Wichita State University (WSU) seeks to engage AACRAO Consulting to provide assistance with Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) planning in an effort to position the University for long-term enrollment success. The consultation will focus on enhancing SEM strategies, practices, and structures in order to meet WSU's enrollment goals while remaining aligned with the University's mission. The consultant will work with WSU project staff to create the framework for a comprehensive Strategic Enrollment Management, while working to promote campus buy-in of SEM planning activities. The consultation will include a combination of both on-site and remote consulting work.

The consultation will require the University to make decisions and create goals, strategies and tactics that match its mission, vision, strengths and challenges. AACRAO will facilitate the process and provide expert opinions and assistance. Ultimately, the participation and “buy-in” of WSU's leadership, faculty, staff and administrators will determine the success of the plan in meeting short-term and long-term enrollment success.

The consultant will initially provide a 1.5 day on-site Strategic Enrollment Management workshop, meetings and discussions with designated WSU staff to provide core concepts on SEM and the SEM planning process. Following the on-site workshop and meetings, the consultant will provide a two-day SEM readiness assessment to evaluate the state of processes, practices, and current goals and strategies in enrollment management planning. An assessment report will be delivered to Project Lead(s) three weeks after the on-site visit, and the recommendations will help to determine the challenges and goals of the actual planning process.

Project deliverables include the following:

Deliver a SEM workshop to WSU staff and/or faculty as designated by the University to introduce SEM concepts and to help to promote buy-in of the SEM planning process.
Conduct a Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) assessment to include an evaluation of the following:
A review of enrollment trends in local, state and regional target market areas.
Evaluation of current short-term and long-term enrollment goals and potential limitations that could potentially impede meeting enrollment goals.
Review recruitment and retention strategies, and provide recommendations on how to develop strategic plans that are supported by data and incorporate the use of metrics.
Provide SEM planning assistance to include:
Gather and clarify internal student enrollment behavior data and external environment information that informs and supports the creation of appropriate long-term enrollment targets and the formation of long-term enrollment goals and strategies.
Develop the SEM plan framework in coordination with the Project Lead and designated WSU staff.
Guide WSU SEM planning teams in the creation of a SEM plan, by providing them templates and samples and by providing them feedback on their plan drafts.