Undergraduate Enrollment Indicators, Impact on Admissions Practice and Fall Course Delivery: Results of the AACRAO COVID-19 Snapshot Impact Survey #2

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American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) is developing guidance on a range of topics in support of institutions of higher education. As many need to adjust, review and consider their practices in response to the impact of COVID-19 on normal operations. To help us develop this guidance and our members understanding of how other institutions are responding to COVID-19, we have begun to deploy a series of rapidly developed practice impact surveys. This is the second report based on those surveys which focuses on enrollment indicators for summer and fall, admissions practice changes and course delivery methods changes for fall. Admissions practice changes includes admissions decisions, course placement, orientation, advising and registration.

The survey was open for 2 business days and we received 262 responses in that timeframe (91% from U.S. institutions). We are grateful to our members for taking the time to respond to this survey in the midst of unprecedented institutional needs. We hope the resulting data will help inform practice.

It is worth noting that summer and fall 2020 enrollment changes may also be attributed to factors other than the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, WICHE’s forecast for high school graduates shows declines, and until a few weeks ago, the favorable economy was having some level of impact on community college enrollments.

This release highlights the aggregate data. The full report provides some differentiation by institutional type.

DOWNLOAD SURVEY RESULTS

Fraternity & Sorority Will Endure: Immediate Joint Growth Recommendations For The Entire Fraternity/Sorority Industry To Weather The Storm of COVID-19 Implications

The Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values (AFLV) and Phired Up & TechniPhi released draft guidance focused on supporting growth for fraternities and sororities in the wake of COVID-19.

The stated objective of the document is to prepare all key stakeholders to take immediate, consistent, and results-producing action in response to the impending membership crisis that has been exacerbated by COVID-19.

DOWNLOAD DOCUMENT

AFLV and Phired Up/TechniPhi are seeking support, input, and feedback from all stakeholders in the fraternity/sorority industry (use the link inside the document).

“During a phone call when this whole COVID-19 situation started, we realized that AFLV and Phired Up are trusted neutral parties in the industry that feel a sense of responsibility for 100% of sororities and fraternities. We know that we don’t know all the right answers, but we wanted to do our best to provide guidance and recommendations,” said Matt Mattson, Phired Up’s co-founder and president. He continued, “Cultivate connection. That should be our number one focus and perhaps even our obsession for the next several months. If all of the leaders, professionals, volunteers, and influencers of the fraternity/sorority industry can come together around this clear and simple focus, we can minimize the negative impact of COVID-19 on fraternity/sorority membership.”

The guidance names four “guiding principles” and 12 specific recommendations focused on the decisions key stakeholders in the industry can be making right now to help more of the right people join fraternity/sorority in 2020/2021 despite the significant ramifications from COVID-19 related disruptions.

[Special Note: Ryan O’Rourke, AFLV’s Executive Director and Matt Mattson, Phired Up’s President recently presented a webinar about these recommendations, and the entire webinar is available for your free viewing here.]

Inside Higher Ed Podcast

A new weekly podcast series from Inside Higher Ed, “THE KEY with Inside Higher Ed,” has just launched! Tune in each week for candid conversations with higher-ed newsmakers on the pandemic and discussions with Inside Higher Ed’s reporters breaking down their latest coverage.

Each episode expands on the news. The interviews are free-flowing, featuring agenda-free questions for top experts and banter between seasoned journalists.

Initial episodes available for downloading and listening:

  • Episode 1: Learn about stimulus aid money and how it can best help low-income students and open-access colleges.
    • Guests: Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Policy Analysis for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) David Baime and Vice President for Research and Policy for NASPA—Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Amelia Parnell
    • Host: Inside Higher Ed News Editor Paul Fain
  • Episode 2: Hear about discussions of a federal jobs plan that would feature postsecondary education and training.
    • Guests: President and CEO of Jobs For the Future Maria Flynn and Director of the Center on Education and Skills at New America Mary Alice McCarthy
    • Host: Inside Higher Ed News Editor Paul Fain

Business Resources

IFC COVID Resources

Recordings of Past Webinars

Adjusting to Advising Remotely and Engaging Remote Advisors

As students and professionals continue to adapt their advising of fraternity/sorority chapters, local volunteers and alumni have also felt stranded by not knowing how to best support their chapters. Unable to maintain standard advising practices through face-to-face consultations, or attendance at chapter meetings has led many volunteer advisors to wonder what steps they should be taking to help support their undergraduate members.

