I - Expanding Enrollment and Access

I. Expanding Enrollment and Access

Goals

• Double the number of students enrolled in CUNY SPS programs by 2027/28

• Strengthen institutional capacity to scale our online programs and student supports

• Expand enrollment pathways for working adults and other underrepresented adult populations

The CUNY School of Professional Studies has experienced remarkable enrollment growth in under two decades—testimony to the increasing importance of online degree opportunities in public higher education. Additionally, we have experienced impressive growth in expertise across all key areas of online education: accessibility, teaching and learning, enrollment management, and student services. These strengths make CUNY SPS the leader in online education at CUNY. Our leadership role is attractive to students and employers, and our plan is to leverage our reputation, national rankings, and commitment to access, equity, and excellence to double the School’s enrollment by the 2027/28 academic year while increasing the proportion of enrolled students from underrepresented groups.

I. Proposed Actions and Initiatives

Growth/Recruitment

• Expand our strategic marketing plan to position CUNY SPS for national and international expansion

• Reposition the School through a refreshed brand identity, redesigned website, incremental multi-channel content marketing, and programmatic marketing of key disciplines

• Assess the need for a team of professional recruiters and enrollment marketing systems

Growth/Capacity

• Develop a strategic enrollment management plan

• Set ambitious annual School and program-level enrollment and diversity growth targets

• Develop staffing models for all areas of the school that are consistent with enrollment goals/needs

• Assess the enrollment management process improvements developed in response to COVID-19/fully-remote work for ongoing adaptation and scale

Growth/Access

• Expand CUNY community college transfer pathways into our online degrees

• Explore opportunities for dual-language (initially English/Spanish) programs and services

• Evaluate the enrollment potential of offering degree programs for adults with high school diplomas and high school equivalency diplomas (i.e. first-time freshmen)

• Develop graduate versions of Jump Start and Test Flight (signature CUNY SPS undergraduate access programs)

• Design additional alternative pathways into graduate programs (bridge programs, conditional admission opportunities, advanced certificate entry points, etc.)

• Analyze graduate admissions processes for scalability and equity

• Expand Jump Start for transfer students denied admission at other CUNY senior colleges

• Build and promote CUNY SPS micro-credentials to help overcome enrollment hesitancy around longer program commitments and to offer speedy paths to improved earnings

• Explore the feasibility and enrollment impact of accelerated semesters with rolling start dates in certificate and degree programs

• Explore the feasibility and enrollment impact of accelerated online BA/Advanced Certificate, BA/MA, and BS/MS programs

Measuring Our Efforts

• Investments in and success of marketing and recruitment

• Metrics for enrollment marketing activities

• Investments in scaling online programs and student supports

• Strategic Enrollment Management Plan

• Metrics for staffing for enrollment growth

• Number of new/ expanded access pathways

• Number and enrollments in CUNY SPS micro-credentials

• Recommendations from feasibility and exploration efforts

• Year-over-year enrollment at the School and program level (new and total enrollment)

Number and percentage of new undergraduate students applied, admitted, and enrolled by:

• race/ethnicity; age; gender; geography; military/veteran status; 1st generation; access pathway

Number and percentage of new graduate students applied, admitted, and enrolled by:

• race/ethnicity; age; gender; geography; military/veteran status; 1st generation; access pathway

Number and percentage of new certificate and credential students applied, admitted, and enrolled by:

• race/ethnicity; age; gender; geography; military/veteran status; 1st generation; access pathway