Coaching for Those Who Remain Amid Third Straight Year of Enrollment Declines

Overall college enrollment has continued a decline sparked by COVID, dropping by 4.2% between fall of 2020 and 2022, as reported by Forbes in this article. Although community colleges saw a slight rise in first-time enrollment this year, and highly selective institutions experienced an increase in the size of their freshman classes, the overall enrollment drop is concerning. Experts attribute this in part to fear of debt, a labor market offering opportunities to earn, and the unrelenting rise in college costs. 

These tough conditions make it even more imperative for institutions to retain the students they've already enrolled -- and coaching can be a key driver of retention. The degree to which a student feels seen and cared about by faculty, staff, and administration informs how engaged that student feels, which affects the motivation to perform and persist. Coaching evolved in part out of a need to increase this student-personnel connection, in the service of improving retention.

Coaching is an across-the-board enhancement that connects students more strongly to existing resources, helpful personnel, and deeper learning. Institutions who value and employ coaches are setting themselves up to fight back against declining enrollments and their consequences by adding value to the academic experience while building a strong bridge to the future for each unique student. 

Join our 3-day online Inclusive Coaching class on November 4, 11,& 18.