These days, branding is everything. Marketers go all out to position their product, control its image, and spin the message. For marketers at the nation's colleges and universities, the stakes are especially high. After all, they are entrusted with the image of institutions that have, in some cases, spent centuries building up their brand…

This paper explores social media marketing strategies applied by Canadian universities as a tool for institutional branding, recruitment and engagement of home and international students. The target sample involves the total population of Canadian university-status institutions ("N" = 106). Qualitative data were collected from two major…

Institutions need coordinated events programs that support institutional goals and are closely related to them, whether the objective is fund raising, student recruitment, or improvement of the college image. Carefully selected and planned events create news, affect perceptions, influence attitudes, spark emotions, and affect people's decisions…

A survey of 2,500 applicants accepted at Boston College in 1977 is used to develop two statistical models of student decision making for college choice. One model focuses on the decision-making process and the other on institutional image, and the two are compared. The results of the two models guide institutional policy in different directions.…

Describes the way in which Wilfrid Laurier University (Ontario), an institution that had worked hard to improve its programs and reputation, addressed a disappointing ranking in a national news magazine. In cooperation with other educators, administrators, and institutional researchers, the university undertook a successful project to have the…

The application and impact of marketing techniques in higher education are considered, based primarily on a literature review. Literature concerning marketing in higher education, primarily in the 1970s, focused on three major themes: discussions concerning the general need to adopt marketing techniques, marketing as part of the recruitment…

In the 18 years since the founding of the University of California, Santa Cruz, America's youth have turned from long hair to pin-striped careerism. UCSC made the transition with the help of an image overhaul emphasizing its mix of idealistic educational philosophy and rigorous undergraduate courses. (MLW)

The ways in which Coppin State College improved its image among and its marketing to potential students within the urban community are described. The following self-assessments were undertaken: faculty, student, and community perceptions and the needs of residents and employers were surveyed. (MLW)

Institutions wishing to increase the perceived value of their degrees or awards do so by increasing demand for those degrees, by stimulating applications for admission (the certifying effect) and even reducing graduates. Receipt of one of these degrees increases chances of success and affluence (the consumer effect). (MSE)

A 5-year effort to project a new and more realistic public image and to bring about improvements in student recruiting and fund-raising for a small, private, liberal arts women's college is described. The changes included offering bachelor's degrees for the first time and building pride and support among alumnae. (MSE)

Widely viewed today by many taxpayers, business leaders, and elected officials as inefficient, ineffective, bureaucratic, public education is losing its once-noble brand position as the cornerstone of American democracy. According to Laura Ries, a marketing guru, the first problem is the name, it is called public education. It is because the…

An in-house market analysis was used to determine which resources in a small, private, liberal arts college influence prospective students to matriculate there. The purpose was to evaluate and improve the use of recruitment resources. The responses of inquirers, applicants (matriculating and nonmatriculating) and matriculators were compared on…

The Citadel, a state institution, has attempted to push for a broad-based education in languages, history, and literature while maintaining its 145-year-old tradition of military discipline and training. An incident with a black cadet has brought on a barrage of public criticism. (MLW)

Perceptions of St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas, by current students, alumni, Austin area high school seniors, and the general public were studied. Respondents' knowledge of the university and what they look for when choosing a school were assessed. About 500 general public respondents and about 300 respondents for each of the other groups…

The College of Saint Rose, Albany, New York, conducted surveys about the image of the college with random samples of its students, high school seniors, high school guidance counselors, and the college's faculty and administration. Four similar surveys were developed. The students' surveys had three parts: demographic data, data on the ideal…