Resources

Articles

Avoiding Pitfalls in Admitted Student Research

Tara Scholder, Senior Vice President for Research Operations at Maguire Associates, and Senior Research Associate Linda Heineman discuss the importance of admitted student research and ways to insure its effectiveness in “Avoiding Pitfalls in Admitted Student Research.” (University Business, April 2010)

Three Steps for Managing Serious Challenges

Maguire Associates consultants discuss how institutions can control difficult events in “Three Steps for Managing Serious Challenges.”  (University Business, February 2010)

Four Strategies for a Difficult Economy

Jessica McWade, Senior Vice President at Maguire Associates, discusses ways to manage the economic challenges facing higher education institutions in “Four Strategies for a Difficult Economy.”  (University Business, March 2009)

The Missing Enrollment Meltdown

President Kathy Dawley and Senior Consultant Jonathan Epstein discuss the 2008-2009 enrollment cycle – the predictions and the reality – in “The Missing Enrollment Meltdown.” (College & University, Volume 85, No. 1)

Behind the SAT-Optional Movement: Context and Controversy

Senior Consultant Jonathan Epstein examines role of the Scholastic Aptitude Test in higher education and the movement to make the SAT optional in college admissions in “Behind the SAT-Optional Movement:  Context and Controversy.”  (NACAC Journal of College Admission, Summer 2009)

Improving Strategic Search: Making the Best Bets Possible

Senior Consultants Jonathan Epstein and Sarah Parrott discuss ways to get the most out of student search in “Improving Strategic Search:  Making the Best Bets Possible.” (University Business, February 2009)

The World is Changing: Just Not as Much as You’ve Heard (The Real Story of Student Demographics in the Coming Decade)

Senior Consultants Jonathan Epstein and Sarah Parrott examine shifts in the composition of the student population and its impact on higher education in “The World is Changing:  Just Not as Much as You’ve Heard (The Real Story of Student Demographics in the Coming Decade).”  (College & University, Volume 84, No. 3)

Student Demographics in the Coming Decade: Hold the Panic

Senior Consultants Jonathan Epstein and Sarah Parrott discuss the decline of high school graduates and ways institutions can respond in “Student Demographics in the Coming Decade: Hold the Panic.” (Recruitment & Retention, December 2008, Vol. 22, No. 12)

Merit Aid… “I Wish You’d Never Been Born:” Turning Bedford Falls into Pottersville

Senior Consultant Jonathan Epstein examines the pros and cons of non need-based aid in “Merit Aid… ‘I Wish You’d Never Been Born:’ Turning Bedford Falls into Pottersville.”  (College & University, Volume 84, No. 2)

For Those Without Billions: Navigating the Wave of Dramatic Aid Awarding Changes

Senior Consultants Jonathan Epstein and Sarah Parrott examine the recent trend of increasing financial aid at highly selective institutions in “For Those Without Billions: Navigating the Wave of Dramatic Aid Awarding Changes.”  (College & University Journal, Volume 83, No. 4)

SAT-Optional Admissions: Reasons to Take Another Look

Senior Consultant Jonathan Epstein examines the reasons for and ramifications of the SAT-optional policy in higher education in “SAT-Optional Admissions:  Reasons to Take Another Look.”  (Recruitment & Retention, May 2008, Vol. 22 No. 5)

Have-Not Colleges Need New Ways to Compete with Rich Ones

Chairman Jack Maguire and Senior Consultant Larry Butler make the case that “merit” aid, despite its detractors, is not the problem in higher education and point to the unfair competitive advantage elite institutions with huge endowments have over less well-endowed colleges and the effect that those endowments have on financial aid practices in “Have-Not Colleges Need New Ways to Compete with Rich Ones.”  (The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 18, 2008)

Warning Lights – New Dashboard Reports Help Institutions Gauge their Performance

Senior Consultant Larry Butler discusses how dashboard reports provide an overview of an institution’s status and direction in an article entitled, “Warning Lights – New Dashboard Reports Help Institutions Gauge their Performance.” (Connection: The Journal of the New England Board of Higher Education, Volume XXII, No. 5, Spring 2007)

Boost Your Development Efforts with Institutional Branding

President Kathy Dawley describes how institutional branding can serve as the foundation of a strong development program for colleges and universities in two articles entitled “Boost your development efforts with institutional branding” and “Branding preserves alumni’ ties to your institution.” (Development and Alumni Relations Report, March 2007)

The Net or the Noose

Executive Vice President Linda Cox Maguire examines the complexities of developing sustainable financial aid strategies for colleges and universities in “The Net or the Noose.” (University Business, January 2007)

A Level Playing Field: Is dropping early decision a good idea?

Chairman Jack Maguire discusses the decision by Harvard and Princetonto drop early decision and its impact on students and other institutions in an article entitled, “A Level Playing Field – Is dropping early decision a good idea?” (CURRENTS, Volume XXXIII Number 1, January 2007)

All at the Click of a Button – But Why Hasn’t Technology Simplified Admissions?

Senior Consultant Sarah Parrott explores the benefits of online applications to students and higher education institutions as well as the complexities associated with various admissions-related technologies in an article entitled, “All at the Click of a Button – But Why Hasn’t Technology Simplified Admissions?” (The College Board Review, No. 209, Fall 2006)

Successful Branding is Critical to Colleges and Universities Seeking to Prosper in Challenging Times

President Kathy Dawley explores the benefits of carefully planned branding initiatives in higher education in an article entitled, “Successful Branding is Critical to Colleges and Universities Seeking to Prosper in Challenging Times.” (Women’ Business Boston, January 2006)

Inside the University and College Balance Sheet: Responding to the Problems of Shrinking Revenues and Rising Costs in Higher Education

President Kathy Dawley discusses the challenge of rising tuition in higher education and innovative ways colleges and universities are generating income to slow the rise in “Inside the University and College Balance Sheet: Responding to the Problems of Shrinking Revenues and Rising Costs in Higher Education.” (Article printed in the Boston Business Journal, December 19, 2005)

Harnessing Internet-based Innovations in Market Research for Higher Education

Paul Gearan, Director of Research, and Tara E. Scholder, Associate Vice President for Research, review the insights Maguire Associates has gleaned in their more than five years of conducting on-line surveys in “Harnessing Internet-based Innovations in Market Research for Higher Education.” (Article printed in Stein Communications’ on-line newsletter The Scoop: A Compilation of Viewpoints and Topics Related to the Educational Marketplace; Vol. 2, No. 1: February 2004)

College and University Journal Interview with Jack Maguire

Jack Maguire discusses trends in higher education and enrollment management in an interview with Robin Matross Helms of College and University Journal. (“Interview with John [Jack] Maguire, Maguire Associates;” Summer 2003, Vol. 79, No. 1)

The Effects of Data Collection Method and Monetary Incentive on Response Rates and Data Integrity in Studies of Prospective College Students

This article summarizes the similarities and differences in response rates and data quality found between phone, paper and on-line survey methods in a study of inquirers to a private New England college (“The Effects of Data Collection Method and Monetary Incentive on Response Rates and Data Integrity in Studies of Prospective College Students“). (Article published in the proceedings of and presented at the American Marketing Association 12th Annual Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education; November, 2001; Authors: Associate Vice President for Research Tara Scholder, Research Associate Gail Barton McNiece, Director of Research Paul Gearan, and Senior Vice President Patricia Casey)