Forget global warming. The bigger issue for most colleges and universities is summer melt. The fact is students change their mind at the last minute. But that’s good news because there are ways to minimize summer melt. Find out how to: - Identify those at risk (and when to start looking) - Partner with other departments on campus during the summer - Build community and engage incoming students - Involve alumni and other members of the incoming class

1. Put the Freeze on Summer Melt
Dana Evans, Senior Consultant
May 9, 2014

2. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Put the Freeze
on Summer Melt
What we will cover today:
• Statistics
• Why we experience summer melt
• Who is at risk for summer melt
• Ideas to stop summer melt

3. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
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What We Know:
Average yield rate is 36.9% for 4-year colleges
Statistics from NACAC State of College Admissions and Noel Levitz Cost of Recruiting Undergraduate Students,Inside Higher Ed.

4. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
What It CostsYou:
Statistics from NACAC State of College Admissions and Noel Levitz Cost of Recruiting
Undergraduate Students
$2,433
4-year
private college
median cost
to recruit
new undergrads
$457
4-year
public college
median cost
to recruit
new undergrads
0
500
1000
1500
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2500
4 year
private college
4 year
public college

5. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
For enrollment for the Fall of
2013 class, did you experienced
summer melt?
Poll Question:
• Increase from previous year?
• Decrease from previous year?
• About the same?

6. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
•Students get off a wait list
•Cold feet (second thoughts)
about attending college
•Receive tuition bill
Why do we experience
summer melt?

7. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
KnowWho is “at risk”
for summer melt?
• Identify warning signs
‣ Less than
enthusiastic students
‣ Students missing
deadlines
‣ Those on a wait list
at another college or
university

8. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
• Find out who is more historically at risk. . .
‣ Those who deposit early or those who
deposit late?
‣ Early applicants or late applicants?
‣ Those who live geographically close to the
school or greater distances?
‣ What about academic criteria?
Academically weak or strong students?
KnowWho is “at risk”
for summer melt?

9. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Stop Summer
Melt by . . .
•Building relationship between
students and college.
•Putting time to the task – where
should you spend your time?
•Make it a priority
•Don’t move on too fast

10. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Stop Summer
Melt by . . .
•Communicating with students
who have deposited
•Communicating with parents
•Partner with others on campus
•Housing
•Registration
•Orientation
• Personalization

11. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Stop Summer
Melt by . . .
Engaging new students
throughout the summer:
• Alumni hosted send-offs
• Facebook, class of 2018
• Connect them with current
students
• Fun surveys for the
incoming class

12. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Final Thoughts:
• Create a post-yield plan
• Debrief as a staff
• Put it in writing
• Evaluate

13. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
Paskill Stapleton and Lord is a higher education enrollment
marketing agency focused on the long-term enrollment
health of our client institutions

14. PUT THE FREEZE ON SUMMER MELT
SMART
(Sales Management and Academic Recruitment Training)
Thank you
Janet Sieff
412-904-3133
janet@psandl.com
Dana Evans
336-655-2137
devans@psandl.com
www.psandl.com