Q. Q: Our leadership is considering moving our registrations to the student services. Does LERN have any documentation regarding this?
A. With respect to what unit in the college should be doing registration for continuing education (workforce, lifelong learning) students, LERN has consulted with two large community and technical colleges on this issue in the last six months.
In each case, there were significant problems with student services (credit and degree registrations) handling the registrations. These problems included losing potential students who backed out of completing registration, potential c.e. students not getting their questions asked, registration procedures asking too many questions, lack of a variety of registration procedures (e.g. fax, online, mail in, etc., all of which every c.e. unit should utilize), and student complaints.
The fundamental issue appears to be that student services understands the credit and degree enrollment process, but the c.e. enrollment process requires a different skill set. Also, student services is quite naturally oriented to credit and degree and sees it as its priority, meaning that c.e. registrations often are delayed in being processed. In the worst case, potential students were not able to contact the c.e. staff directly, and even calling the c.e. program was a problem using the college’s phone system.
As we mentioned, we have advised both of these colleges that continuing education, workforce, lifelong learning and similar registrations should be taken directly by the continuing education unit. Both colleges are working to make that happen.
With respect to State Fair Community College, we would anticipate the same issues with student services taking continuing education registrations, and would recommend that c.e. or lifelong learning registrations continue to be done with your c.e. staff.
As State Fair is a member of LERN, we are available for further information.