Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Retention Rates and Fulfilling Expectations

A reader from Point Loma Nazarene University sent me an email that started this piece on expectations, retention rates and customer service. He wrote

I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and am currently reading your book, The Power of Retention. I have a question about the difference in responses of students in private versus public colleges and universities. Have you found that students who leave private universities do not leave for poor service as frequently as they do in public ones? Our retention rate is much higher than the ones in your examples.

No I don’t. In fact, customer service issues are a stronger reason for leaving a private college since there is usually more investment at stake. To start with, the higher cost of a private college or university over a publicly-assisted college brings with it higher service return demands. There is an interesting situation created by cost in reference to service provided. In all but the top schools, the higher the cost to attend, the higher the expectations.

It is the same as if you were going to an expensive restaurant versus say a McDonalds. In a higher cost eatery or bistro.(don’t you love the way the name of the place often equals overpricing? Joe’s Diner versus Joseph’s Refectory? Also why so many colleges suddenly became universities….Same food just seems more impressive?) In the bistro where a burger, (‘scuse me) ground Angus steak costs $9.90 one expects more meat, more quality and flavor and the burger or ground steak should be served with a side of pom frites fries would not do in a bistro), a side of vegetable perhaps, on nice dishes, cloth table cloth and really “your way.” The customer also expects a nice ambiance and surroundings. That guy on his cell phone on the table to the left is annoying because he is talking loud to make sure the listeners and the world hear him. But you sit on a comfortable chair, place a fresh cloth napkin on your lap and wait for a server to come to you. He or she takes your order and then presents the meal. If the burger is not cooked the way you want, you call the waiter over and expect a replacement to your satisfaction. You also expect that the waiter will be attentive to your needs as well as ask at least once if everything is okay? The waiter should be conscientious but not overly so. The bill is brought and with tax, the food and experience are $11.12 plus a $2 tip and an hour of your time

Now let’s say that in the bistro, the waiter was a bit slow to respond to your request for more water, or the burger was served cool; not hot but not cold enough to really complain. The frites were fine but there were just a few of them. And the vegetable side was slightly overdone broccoli. Was the burger and resta…uh bistro worth it?

At McDonalds, you stand in a line. Wait to shuffle to a counter where an underpaid young person waits for you to come to her. She asks for your order. You say what you want, stand and wait some more. A thin meat puck on a bun wrapped in paper and a small bag of thin fries is handed to you by the inattentive young person who simply says, thanks before turning to the next customer or friend behind the counter. You walk away; sit in a hard chair at a cold Formica topped table wipe your hands with a small, paper napkin feeling just fine with the purchase. People around you are on cell phones, talking a bit loudly and there is a kid running around the place. The bill for the Angus burger and fries - $4.96.

Less than half the cost and likely a greater fulfillment level even if the burger and fries were actually not as good as at the Bistro. Why? Because the expectations were lower for McDonalds and they were fulfilled. The Bistro costs more so more is expected. The Bistro is expected not only to provide a good burger and fried but service equal to the cost as well as an ambience to match. The noise at the Bistro is disturbing; at Mickey’D’s expected. The uncomfortable chairs, well what do you expect? It’s McDonalds. It is anticipated and there are lower expectations anyhow.

Of course the expectation commands a great deal of the fulfillment of it. Even a very negative expectation in service can lead to fulfillment and full ROI such as at a restaurant like Durgin Park in Boston as explained in my book The Power of Retention. (C’mon, You should expect I will at least mention the book which is about to go into a second printing since the first is about sold out!!)

So now to relate it to schools. A more expensive school; produces greater expectations. If one is paying $25,000 a year, that student and family will expect a $25,000 experience. If they get poor service from people at the school and it feels more like “would you like fries with that course?” the feeling of roi fulfillment will be low. If a student can’t get required classes because the number of sections were cut, that’ll feel like “we’re out of burgers tonight even though we advertised them to you. We’ll have them again Fall of next year…” The response is simple “Hey we are paying $25,000 tuition a year. If I wanted to get a $5,000 experience, I’d go to Mickey D U down the road.”

If the university serves decent academic customer service (which again folks is not just smiling and pretending to be nice though that does help) then the expectations might be met. Students will feel and calculate they are receiving return on their investments and complete the daily buying opportunities. They will go to classes and feel a part of the University.

Now to all that there is also difference in demand level based on the investment within a pricing band. A pricing band is a set of schools that are similar in what they offer within a similar price. Bands are often also governed by location since bands are flexible in whom they include. The bandings are often made by buyers much as they would consider another group of possible purchases by cost, i.e, 42 inch flat screen TV’s. from $700 to $1200. (Oh, right schools are not TV’s. Not a product that is decided by price and affordability….. And how did you decide what schools your child could look at? And you could afford?)

