Keyano College launches Priority One initiative

While many post-secondary institutions refer to Strategic Enrollment Management as “SEM” for short, Keyano College Registrar Lucy Moore is encouraging her colleagues to call it “Priority One.”

For months, through a highly consultative process, Moore and other key College members have been working with employees to talk about what SEM means, and how best to implement it. In many ways, the initiative reflects an ongoing cultural shift for the College as a “students-first” philosophy is adopted across all levels and departments.

The Priority One initiative is as its name suggests: vitally important. It provides a path for Keyano College to maintain stable and manageable enrolment growth amidst an ever-changing environment.

The ultimate goal is about far more than just increasing student numbers. SEM is about improving processes, including building a shared understanding, a unified approach, and a supportive framework for a quality student experience

Some important improvements have already been made and include the development of a new student-focused website, a reinvigorated Student Life Department, updated classroom furniture, and a streamlined registration procedure for students. Building on these and other improvements is an important goal of the Priority One initiative. To help ensure its continued success, a cross functional team has been created to move it forward.

On October 30, the initiative was officially launched as part of the first-ever Keyano College Professional Development Day.

Moore says all faculty and staff at the College have a role to play, and that ultimately, they will shape how, and how effectively, we will fulfill our commitments to enhancing the student experience and student success. As such, part of the initiative will celebrate employees who model the student-first approach as part of their work culture.

In November, Moore and team member Nancy Baker, will fly to Toronto to attend the 2019 SEMM Forum, Canada’s Largest Conference on Post-Secondary Marketing, Recruitment & Enrolment Management. The annual event brings together more than 300 professionals involved in every stage of the student experience from attraction through to graduation.

In a presentation to conference delegates, they will highlight the College’s early successes as well as plans for the future of Priority One.

“We are doing some great things we want to share with others—I think it helps put Keyano on the map,” said Moore. “We are also there to learn from others’ experiences.”

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