This webinar with NIC Alliance Partner PLAID will provide fraternity and sorority advisors and council presidents with advice on how to engage local advisors to help maintain chapter accountability, commitment, and reinforce brotherhood during this challenging time.

Recruitment Discussion

Q&A about the impact of COVID-19 on fraternity recruitment with Justin Tinkler, Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Kansas State University; Brett Tilton, Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Kansas State University; Will Branstetter, Beta Theta Pi at Oklahoma State University; Josh Orendi, Phired Up Productions; and Judson Horras, NIC President and CEO

Key Points:

  • Building interpersonal relationships can be challenging over video and phone.
  • Shifted focus on social media and video calls after major summer events already canceled.
  • Financial strain on families is a concern and affordability of fraternity membership.
  • Establish regular touch points with new members, particularly at new colonies.
  • Phil Rodriguez, CEO of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, discusses online initiations starting at time: 14:29

Resources discussed/referenced:

Growth!? A Brutally Honest Conversation About Recruitment/Intake in 2020 for Council Leaders and NIC Partners

Unfortunately, due to a technical issue, the first 15-20 minutes of the webinar are not available but we believe there is good information and Q&A in this segment.

Resources:

Featuring fraternity growth experts Josh Orendi, Hailey Mangrum, and Matt Mattson from Phired Up Productions.  With NIC senior staff members Will Foran and Mike McRee.

No fluff.  Here’s what we know, what you can do, and actionable resources you can use right now to prepare for a VERY different recruitment/intake season ahead.  Don’t wait.  Don’t assume things will return to normal.  They won’t.  The likelihood of a membership decline in the next 6 months is high.  The likelihood that recruitment/intake can be done the same way it was done in 2019 is almost zero.  Now is the time to pivot your growth strategy and put new recruitment/intake practices in place.  This webinar is designed to get change started.  Come to the web cast with your key leaders; come knowing change starts now; come knowing that the answer includes (virtual) social connection while social distancing; come with questions to ask at the end.

Legal Affairs Discussion

Q&A about legal affairs impact of COVID-19 with Toby Eveland of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr; Stanton Jones of Arnold & Porter; Micah Kamrass of Manley Burke; Jennifer Riso of Cokinos | Young; and Judson Horras, NIC President and CEO

Key Points:

  • It is key to educate and help chapters stay informed of applicable shelter in place and social distancing orders.
  • One important issue is monitoring for consistent application of public health orders/guidance across campuses. The government does have the authority to restrict constitutional rights, such as the freedom of association, in the context of a national emergency, but this authority is not limitless. New university policies and guidance should be neutral with respect to different types of organizations. 
  • We should anticipate that neutral policies, consistently applied, will receive great deference from a court. It is important to note that private schools will have broader flexibility to implement policies they see fit. Chapter officers need to be cognizant of both civil and criminal liability if these policies are violated.
  • Virtual recruitment and meetings likely comply with the existing orders. Planning for start and stop scenarios is key as there could be more flareups of the virus.
  • Regarding Force Majeure provisions, the language of the contract is key. Be sure to comply with any required notice provision.
  • Houses with food service should take a close look at how that is addressed in leases. 
  • Chapters should have policies and protocols in place for how to address a positive diagnosis within its membership, especially if that person lives in a chapter facility. 
  • If your entity is involved in pending litigation, you should be pursuing early resolution.
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The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is a trade association that represents national and international men’s fraternities, including a diverse range of culturally and religious-based organizations, on campuses in the United States and Canada. The NIC is committed to supporting opportunities for young men to seek and form positive, enriching fraternal bonds. The health and safety of students guides our advocacy, standards and education.

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