not leave your community partners in the dust.

Get buy in from the top down

If your boss doesn't think that nurturing those relationships with the community is important then it's going to have to be your job to tell them why it is. Start collecting some data. Managers are often trained to look at the bottom line when it comes to deciding on how to manage time and resources. Try keeping a tally of all the leads that you have gotten over the past few months just from CBOs (Community-Based Organizations). Also, identify the populations that they serve and match them with institutional priorities wherever applicable. Convince your boss that she would be a fool not to tap into these organizations.

Join a board or committee

While you may not have time to attend a lot of community events, another way to keep your fingers on the pulse of your community is to join a consortium of direct service organizations or even get on a board for a local non-profit agency (CBOs that provide direct services to clients are ideal). I've found these to be great opportunities to network and even gain prospective student leads. Share updates about what's happening at your institution and how it will affect the populations that those organizations serve. But also be prepared to listen. Find out what the greatest needs are in the community at that time. The great part is that these meetings don't take up a lot of time, as most boards or networking groups typically meet monthly or quarterly.

If you can't go out to them, bring them to you.

Host a consortium meeting or direct service event on campus (provided that you have the space available). Offer tours of your facilities and consider inviting current students who fit their clientele to speak to the group about their experiences at your college and how their education has benefited them. When your community partners are able to witness first hand what you have to offer, they tend to be much more comfortable referring their clientele to you.

What are some things you are doing to nurture your relationships with your community partners?

Is your age in higher ed years the same as dog years?

2012-01-15T18:17:00.000-08:00

In a little under one month, I will be five years old. February 7, 2007 is my birthday. This is the date that I walked through the doors of my college as a student affairs professional. I don't remember a lot of specific dates (so you can imagine how well I did in my history classes), but this one remains etched in my mind. Why? Because it signified the culmination of all of my 18 years of education (K-12, undergraduate, and graduate experiences included).

On that cold, blustery day in February, I sat in my new boss's office filling out my newbie paperwork. That day had finally arrived. I had arrived and I was hungry. Hungry to learn all there was to know about the world of higher education, and boy did I eat my first few years. I found my institution to be a wonderful pasture, rich with experienced professionals who, for decades, had been shaping the lives of the students who had walked through their doors. It was filled to the brim with opportunities to jump into new projects and learn about many other areas of student services besides my own. Every day was new and exciting and I never seemed to be able to get my fill. Can you relate?

Now, with the five-year mark approaching, I'm starting to feel like someone pressed the acceleration button on my time clock. I feel a sense of urgency to evaluate where I'm at professionally and where I want to be. It's not that I'm any less excited about my job. I love working with students and doing outreach in my community. My hastily scrawled sticky notes with programming and recruitment ideas for the upcoming year, which, by the way, are presently threatening to take over all the white space in my planner, bear witness to the flame that still burns in my heart for the career path that I've chosen. Higher education is where I will stay. Community colleges will always be my sweetheart.

But how old is too old in higher education years? Is five years too long to stay in any position?

In my previous post, I talked about the importance of patience and self-evaluation. And if you read some of my other posts, you will see these themes interwoven throughout them all. Why, you ask? Because it's a tough lesson that I have had to learn over the years with costly mistakes. This year I will be 30 (in real life) and I'm determined not to repeat the errors of my twenties. The only way I can see this happening is if I stop thinking that I'm too old to learn something and continuously evaluate where I'm really at versus where I think I am.

So after some internal debates, I've realized that there is still room for me to get a few more good lessons in before I'm really ready to move on. In light of this, I have decided that this year I'm going to focus on assessing the experiences that I've been fortunate to have and determine what experiences I still need to seek out to prepare myself for the next level of my life. I am realizing that there are much worse things that I can do than stay in a position presumably too long. Like? Like moving on to a position that I'm not really ready for and ruining a good opportunity because I was too arrogant to adequately prepare for it.

I think I'll take a slice of my birthday cake now.

Feeling the milestone blues at work? How will you know when it's time to move on?

Patience has a Perfect Work: What I've Learned from the Life of a Whale

2012-01-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, in our student ambassador pre-semester training, our icebreaker activity was to answer questions about ourselves. Of course I got the "what animal would you be and why?" question. I detest questions like that because honestly I'm so unimaginative when it comes to those kinds of things. And there's always that pressure of trying to find something witty and inspiring to say. So I usually will just revert to the safe answer. "I'll be a bird so that I can fly and travel the world in an instant".

