Buffalo, NY - Danielle Ianni, PhD, vice president for enrollment management and university communications at Canisius University, recently discussed how to transform recruitment promises into tangible results in a guest article for University Business.
In the piece, Ianni underscored how "early engagement and the use of admissions data can play a crucial role in fostering student success." She explained that recruitment goes beyond just getting students to say “yes.” In today's competitive higher education landscape, "institutions must ensure that what they promise during admissions is aligned with the student experience they deliver." By integrating support services into the recruitment process, such as introducing prospective students to success coaches, academic advisors, and mental health resources, universities can help students feel prepared and supported even before they set foot on campus. This early engagement, she notes, "is essential in building trust and a sense of belonging, which in turn leads to higher retention and academic success."
The article highlights the importance of using insights gathered during recruitment to identify which students are most likely to succeed and where additional support might be needed. Ianni emphasized that this approach not only smooths the transition to college but also strengthens the foundation for long-term student achievement.
For universities, this strategy can be implemented by prominently featuring support services in recruitment materials, hosting virtual meet-and-greets with advisors, and providing pre-arrival resources to help students connect with their new campus community. "By aligning admissions and recruitment strategies with the student experience, institutions can create an engaged, successful student body from day one," says Ianni.
