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What does it take to construct belief with potential college students you could by no means meet in individual? On this month’s HigherEdCareers interview, Lone Star Faculty On-line’s David Cuevas shares actionable methods for creating significant, tech-enabled connections in digital outreach. From leveraging information and storytelling to providing actual empathy, uncover instruments and methods that may strengthen on-line scholar recruitment at your establishment.
Lauren Lane, HigherEdJobs: Are you able to inform us a bit about your skilled journey and the way it led you to your present position supporting on-line scholar outreach and recruitment at Lone Star Faculty?
David Cuevas, Admissions Outreach Coordinator, Lone Star Faculty On-line: As a first-generation faculty graduate, my journey into greater schooling was something however easy. I juggled being a full-time worker and a scholar, which meant navigating the challenges of on-line studying with out a lot steering. I needed to learn to handle my time successfully, keep self-motivated, and hunt down sources alone. That have gave me a deep understanding of the obstacles college students face.
It is what finally impressed me to pursue a profession in greater schooling. I needed to be the help system I needed I had. Now, in my position at Lone Star Faculty On-line, I will information college students by the identical programs I as soon as struggled to navigate. I deal with making the method approachable and offering readability to allow them to reach their very own academic journeys.
Lane: When most of your conversations with potential college students occur nearly, how do you construct belief and significant engagement all through the recruitment course of?
Cuevas: Belief is all the pieces, particularly in a digital atmosphere the place college students can really feel disconnected or not sure. I construct belief by main with authenticity and relatability. I share my private expertise as a former LSC-On-line scholar, in order that they perceive I have been of their footwear. I’ll discuss concerning the flexibility of our applications, from asynchronous to synchronous choices, and the way that may match completely different existence — whether or not you are working, elevating a household, or returning to high school after a break.
I additionally spotlight key options that make our on-line programs profitable, like smaller class sizes that promote extra personalised consideration and the user-friendly D2L platform that retains college students engaged and arranged. Each dialog is centered round understanding their wants and displaying them that on-line studying with LSC is not simply potential — it is sensible and private.
Lane: What methods or instruments have helped you most in attracting and supporting potential on-line college students?
Cuevas: A mixture of modern instruments, personalised communication, and strategic outreach has made a big effect in attracting and supporting potential on-line college students. I rely closely on platforms like Element451 and Salesforce to trace engagement, observe up effectively, and personalize outreach primarily based on scholar pursuits and admit varieties. These instruments assist streamline communication whereas guaranteeing no scholar falls by the cracks.
We additionally use Energy BI, which permits us to observe scholar progress, flag early alerts, and join them with help companies proactively. For stay interactions, Zoom and Microsoft Groups are invaluable for internet hosting digital information classes, one-on-one conferences, and workshops. We make full use of textual content messaging platforms, e-mail campaigns, and even social media to fulfill college students the place they’re — on their telephones and gadgets — in order that they really feel engaged and knowledgeable from day one.
Most significantly, I take advantage of storytelling as a technique, sharing my very own expertise with on-line studying to attach with college students on a human degree. The mixture of know-how and transparency builds belief and retains college students motivated to maneuver ahead.
Lane: What recommendation would you provide to somebody serious about constructing a profession in on-line scholar companies or recruitment?
Cuevas: In on-line scholar companies and recruitment, you could suppose outdoors the field. Challenges will come up — know-how glitches, unresponsive college students, or systemic obstacles — and your skill to pivot rapidly and discover new options will set you aside.
Additionally, empathy is all the pieces. You are typically supporting college students who’re balancing work, household, and faculty. Meet them with understanding and adaptability, and at all times hold their expertise in thoughts when designing outreach or companies.
Keep knowledgeable and embrace skilled growth. On-line schooling evolves quick, so continue to learn about new instruments, methods, and scholar tendencies. Attend webinars, interact in greater ed boards, and get snug with information, as a result of the extra insights you could have, the extra strategic you might be.
And at last, construct relationships along with your workforce, with college students, and throughout departments. Success on this discipline is rooted in collaboration, innovation, and real ardour for serving to others succeed.
Lane: What’s one factor you would like extra folks understood concerning the realities of working in on-line schooling and scholar help?
Cuevas: I want extra folks understood that working in on-line schooling goes far past sending emails and answering questions; it requires a deep degree of proactive help, important pondering, and emotional intelligence. On-line college students do not get pleasure from strolling into an workplace after they’re confused or overwhelmed, so now we have to anticipate their wants earlier than they even ask.
Many assume on-line help is less complicated or much less concerned than in-person roles, however the reality is it calls for stronger communication expertise, tech savviness, and the power to construct belief and connection nearly. It’s a must to make each interplay rely, be extraordinarily responsive, and information college students by processes that may really feel impersonal or complicated if not dealt with thoughtfully.
There’s additionally a number of behind-the-scenes work — information monitoring, outreach technique, compliance checks, and coordination with a number of departments — to make sure that each scholar, irrespective of the place they’re, has entry to a high-quality, supportive expertise. It is a rewarding house to work in, however it’s additionally one which requires a real dedication to scholar success, flexibility, and a number of coronary heart.
Lane: What tendencies or challenges are at present shaping the sector of on-line scholar recruitment, and the way are you and your workforce adapting?
Cuevas: On-line scholar recruitment is being formed by the necessity for extra versatile, personalised experiences and the problem of standing out in a aggressive, digital-heavy atmosphere. College students count on fast, clear, and interesting communication, they usually need to really feel supported from the beginning.
To adapt, my workforce and I deal with focused outreach utilizing CRM instruments, internet hosting digital occasions and one-on-one classes, and sharing actual scholar tales to construct belief. We additionally collaborate carefully with departments like advising and monetary assist to supply a seamless, student-centered expertise that makes LSC-On-line stand out.
Lane: What retains you engaged on this work — and what do you get pleasure from most about serving to college students navigate the trail to on-line schooling?
Cuevas: What retains me engaged is understanding that I used to be as soon as of their footwear. As a first-generation scholar juggling work and faculty, I bear in mind how overwhelming it was attempting to determine all the pieces out alone, particularly in an internet atmosphere. That have drives me to be the form of help I want I might have had again then.
What I get pleasure from most helps college students understand they don’t seem to be alone. I perceive their doubts and challenges as a result of I lived with them, too. With the ability to information them, encourage them, and watch their confidence develop is what makes this work so significant to me.