But surprisingly, instead of the bird, what came to mind was a whale. Haha! Yeah I know. I shocked myself. So why did I choose a whale? Well, it occurred to me that whales take their time with everything. From the way that they swim, to how they hunt, to how long it takes for them to give birth to their young, to their average lifespan (up to 80, sometimes 100 years if not hunted). You never see a whale impulsively rushing off to do things. It takes its time, roaming the entire world looking for food, even if it takes months.

My recruitment team is in the midst of planning our events and recruitment strategies for the new year. In the coming weeks, I'm sure we will have a lot of great discussion and lively debates over what will be the most effective strategies to recruit and retain quality students. My hope is that as we make our plans, we will take our time, reflecting on what we currently do and the effectiveness of our current methods, and comprehensively examine opportunities for further growth as a team.

As professionals, it's so easy to always rush off to the next glittering opportunity and ride the wave of the current trends. However, never forget the old adage, "Not everything that glitters is gold". The life of the ancient and patient whale, lends us a valuable lesson. Nothing is ever so important that we can't be patient, and truly wait to determine if what we see before us is actually worth grabbing hold of.

Social Media and You: Why Colleges Need It and How to Teach Your Students to Effectively Use It

2012-01-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

The term social media was a constant ring in everyone's ear in 2011 and will likely continue to make noise in 2012. The general consensus seems to be that if your business or organization is not engaged in some sort of social media platform, you're doing something wrong. It is certainly no different with colleges and universities.

Now, I'll be honest. Despite all the hype, outside of email (the new snail mail...so I've been told), I've been a little slow to utilize social media in my engagement with prospective student and current students. At a community college where everyone is guaranteed acceptance, is it really necessary to court students the way that four-year colleges and universities do? After all, they are trying to put together a decent freshmen class, an enrollment goal that community colleges really are not tasked with. Is it really necessary to build relationships with students who most likely will come to our college any way because we're a great back-up plan?

My answer, in one word....yes!

Contrary to popular belief, social media is not just about advertising. It's really about being social and building relationships with both your external constituents as well as your internal constituents and plenty of colleges are using it to build strong, well-connected communities. So what are you waiting for? Take the first step. Not totally sold on the need for social media in your day-to-day operations at your institution? I asked social media expert Rachel Strella, owner of Strella Social Media for her thoughts on this very topic.

C.W. Why should colleges and universities be utilizing social media platforms?

R.S. There’s a perception that social media is ‘kid stuff,’ but, if used correctly, it’s a great tool for colleges and universities to attract new students as well as connect and engage with the current student body. It’s also a way to facilitate intercollegiate and staff communication.

Here are few reasons to utilize social media:

The Social Network. Facebook – the largest social media platform – is itself an example of what college life can help its students achieve. Facebook was created by students at Harvard University.
The Audience. The majority of college students are ages 18-25 and have been raised in an age of technology and social media. They’re likely using it already.
Recruitment. Social media is a great tool to attract students to the campus. LinkedIn, a powerful professional social network, encourages both professional development and staff recruitment.
Intercommunication. Private groups such as a Facebook group encourage interaction based on common interests. Potential groups could include: industry/major groups, study groups, and campus event groups.
Reach. Syracuse University, the second most influential college on Twitter, tweets live campus events including homecoming weekend activities. This creates engagement for those who aren’t able to attend, including alumni, parents, and other students.

C.W. What are some recommendations for college admissions counselors to not only use social media to promote their schools, but to interact with and build relationships with prospective and current students?

R.S. College admissions counselors are often the first to communicate with a potential student and may ultimately be the deciding factor for many prospects. Establishing a relationship with a student is one of the counselor’s chief goals. Social media will not only allow the relationship to start earlier, but it will also enable the counselors to keep in contact with the potential students with less intrusion into the potential student’s personal time.

Social media allows for the connection to be about more than just the school. It can be about the culture and atmosphere of the school, which is fundamental to a student who plans to invest years at a college.

