How Cloud Communications Improves University Enrollment Rates

August 3rd, 2018 by admin

How Cloud Communications Improves University Enrollment Rates

It’s getting tougher for colleges and universities to meet their enrollment goals. Only a third of admissions directors say they met their enrollment goals for the 2017-2018 academic year by May 1, according to a recent Inside Higher Ed survey.

Although many contributing factors are at play here, colleges and universities can increase the chances of prospective students accepting their admissions offer. One option is to equip university contact centers with tools that make it easier to nurture relationships. Not only does cloud communications allow admissions staff to engage with high schoolers and their families in a myriad of ways, it also strengthens collaboration among team members so they can answer questions more quickly.

How To Encourage Admitted Students To Say ‘Yes’

Be where the kids are: Today’s high school students aren’t as receptive to automated phone calls or paper-based brochures as previous generations were. Instead, they use their mobile devices to search for information on potential schools.

Although university websites and email are the primary ways admissions officers market to this generation, social media is fast becoming a key resource in the decision-making process. Some schools, such as Texas A&M University and the University of Michigan, put Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat at the center of their recruitment efforts. Through these channels, interested students can get immediate answers to questions about the application process, financial aid and other areas of interest.

By adopting an omni-channel strategy, admissions teams have a better chance at reaching prospective students in their preferred environment. Cloud communications streamlines these interactions by enabling the admissions team to interact with students in every channel – voice, web, text message, web chat and social media – from a single interface.

Save time: Digital marketing combined with cloud communications also offers economies of scale. The time spent making personal phone calls and writing one-to-one emails – which often go unanswered – can lead to a poor ROI for recruitment efforts. Compare this with the seconds it takes to answer questions and share relevant information on social media—information that all applicants see. Contact center agents reach more prospective students per day, maximizing their chances of attracting more new students.

Leverage data for better results: Better data means contact center managers can set appropriate staff levels and avoid paying agents to make calls and posts when no one is listening or online. Cloud communications also keeps the admissions team focused on higher, value-added tasks.

Set The University Apart From Competitors

Colleges and universities who leverage modern technology to recruit prospective students set themselves apart from their competition and demonstrate leadership in innovation and communication. By adopting cloud communications, the institution not only increases enrollment, but also earns a reputation for its commitment to creating a more personal, productive and collaborative learning environment.

Still Not Sure If The Cloud Is The Right Choice For Your University? Let's talk, contact our cloud experts!

Source: mitel.com

Posted in: Uncategorized, Cloud Communications, Unified Communications, Video Conferencing, Managed IT, Cloud Phone Systems, RingCentral

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