Top 10 Survival Strategies for Non-credit Programs Tonya Booker, Portland Community College JoAnn Hawkins, Howard Community College

How does your professional development budget compare to last year? About the same Increased Decreased

About the same

Increased

Decreased

10. Continue professional development Commit to continuous learning Motivate staff Stress ROI

Commit to continuous learning

Motivate staff

Stress ROI

9. Capitalize on creative ideas and opportunities Events Enrollment incentives Creative promotional opportunities Blogs

Events

Enrollment incentives

Creative promotional opportunities

Blogs

8. Diversify program offerings Program in multiple market segments or divisions Keep a pulse on trends Offer various program formats

Program in multiple market segments or divisions

Keep a pulse on trends

Offer various program formats

7. Find operational efficiencies Focus on customer service Streamline processes Utilize technology Encourage online registration

Focus on customer service

Streamline processes

Utilize technology

Encourage online registration

Have you changed the amount you charge for tuition and fees since last year? Yes, increased Yes, decreased No

Yes, increased

Yes, decreased

No

6. Review pricing Research Increase margin Diversify

Research

Increase margin

Diversify

5. Partner and barter Strengthen partnerships Take advantage of economies of scale Negotiate instructor pay Encourage re-enrollments instead of refunds

Strengthen partnerships

Take advantage of economies of scale

Negotiate instructor pay

Encourage re-enrollments instead of refunds

How does your marketing budget compare to last year? About the same Increased Decreased

About the same

Increased

Decreased

4. Make the most of marketing dollars Continue or increase percentage spent on marketing Keep traditional methods and use eMarketing and social networking Optimize website Profit from the economic climate

Continue or increase percentage spent on marketing

Keep traditional methods and use eMarketing and social networking

Optimize website

Profit from the economic climate

3. Eliminate poor performing courses Track cancellation rates Cut courses that have cancelled twice Wait longer to cancel Reduce the number of sections per course

Track cancellation rates

Cut courses that have cancelled twice

Wait longer to cancel

Reduce the number of sections per course

2. Focus on profitable courses and programs Align courses with funding opportunities Identify winners Highlight courses that lead to immediate jobs

Align courses with funding opportunities

Identify winners

Highlight courses that lead to immediate jobs

Has your staffing level changed in the last year? No change Increased Decreased

No change

Increased

Decreased

1. Shift resources to areas that are growing Develop expertise in new content areas Review staffing Focus on increasing revenue and enrollments

Develop expertise in new content areas

Review staffing

Focus on increasing revenue and enrollments

Shift resources to areas that are growing Focus on profitable courses and programs Eliminate poor performing courses Make the most of marketing dollars Partner and barter Review pricing Find operational efficiencies Diversify program offerings Capitalize on creative ideas and opportunities Continue professional development Top 10 Survival Strategies for Non-credit Programs

Shift resources to areas that are growing

Focus on profitable courses and programs

Eliminate poor performing courses

Make the most of marketing dollars

Partner and barter

Review pricing

Find operational efficiencies

Diversify program offerings

Capitalize on creative ideas and opportunities

Continue professional development