There are some schools that may view social media and the admissions counselors using social media as a PR issue. It allows people, other than the PR department, to express views without having departmental oversight. Institutions – like businesses – should understand that unfiltered communication via social media is one of the reasons it’s so powerful. For many students, social media is the easiest and fastest way to communicate. In fact, studies show that students spend the majority of their time on social sites such as Facebook and Twitter. It would make sense for schools to leverage these channels for direct access to students.

C.W. How can we better educate our students to be responsible when using social media?

R.S. Colleges should be proactive and establish a social media and electronic communications policy that is required to be verified by students before logging on to campus networks.

It’s equally important for the university to set a good example by properly using social media as an institution.

Moreover, the hallmark of a university is to inform and educate. This is an initiative that should start from the top down. The administration should be aware of social media and its uses and regularly communicate its institutional messages down the chain of command. This could include hiring a consultant to speak to the administration on a regular basis. I would also recommend having regular workshops and panels of social media professionals that can interact with the students, faculty, and staff to discuss proper social media etiquette.

C.W. How can college students start using social media now to make themselves marketable when they begin to search for jobs and build their careers?

R.S. Use LinkedIn. Most business professionals have a LinkedIn account. If students get an account now and start connecting with those in their field, including potential hiring companies, they are ahead of the game. By using LinkedIn, they have the opportunity to make a personal connection and a positive first impression. Students should add their community service and internships to their profile. Students can also connect with professors and seek recommendations when earned.

Awareness. It’s important to become aware of their personal online conversations as well as their own personal online reputation. That means refraining from saying anything or posting any photo they wouldn’t want seen by the public or a potential employer. Just because they’ve adjusted certain privacy settings doesn’t necessarily mean their information can’t found or shared. A great way to establish a positive online reputation is by starting a WordPress blog and publishing strong content that showcases expertise and knowledge in their core subject area.

How is your college currently using social media to engage your students? And check out more great tips on using social media effectively at strellasocialmedia.com.

Rachel Strella is the owner of Strella Social Media, a company specializing in social media management.
Rachel holds a degree in communications from Penn State University and has nearly ten years of sales and marketing experience in both the real estate and publishing industries. She’s always wanted to have a career where she could help people, which led her to start a business in social media marketing in July 2010.
In August, Rachel released Social Media Manager Profits™, a national product that offers training to those interested in becoming social media managers. This seven-part series offers step-by-step guidance on how to create a profitable online business. She is also an expert adviser for the Global Social Media Management Association™ (GSMMA), which offers resources and certification for social media managers.
Rachel’s husband says she is never satisfied! But, to her credit, he also believes that’s why she’s been successful.
Rachel enjoys growing her business and participating in various groups and organizations throughout Central PA.

On Your Mark...Get Set...Revolutionize!: Be an Idea Trendsetter on Your Job

2011-12-27T12:00:00.000-08:00

Photo from sarahmcarr.com

With competition for today’s top jobs (okay let’s face it, any job in general) running neck and neck, it’s not enough to just do your job, especially if you want to keep your job and advance your career. You have to show that you not only have what it takes to do your assignments, but that you are forward-thinking enough to find ways to maximize what you do.

With the new year approaching, think about some of the most mundane assignments that you dread doing on your job, and make one of your goals to implement one idea that will revolutionize the way that you and your colleagues get it done. Make your ideas part of the bedrock of your department’s foundation.

1. Stop the whining and start brainstorming!

Pardon the tough love expression here, but...no one likes a whiner. It wasn’t attractive as a child, and it definitely is not going to earn cool points as an adult. Everyone has those excruciatingly drab routine tasks that make you want to gouge your eyeballs out every time you see the reminder pop up on your Google calendar, but they have to be done. Avoid the tempting habit of gathering around the lunch table to complain about what you don’t like or what doesn’t work. Instead, take that energy and invest it in finding a way to make the task more meaningful and relevant to what you do on a daily basis. Sometimes it can just be a matter of a mental gear-shift.

2. Look at the big picture. Examine the way you think about the task itself.

Ask yourself these questions. “If no one in our office completed this task, how would it impact our operations?” “What personal connection does this task have with what I do?” “Is it a conceptual issue or is it a process issue that is making this task so difficult to do or manage?” “What is one suggestion I can make that will help improve how we approach this task?” Jot down answers to each of these questions. Feel free to add additional questions based upon the nature of the task. But however you approach this, make sure that the end results are solid, constructive ideas for how you can maximize what you do as it relates to this task.

