Date of Award
4-2025
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Educational Leadership, Research and Technology
First Advisor
Donna M. Talbot, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
D. Eric Archer, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
Keith Hearit, Ph.D.
Keywords
Case study, strategic enrollment management, systems theory
Abstract
For several reasons, the number of students seeking and enrolling in a postsecondary education has started to decline in the United States (U.S.) and the decrease is expected to intensify for the foreseeable future. This trend is cause for concern among higher education enrollment leaders, especially those who serve at institutions not among the most elite universities or without a national brand—the campuses researchers project will have the greatest difficulty maintaining enrollment levels. Using strategic enrollment management (SEM) as an example of general systems theory and systems thinking, this multiple case study explored how four public, four-year, non-flagship institutions increased both overall enrollment and the academic profile of their incoming, first-year class during a period of declining demographics. Other enrollment outcomes, including the many aspects of diversity (e.g., students of color, gender, and geography), were also explored.
Ultimately, five primary themes and several subthemes emerged from the data analysis. The universities in this study: (a) diversified enrollment; (b) made enrollment a campus-wide focus; (c) invested in items that helped enrollment; (d) had a culture that supported and reinforced enrollment as a priority; and (e) used the external environment to influence enrollment success. As an extension of the findings, a new framework was introduced: the Systems Approach to Strategic Enrollment Management. While not prescriptive, this research provides university and enrollment leaders with insight into how some campuses have navigated what some may see as competing goals, increased enrollment and a higher academic profile of the incoming first-year class.
Access Setting
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Kornowa, Alicia, "A Multiple Case Study of Four-year Public, Non-flagship Universities: Meeting Common Institutional Goals of Increased Enrollment and Academic Profile" (2025). Dissertations. 4159.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/4159