Schools within a price band are usually the ones that the customer compares one another too. These are what we can afford and are located where the student and we have a comfort level while offering an Angus burger. The higher the cost of a school within a band, the higher the expectation of academic service and ROI of course. So, if a private college with a $25,000 tuition is in a pricing band of private schools ranging from $12,000 to $28,000 of more or less equal brand value, the investment in the $25,000 is thus considered to be higher than most, but less than others. So students and parents will expect ROI based on cost within band; better than some, less than others.

If a student chooses a lower level cost within the band the expectations will be lower for it. It may not be quite as good as University A but we can afford it. The dorms are older, and it does not have as many major but it’ll give Janie a good start. Expectations will be lower and the odds of meeting them will be higher.

Now should Janie have to drop all of the schools in the band and look at a public school or even a community college, the expectations drop of course but so does the probability of success. The expectations can be met sure. But they have been dropped so low that they are not even really expectations as such. They are just acceptances. The immediate expectation of going to a private school has been replaced with an almost unpalatable alternative. So actually the expectations are that the college will not be able to meet real needs and the original ROI. In the case of community colleges chosen as a low cost alternative to a private school or even a public university. There is no way it can fully meet the expectations of a four year degree. NO WAY! Students who originally decided they wanted the Bistro burger who have to get the McD’s Angus will find it unpalatable. They will leave for the Bistro as soon as is possible. This partially explains why community colleges have such a low retention to completion rate.

There are indeed many cases in which students go to the community college which meets many parts of their multifaceted ROI such as getting the money’s worth within a caring and student-focused environment in which they feel welcome and a part. And there are numerous situations in which students find that the community college provides excellent teaching and learning which are of course central issues to a real educational ROI. They adapt to the McD’s of education and find that they are pleased and might even look forward to it keeping the Bistro burger for a later date. Some even find they don’t want the Bistro burger at all. In these cases their expectations have shifted.

That said, schools that have a clear mission that is embedded in all they do such as a religiously-based school like Point Loma will often have a higher retention than one that is not focused. Point Loma Nazarene University being a religiously-based or focused college thus has an advantage in that its students sought it out for a faith-based reason as well as an educational one Their expectations of ROI are shifted a bit from financial to emotional and affective so the money issue lessens in favor of am I getting the spiritual and personal attachments I expected and need as well as the education? The singular and fulfillment of focus is helping Point Loma

I recently did a customer service for retention audit at a very fine university that had lost its clear focus. It had moved from being one of the finest military-focused educationally universities to trying to accommodate too many focuses. Students came to the University because of the military corps culture. Both the military and civilian students selected this University because they either wanted to focus on military training and education or they felt that a school with an active military training program would be serious and safe.

They were having some retention issues starting in the sophomore year because of the loss of focus. Freshman cadets went through a training regimen that identified them and the University as the militarily-focused school they expected. Then after a full freshman year experience, the military dropped off enough to make too many students question the focus they had signed on for. Our audit pointed out the perception that the University had strayed a bit as well as some other issues. Students did not feel as if they were getting the ROI they had paid for. The President of the University is a solid leader and has been issuing clear statements of focus and purpose that have been very well received by the corps of cadets and the non-military students. That, maintaining excellent teaching and learning as it has over the years and attention to some other overt customer service issues are underway but we believe the most important finally will be the clarification of a unified and singular focus. That will retain many more students than in the past.

Finally, since Point Loma can boast of recognition in US News, it adds to the sense of value and ROI whether it is really there or not. Students and parents believe they are getting the ROI’s for the most part as a result of the external certification. For example, the 306 name brand schools have a higher retention rate than most other colleges not only because they can enroll those that fit their culture but also because students believe they will get the ROI and service based on the brand name. The difference between a Rolex and Timex. Each will tell time but people will invest more in the Rolex and believe its time is more accurate and thus worth the extra cost. The times will be accurate as well, but it is a Timex. But if the watch is a Timex and costs $25,000 it will not sell. This is due to a negative expectation. Timex belongs in a certain pricing band and if it wanders that far out of it, it cannot find a customer belief it is worth the price.

Finally, Point Loma and other schools that have a higher than average retention rate may be doing a good job of meeting student expectations and providing good academic customer service. That’ll of course increase retention rates. I was just on a university campus with a 74% retention rate, It is doing well considering some of its factors. It is well above the national six-year retention rate of 40.6% for four year schools. It is doing some things really well to get there. But as a result of my audit, we believe we can increase retention by attending to some customer service factors like how some offices work, scheduling set up, breaking done some silos, altering a couple HR processes, etc. Point Loma and other colleges and universities may well be in a similar position. Point Loma does exceed the national average with its 70.5% in past because of some of the factors mentioned above but it could still be many percentage points below what it could be. So, start looking and thinking about what the University can do to increase its rate not just accept it as above the national average.