3. Make it a team effort.

Inevitably, what you do is going to affect your team and you want to propose solutions that are going to help make their jobs more meaningful too, if not easier. So give them an opportunity to weigh in on the issue. You may even want to throw some of those initial questions I suggested in the previous bullet, out to them. This is also a great way to gauge if what you see as an issue, is in fact an issue worth taking the time and energy to develop a plan of action for.

4. Develop your plan

Now that you have picked your own brain, as well as others’, now it’s time to plot your strategy. Come up with a proposal outlining the concern and your ideas. In your outline, get to the heart of the issue. What is the issue and where are you missing the mark with the way the task is completed? Don’t ramble on and on about how long you have been doing the task and why you don’t like the way you currently do things. This isn’t about your personal opinion, it’s about maximizing productivity. Come up with at least two to three suggestions for improvement and make sure you include outputs. It should be very clear to your supervisor how implementing your suggestions are going to benefit the office and improve operations for everyone.

5. Make your mark

Either schedule some time for a one-on-one with your supervisor to discuss your proposal, or ask if you can get on the agenda at your next team meeting. Be as clear and concise as possible in your presentation and be prepared for questions. The goal is to get everyone on board. This will ensure that your initiative is effective.

What is one thing that you want to do, or have done on your job to improve your office’s productivity? I want to hear about it!

How Remembering Your Failures Can Bring You Success

2011-12-21T21:57:00.001-08:00

Here's a little secret about me...well I guess it's not so much a secret to those who know me. But I absolutely hate being reminded of my failures. Once I realize that I've screwed up big time, I usually will do my best to correct my error quickly, move on, and hopefully never have to think about it again. Sounds like a wise move right?

Not quite...

As I continue to progress toward the big 3-0 (yes folks...I'm tellin' my age here), I'm starting to become more in tune with things that I really do well and conversely, those things that I really don't do well, and one of the things I've realized is that I'm a big chicken when it comes to reflecting on times in my life when I really bombed. I know you're probably reading this thinking, "okay and why would you want to reflect on those less-than-stellar moments? Why not let the past be the past?"

But the reality is that one really can't move on from the past until they have examined it and really gleaned those little life lessons that are necessary to bring about better choices in the present and future. I realized that because I have always been in such a hurry to run away from the mistake, I often would make 100 more similar ones down the road because I really didn't take the time to introspect and identify the choices that were made before to lead me down those wrong turns.

As professionals, especially as young professionals, we're going to make dozens of mistakes and have plenty of those "I really wish I hadn't done that" moments. But as we progress, if we are really growing both personally and professionally, the types of mistakes will not repeat and we will begin to ascend the ladder and make other mistakes (no unfortunately the mistakes don't stop), but on a higher playing field. The key is that with each step and each stumble, our feet should be moving forward.

But it all starts with not being afraid to face our failures head on, dissecting them, and then learning from them.

So if you can relate, as we move into a new year, here are just a few suggestions for taking the bull by the horns:

Journal: Yes I know it sounds very "Dear Diary-ish", but seriously, do it. Buy a notebook and jot down your thoughts on projects that may have gone awry or even personal relationships that did not end well (for my techies out there who prefer to store in the cloud, email yourself or open up a free Evernote account). Write down what happened, what your expectations were, and all the factors that most likely could have contributed to it going downhill. And then write down your ideas on what could have been done differently to have a better outcome. Now here's the hard part. Be honest. If all of your reasons point to someone or something else being the cause of the problem, most likely you will not get very far with this exercise.

Where possible, look for opportunities to try again: Armed with your new well-rounded perspective on what went wrong the first time around, it's time to jump back in the saddle. So if that open house that you took the lead on planning last fall turned out to be a dud, don't be afraid to volunteer to help in the planning for next year. Pull out some of your notes from your journal and share with the team what you saw fall short last time and then make suggestions for how to improve. Or if that blow up with your co-worker or your boss really left a lot of tension, invite them to lunch or to have a one-on-one to clear the air.

