Now is the time to redefine your university culture. When schools are given the go ahead to open again, for many it will be like starting over. If you weren’t happy with the culture you had, it will be a perfect time to create the culture you want. Delivering a student experience that wows and […]
Hire nice people. It is in the top three reasons why guests say they keep going back to Disney: because the cast members are friendly and courteous. If you truly want a culture of service excellence, it must start with the people you hire today. Look for the job candidate that is naturally service-oriented. […]
There are some rude students out there. Not too long ago I was visiting a college campus and I overheard a student reaming out an employee working in the Registration area over an issue that was obviously out of her control. I was amazed at how well the employee handled the student. She didn’t get […]
According to a recently released Moody’s Investor Service report, closure rates for small colleges and universities are expected to triple in the coming years. In addition, they predict increases in mergers and alliances for publicly funded institutions. All related to declining enrollment and revenue. This is attributed to “an iron triangle of doom”: 1) Fewer […]
This week I was on several college and university campuses as the first week of school was getting under way for the year. It was hard not to miss the many parents that were wistfully watching their young son or daughter get settled in their living residences and start to learn their way around the […]
The subject NYT opinion piece should be a watershed. It starts off with the perfunctory attacks on business practices in education, reformers, market solutions and competition. But, after aimlessly meandering through the woods, it then remarkably, makes a U-turn and announces that education could learn from the time-tested business strategies of Dr. Deming. Dr. Deming […]
I read a recent article in Inside Higher Ed on Kenneth Starr being unanimously voted to be chancellor of Baylor University. Yes, the same Ken Starr of Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky fame. Yes, the same University that has had a revolving door at president with more votes of […]
A recent article in Slate on Southern New Hampshire University tells a tale of two cities. SNHU was on death watch. SNHU was a struggling private school with declining enrollment, weak finances, and no name recognition. This is not such an uncommon position as over 1/3 of finance officers from America’s colleges and Universities report […]
Your students can be on overload. It’s easy for them to get overwhelmed with choices and technology or to get confused with the college jargon. Sometimes they ask questions that on the surface seem ridiculous. For example, the second most frequently asked question of frontline cast members at Walt Disney World is “What time […]
One of the more fascinating aspects in working with people involved in higher education is the high opinion of their own prowess in delivering Service Excellence. Among the biggest disconnects with reality is the feeling that customer service is just common sense and easily implemented, and that they themselves are doing a good job […]