Keep in mind that at Point Loma and likely your university, a 1% increase in enrollment could mean almost $200,000 and 7 more graduates off to meet their futures. Seems that that 1% could be quite meaningful.


Oh, if you'd like to find out your school's graduation/cohort retention rate and what it costs the school, just ask me at nealr@GreaServiceMatters. Be glad to tell you.

IF THIS ARTICLE MAKES SENSE TO YOU, YOU WILL WANT TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE BEST-SELLING NEW BOOK ON RETENTION AND ACADEMIC CUSTOMER SERVICE

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“We had hoped we’d improve our retention by 3% but with the help of Dr. Raisman, we increased it by 5%.”Rachel Albert, Provost, University of Maine-Farmington

“Neal led a retreat that initiated customer service and retention as a real focus for us and gave us a clear plan. Then he followed up with presentations and workshops that kicked us all into high gear. We recommend with no reservations; just success.”
Susan Mesheau, Executive Director U First: Integrated Recruitment & Retention University of New Brunswick

“Thank you so much for the wonderful workshop at Lincoln Technical Institute. It served to re-center ideas in a great way. I perceived it to be a morale booster, breath of fresh air, and a burst of passion.”Shelly S, Lincoln Technical Institute


Sunday, September 27, 2009

A Dog Has His Day and MBA


This is not a shaggy dog story but on too doggone good to avoid. Check out the tale of Chester who just received his MBA. Yup! This dog could hunt. Click here to see. You'll want to pass it on. It is on a good blog named GetEducated.com which focuses on on-line schools. It has a great service to help identify real from phony schools too. Good people.

BTW, if you went to watch the video clip on engagement and weren't able to get it, sorry but the server was overloaded with requests. Jerry was none too pleased. But it is still available for downloading and sharing by clicking here to get the clip and information on it. And comments are indeed welcome.

BTW, will be heading the Canine Studies Department at Mammon University. IT has just realized that there are thousands of dogs out there that may have completed a discipline training program but could use an MBA (Masters of Bone Accumulation) too. Mammon has always been looking for new courses to offer to increase its enrollment whether or not there is a reason or purpose for the course or program. It is in keeping with Mammon's mission and school motto Omnes Por Pecunia so it's okay. Besides, revenue is down and the school is getting concerned that it might fall out of the fifth percentile rank it was given by US Whorl Report. (Uhhh, no typo this time)

Sorry for missing last week. Retention has become an issue 6that is getting attention lately so I have been going every which way and place. The few weeks while I was in New Jersey, Vermont, Canada, Ohio, California, Florida, New York and Texas without a break. Love to spread the word and do audits to help schools increase retention through customer service but it takes a toll on the ability to write. I am also dealing with the anniversary of my son's death so that takes an even greater toll but neing asked to help others helps me too.

In any case, new piece will be out by Tuesday so please look for it. Thanks


Monday, September 14, 2009

Engagement in Academic Customer Service - A Clip from a Presentation


It’s been a few weeks of almost non-stop traveling and requests from schools about customer service for retention audits and presentations/workshops. Many ask for a sample of my presentation style. Fair enough. And if it's fair for them why not for others?

As the year begins, one of the issues schools have to get thinking about is engaging their students. Now that they are here. You all did a pretty good job, some excellent work of engaging potential students quite well. Some of you worked at
stitching them in so they would show and you could have a good true yield rate.

Bottom line,

you worked hard to get them now you just need to keep them.

And that takes some work too but not as much as it was to first sell them the school. Not even a third. Nah, not even a tenth. Just need to engage them through academic customer service.

So, to help you start engaging students better and you can all get a chance to see what a retention customer service presentation is like, I have attached a link to a section from a longer workshop./ The workshop was at Northeastern Illinois University. This is a very important university serving the population of the future. Our demographic future and our nation’s future.

Right and….HEY…retention equals revenue but because it wants to meet its real mission. Providing students the opportunity to learn, obtain training needed for a career so the can better their lives. And in so doing, the lives of their families and our nation.

Thanks to you NEIU or other similar colleges, career school and universities.

To see the clip, just click here. The clip is on academic customer service and engagement in an academic environment. It also discusses how academic customer service is different from retail customer service.