Learn to love a big ol' piece of humble pie (and don't forget the milk!): Depending on the magnitude of your error, you may want to tread lightly as you seek to rebuild your credibility in a particular area. While you can't allow your mistakes to be held over your head, you have to remember that when you make a mistake, it does change the way people perceive you and may knock you down a peg or two. So don't walk back into a situation pretending that you didn't screw up before. But if you acknowledge your shortcomings and demonstrate that you are willing to work your tail off to show that you have grown from that, the climb back up won't be as excruciating.

Okay...so I spilled my beans, now it's your turn! How do you confront your failures? What important lessons have you learned over the years when dealing with disappointments?

Mis-aligned? How to make sure your initiatives sync with your college's mission and vision

2011-12-16T22:57:00.000-08:00

The other day I had a very valuable conversation with a colleague about an initiative that I had been working on for the past couple of years. What I learned was that although I had worked very hard to develop it, with notable success, the initiative itself did not quite sync with the direction that the college was trying to go in, in terms of institutional priorities.

Initially, I must admit, the realization that the project that I had labored over for two years actually did not completely support the institutional goals and values of my college, well...stung. But as I was taking in what was being shared with me, I allowed my mind to settle and really focus in on where I had missed the mark.

Surprisingly, I found myself excited by the challenge of re-evaluating my work and making the necessary course correction. I saw it as my opportunity to show my colleagues and superiors that I could in fact take in feedback, dissect, digest, and re-tool the project that had grown so near and dear to my heart and make it relevant to the current priorities of my institution. So, with that said, I pose the question to you. Have you ever devoted a significant amount of time and energy to a project, only to find that it wasn't quite where it needed to be? Tempted to throw in the towel? Well don't! Here are a few tips that can help you think more constructively on how to reshape your approach.

TAKE IT IN: Although it may be a little hard to swallow, really listen to the feedback that you're given. Don't be so focused on defending yourself that you miss the golden nuggets that can actually help to enhance your work. Take notes during your meeting. Now some criticism may be unwarranted, and in those cases, it may be necessary to let some things roll off your back. But chances are, if your boss is making the effort to address the issue, it is because he or she really does want to see the project succeed, but is seeing some problem areas that you may have overlooked. So take note of everything that is shared and separate the meat from the bone in your private time.

DIGEST AND RE-TOOL: Review your notes from your meeting. Follow-up with your boss with any questions you may have. Think critically about the goals of your institution and how what you are currently doing meets those needs. Devise a plan of action to address the areas that were discussed. Carefully review your college or university's institutional priorities for the year and jot down specific ideas for how your initiative can better align with them.

FOLLOW-UP: Once you have devised a plan of action, if possible, schedule another meeting to discuss your plan and to get feedback. With your boss, develop a timeline for implementing the new changes. It's best to take initiative and schedule the meeting yourself rather than to wait for your boss to follow-up with you. This will demonstrate that you are serious about continuing to develop as a professional and that you are willing to be flexible in meeting the needs of your institution.

Now don't be surprised if even after you follow these steps, you still receive requests to make changes. That's just part of life. We are constantly making changes and re-evaluating where we are and where we need to be. How successful you will be is going to largely depend on your attitude toward adversity, criticism, and correction. If you constantly run away from difficulties or give up when you experience rejection, you will not grow personally or professionally. But if you can weather the storm and learn to embrace the challenges that come, it will not only earn you the respect of your peers, but it will build your character and enhance your professional reputation.

For more great info on how you can earn your problem-solver badge on your job, check out What Every Employer Desperately Wants: A Problem-Solver.

“I’m Going to Go to Community College First...Then I’ll Transfer to a Real School"

2011-11-25T10:57:00.001-08:00

This is a bittersweet comment that community college admissions counselors all too often hear from prospective students at college fairs and high school visits. On one hand, we are thrilled to hear that the student is seriously considering beginning their collegiate studies at a community
college, but on the other hand, we cringe at the perception that perpetuates the minds of most high school students today. That perception is that community colleges simply do not offer a true college experience. Although nearly 50% of American high school graduates began their college careers at a two-year college in 2006, and according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, that percentage increased by 8.3% in 2009, somehow many still hold to the belief that community colleges are just not “real” colleges.

So how do we combat this obvious fallacy?

How do we encourage our college-ready teens to broaden their perspectives on what the college experience can look like? How do we present community colleges as not just a great back up plan but also as a potential first choice? Here are just a few tips that may help to start changing the way high school students view community colleges.

