“This training manual illustrates a paradigm shift in the way we’ve thought about default prevention,” said Milt Wright, TG president and chief executive officer. “Student loan administration and default prevention efforts typically have been considered the responsibility of financial aid officers. This new approach recognizes the potential of incorporating default prevention strategies across all campus offices that impact student enrollment.”

The training manual provides practical guidance, activities, and exercises aligned with each of the four phases of strategic enrollment management: identifying, recruiting, retaining, and sustaining. Institutions have the flexibility to choose strategies from particular phases or to incorporate all of the strategies within new or existing enrollment management plans.

Council Training Committee Chair Albert Barreda, registrar for the University of Texas – Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, noted the broad-based input from the committee members in developing the model.

“Our committee members represent public and private institutions, community colleges, and lending institutions – as well as a variety of institutional perspectives, from registrars and financial aid officers to enrollment managers,” said Barreda. “Because of the diverse input we received, we were able to put together a training model and practical strategies that may be applicable to all types of institutions.”

In addition to the SEM-related strategies, the training model also includes a case study based on the default prevention success at the University of Texas – Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. The case study provides a clear illustration of one institution’s implementation of default aversion practices within its enrollment management plan, which resulted in a reduction of its cohort default rate by nearly 15 percentage points over the past 10 years, culminating with the achievement of a rate of 6.5 percent projected for the 2001 cohort year.

“What’s really exciting to me about this new model is its holistic approach to the student,” said Ed Apodaca, associate vice president for enrollment management at the University of Houston – University Park, who also serves on the Council committee that developed the publication. “Not only will this integrated approach affect cohort default rates, it will help students develop and maintain connections with the institution. Ultimately, those connections help ensure that students successfully complete their program of study understanding the value of their education and the value of the financing that made it possible.”

“A Clear and Present Danger to Institutional and Student Success” will make its national debut at the 2003 convention of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators in Salt Lake City, July 9-12. Copies will be available at the TG booth, number 515, in the Salt Palace Convention Center. Electronic copies will be available at http://www.tgslc.org/council/cmef_initiatives.cfm beginning July 9.

This fall, TG will offer on-site training based on the model to institutions that would like assistance in establishing or incorporating a strategic enrollment approach to default aversion on their campuses. To learn more about the new publication, to inquire about available training sessions, or to order printed copies of the guide, call (800) 252-9743, ext. 4622.

Vickie Reyes is TG’s director of community and public affairs. You can reach Vickie at (800) 252-9743, ext. 4632, or by e-mail at vickie.reyes@tgslc.org. Additional information about TG can be found online at www.tgslc.org.