Enrollment is Just the BeginningImportance of Effective Onboarding

CALEM 2017

Deborah R. Barnett, Ph.D.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Outcomes

• Develop a research-based understanding of the

importance of pre-entry, early transition support

for adult learners.

• Connect the business/organizational use of

onboarding to higher education.

• Explore ideas for student onboarding using

technology.

How does your institution

welcome adult learners?

Orientation vs. Onboarding

The importance of pre-entry/early transition support

Source: SIU Non-Traditional Student Services Adult Learner Survey (2010, 2012, 2014). Unpublished.

Did you (adult learner) attend orientation? 30% YES 70% NO

If no, what were the reasons? 52% Did not feel a need to attend

Could select more than one answer 38% Did not know about orientation

14% Did not fit my schedule

If you did not attend orientation, what other 56% I learned as I went

resources helped you transition? 43% Faculty/Staff

Could select more than one answer 37% Website/Help from other students

The importance of pre-entry/early transition support

Source: Barnett, D. R. (2014). Academic and Social Integration of Nontraditional Students: The Role of Active Learning

Strategies and Sense of Belonging in Integration and Persistence. http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/936/

Dissertation Research: Single greatest

predictor of persistence…

INITIAL COMMITMENT TO THE

EDUCATIONAL GOAL

Seemed to transcend any influence that race,

gender, parent’s educational attainment,

dependent status, marital status, employment

status, or previous GPA might have on

predicting nontraditional student persistence.

“I did very well right in the

beginning and that motivated me,

that made me feel like, yeah I can

do this! Even though I’m older

coming back, I can still, I can hang

with these guys, I can still do this.”

~Bob

Lessons

from the

Business

World

Source:

http://www.urbanbound.com/blog/o

nboarding-infographic-statistics

Lessons

from the

Business

World

Source:

http://www.urbanbound.co

m/blog/onboarding-

infographic-statistics

Lessons

from the

Business

World

Source:

http://www.urbanbound.com/blog/

onboarding-infographic-statistics

Lessons

from the

Business

World

Source:

http://www.urbanbound.com/blog/

onboarding-infographic-statistics

Lessons

from the

Business

World

Source:

http://www.urbanbound.com/blog/

onboarding-infographic-statistics

How do these lessons from the business

world translate to higher education?

BUSINESS HIGHER EDUCATION

Cost of Turnover

Loss of Productivity

Improved Employee Performance

Increased Employee Retention

Happier Employees

How do these lessons from the business

world translate to higher education?

BUSINESS HIGHER EDUCATION

Cost of TurnoverCost of recruiting students vs.

retaining students.

Loss of Productivity Decreased retention/completion

Improved Employee Performance Student Success (student performance)

Increased Employee Retention Student Success (retention)

Happier Employees Student Success (satisfaction)

Lessons from the Business World

Source: http://www.urbanbound.com/blog/onboarding-infographic-statistics

Technology: Maximizing Resources

Automate

Eliminate ‘paper-pushing’

Focus on relationship-building (build rapport)

What would your institution’s student onboarding look like?

First Day

First Month

First 3-6 Months

First Year

Beyond the Orientation DAY

Source: https://www.shrm.org/ResourcesAndTools/hr-topics/talent-acquisition/Pages/Onboarding-Key-Retaining-Engaging-Talent.aspx

What would your institution’s student onboarding look like?

First Day

First Month

First 3-6 Months

First Year

Expectations, Objectives, Culture

Checking In (Mentor/Coach)

Checking In (First Semester)

Retention, Future, Path to Success

Beyond the Orientation DAY

Source: https://www.shrm.org/ResourcesAndTools/hr-topics/talent-acquisition/Pages/Onboarding-Key-Retaining-Engaging-Talent.aspx

What would your institution’s student onboarding look like?

First Day

First Month

First 3-6 Months

First Year

Beyond the Orientation DAY

Source: https://www.shrm.org/ResourcesAndTools/hr-topics/talent-acquisition/Pages/Onboarding-Key-Retaining-Engaging-Talent.aspx

Some examples…

Source: http://online-student-welcome.asu.edu/

Source:

http://www.admissions.txst

ate.edu/onlineorientation-

live/introvideo.html

Source:

http://www.kent.edu/globaleducation/online-

international-student-orientation

Source: http://uwf.edu/online/get-

started-at-uwf/online-student-

orientation/

Online Students-Text Only (Basic)

International Student Specific – Uses LMS

Online – Accessible to Anyone – Video/Text

Uses vendor platform, includes assessment

Re-Cap

• Develop a research-based understanding of the

importance of pre-entry, early transition support

for adult learners.

• Connect the business/organizational use of

onboarding to higher education.

• Explore ideas for student onboarding using

technology.

ReferencesArnold, J.T. (2010, May 1). Ramping up onboarding: Effective employee onboarding often begins with a click. Society

for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Retrieved from https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-

magazine/pages/0510agenda_tech.aspx

Barnett, D. R. (2014). Academic and Social Integration of Nontraditional Students: The Role of Active Learning

Strategies and Sense of Belonging in Integration and Persistence. http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/936/

Maurer, R. (2015, April 16). Onboarding key to retaining, engaging talent. Society for Human Resource Management

(SHRM). Retrieved from https://www.shrm.org/ResourcesAndTools/hr-topics/talent-acquisition/Pages/Onboarding-Key-

Retaining-Engaging-Talent.aspx

Solar, A. (2015, January 16). The onboarding statistic you need to know. UrbanBound.com. [Infographic]. Retrieved

from http://www.urbanbound.com/blog/onboarding-infographic-statistics

Additional Resources

Zalaznick, M. (2014, September 11). On-boarding international college students: The five biggest challenges

international students face and how colleges and universities are helping them to adjust. University Business.

Retrieved from https://www.universitybusiness.com/article/boarding-international-college-students