1. What is the likely ROI (Return on investment)?
One thing I have found helpful is talking about the relationships that my college has with the local business community. In a time when unemployment is high, even among college graduates, in addition to wanting to know the particulars of their majors, today’s high school graduates also want to know about the job outlook for their chosen profession. How likely is it that they could get a job in that field in their local community? How well will your programs prepare them for that particular industry?

While I don’t think that any admissions counselor should promise job placement, it is important to highlight known opportunities that could be available to the student as a result of completing your institution’s academic program. This information usually is readily available since community colleges should be in tune with the economic conditions in their given area. Take the time and do some research on what companies often seek out graduates of your institution and compile a list of those companies and what majors they typically recruit those graduates from. You can work with your college’s career services office or go directly to the faculty for this information. They know the career paths that their students often take upon completion of their programs and are often happy to share this information to recruit more promising students.

2. Avoid the proverbial “Come to community college because it’s cheaper!” sales pitch.
While the low cost of tuition is certainly a great sell, that alone should not be the only reason that a prospective student should be attracted to your institution. Instead, emphasize the other great opportunities students can take advantage of at your college. Highlight the quality of your academic programs, particularly any special accreditation or recognition that your programs have received. Talk about the smaller class sizes, personalized attention from faculty, student enrichment programs, the emphasis on teaching first, or other notable scholarship programs. Most community colleges offer some form of an Honors college to engage their intellectually-advanced students. Highlight this! Bust the myth that community colleges are only experts on remedial education and preparing skilled laborers. While this is part of our focus and something that we do very well, community colleges are also institutions of advancement, engagement, and discovery. Find out what research projects your faculty and staff are doing. Keep up with the campus buzz, and if you’re a multi-campus institution, also keep up with what is happening at other campuses besides where you are based and where relevant, share this information with prospective students.

3. Highlight transfer agreements with four-year schools
Okay, so the reality is that a lot of students coming to your institutions are going to be moving on to four-year colleges and universities once they have completed their associate degree, or maybe even before that. That’s okay! One of the goals of a community college is to prepare students for a successful transfer into a baccalaureate program. Talk about those transfer partnerships you have with four-year institutions. Show prospective students and families that your college is well capable of preparing students for rigorous and advanced levels of study. Seek out and share success stories from alumni and if possible, invite them to speak at some of your recruitment events.

4. Be a great host!
Encourage prospective students to visit the campus. This is a general rule of thumb for all admissions counselors, regardless of what type of institution you work for, but this is especially important for community college admissions counselors because nine times out of ten, you are already going to have to combat stereotypes and images pre-set in the students’ minds of community college being “the 13th grade”. Bringing them to campus is a great way to dispel that myth quickly. Campus tours are always helpful, but if you can, arrange classroom visits or meetings with faculty in the disciplines that the student is interested in so that they can get an in-depth look at what a day in the life of a typical college student at your school is like.

5. Even if you’re not their first choice, make them yours.
Often times, because community colleges are open admissions, it is easy to take the attitude that you don’t have to work that hard to recruit students because they will eventually come since community colleges are usually the fall-back plan. But prospective students still want to be courted, even by a college that they know they have a 0% chance of being rejected by. So be available whenever possible. Invite them for one on one appointments. Personally follow up with any information that they have requested. Pull out all the stops and let them know that they are wanted as part of your college’s community and that your institution is just as serious about recruiting promising students as a selective school. And even if they still don’t see you as their top choice, like a good friend, let them know that you will always be there for them every step of the way through their collegiate and professional journey. Whether it be through summer course work, non-credit training opportunities that can further build their resumes or portfolios, or even cultural and personal enrichment activities, emphasize that you are there.

The above tips are just some strategies I have found to work well over my past five years as an admissions counselor. They may not all work for everyone and every counselor has to employ strategies and build relationships based on their area’s demographics as well as the mission and vision of their institutions. However, the key thought I hope you take away from this article is that as admissions counselors at a community college, we have much to be proud of. Community colleges have a special purpose in the realm of higher education and are wonderful places of higher learning. While we can not control misconceptions that may be formed initially, when prospective students and families come our way, it is our responsibility to make sure that we give them the truth and the truth is that community colleges are in fact, the REAL DEAL!