It may take a moment or two to load depending on your processor and the other technical stuff. It’s an MP4 so it should play on any media browser and can be loaded to you Ipod or player/phone. Feel free to share it.

I am using a service that has an excellent product www.yousendit.com . We can only hope it works to strengthen its own customer service just a bit more. But the service is great. YouSendIt.com allows users to upload and send or store large documents easily and quickly. Up to 100 MB documents are sent free too. Oh yes, I received no gratuity or money for saying they are good. Just a customer service to let you know.

Neal Raisman has been the leader in academic customer service solutions for increasing retention, enrollment and revenue in colleges since 1999. His presentations are much sought after since they are targeted on the individual school and its needs. Raisman has spoken at over 260 individual colleges, universities, career schools and conferences in the US, Canada and Europe. He has developed a reputation for talks that are lively, funny and extremely helpful to institutions, groups and businesses looking for help on increasing retention, student and community satisfaction. And they have helped schools increase retention starting the same day.

His new best selling book The Power of Retention is available from The Administrators Bookshelf at www.adminbookshelf.com.

For more information go to www.GreatServiceMatters.com or call him directly at 413.219.6939.


Monday, September 07, 2009

The First Days; Happy Academic New Year and A Gift from Administrators Bookshelf

It is the first day or week of classes for many schools. A time of great anxiety, concern and extremely hectic activity. Will they show? How many will actually be here? Can they really get all that stuff in a small dorm room? Do we have the electrical capacity to run all that stuff without blowing something that plunges the whole region into the dark?

And for some it is the first day or week of a new job. Some are starting the snaking (and I do use that term to represent some of the creatures found on the way) of becoming an administrator. Starting out on the path to…. To…dare I think it. Dare I say it? To maybe become a full time college, university, community college or career college administrator.

As I thought about stepping over to the dark side and leaving the relative ease of a full professorship to become a fool time administrator behind, I recalled the feelings of joy, of anxiety and a little fear which was overcome by an out-of-whack ego so necessary for an administrator. I wished someone had really told me more about what the job was going to be like-- really like.

So I contacted The Administrators Bookshelf, a small publishing firm that puts out books to help administrators. They are also my publisher for The Power of Retention. I had been asked to submit an essay on my first day as a community college president for a collection of articles, essays and such from a variety of administrators recalling their first days as an administrator for a book titled The First Days: A Collection of Remembrances, Advice, Cautions and Life Changing Experiences.

I called the editor of the book Marylin Newell (who by the way has a great new marketing and retention tool with personalized greeting cards sent personally and directly to students – more on this next time). I asked Marylin if I could provide my readers with a copy of my piece in the book.

She not only said yes to my request but is letting my readers choose a sample chapter from The First Days from a list of some of the other articles! This is a way to ease the anxiety of a first day and of course to let people learn more of the collection and perhaps buy a copy. She also provided some special prices for the month of September for the book.

Rather than the full price of $22.95 plus $4.95 S+H, she will let readers get a hardcopy for $18.95 (plus $4.95 S+H) or $15.00 for a digital copy.

So I suggest that you obtain a free chapter and then when you see the value in it and the others, get your own copy of the full collection.

Here are the excerpts available. To get one just email a request for the one you choose to info@adminbookshelf.com

The first day and thoughts of

  • University President Eric Gilbertson, Saginaw Valley State University (MI)
  • Community College President, Neal Raisman, Rockland Community College (NY)
  • Career College Campus Director, Mark Buch, Alaska Junior College (AL)
  • VP of Administration, John D. Eldert, Berklee School of Music (MA)
  • Bursar, Sheldon Socol, Einstein College at Yeshiva University (NY)
  • Director of Student Success/Retention, Judith Lilleston, College of Westchester (NY)
  • Director of IT, William Leonard, McIntosh College (NY)
  • Academic Advisor, Andrea Gillie Harris, Pepperdine University (CA)

Just choose which excerpt you want and send the request for the link to it, by clicking here.

Oh, I won’t be hurt if you choose someone else’s article rather than mine. Take advantage of the offer while it lasts. And thanks Marylin and The Administrator’s Bookshelf.

BLANKET DISCLOSURE

In high school, Mrs. Burns, the typing teacher, told me I would not need typing when I signed up for it to be the only man in an entire class of young women. She said I would be an executive or something of the sort with a young woman doing my typing for me. I would be better of with something like philosophy to get into a good college. As a result, I went to Umass-Boston. I never learned to type as such and use a quite fast, yet at times creative, two finger typing method often leading to interesting neologisms (i.e. typos). I am my secretary. And spell check can be as bizarre as my typing. So if you are bothered by typos, tell Mrs. Burns.