“The creation of degree completion programs at Tiffin University fundamentally
changed the way we serve adult students. Without the assistance of Education Strategy,
it would have been impossible for us to develop this type of programming for our students.
-- Paul Marion, Ph.D., President
Situation Appraisal
Tiffin is a private, coeducational university located in Tiffin, Ohio founded in 1888. Historically, Tiffin University is known for creating innovative partnerships in nearly everything they do; from helping students gain access to competitive internships to connecting them to professionals in the real world as they enter the job market. Education Strategy was just the next logical step in the progression.
Tiffin University represents a new kind of institution, the professional university, where the career objectives of traditional college-age students and adult students are optimized through professionally-focused undergraduate and graduate programs that have a broad general education foundation. This fundamental institutional strategy appropriately positions Tiffin for the 21st century.
Call to Action
Education Strategy began its onsite work at Tiffin University June 1996. Once onsite, the start-up consultant launched a full systems integration of the new adult program into the fabric of the institution with full faculty approval. A preliminary market plan and competitive analysis as well as a new operating budget were quickly developed. In addition to providing the knowledge necessary to maintaining Title IV compliance, the consultant also reviewed and provided language supporting the integration of the new program with the university’s accrediting association.
Education strategy provided assistance in recruiting, hiring and training a new program director for recruitment strategies that moved beyond traditional admissions practices to benchmarked best practices in creating a recruitment sales funnel, strategic partnerships and systems thinking. The new program director established and modeled large group information sessions where 64 potential students attended the first session. Individual one-on-one recruitment sessions and new cohort orientation followed soon thereafter.
Targeted Inputs
The desired results for Tiffin University were ultimately centered on enrollment growth. As promised, within 90 days of setting foot on campus, Education Strategy assisted Tiffin University establishing its new systems, integrating its new curriculum and having a full cohort of 22 students beginning September 1996. The second group comprised of 14 students started that October. January, 18 students enrolled in the program and in March, an additional 15 student joined for a total of 68 new students. Having successfully launched four new cohorts by the end of a full one year cycle, the program was on a fast track of enrollment growth and well on its way to a landmark 100 new learners. The university’s new program was appropriately named Fast Track.
Enrollment Growth
As a result of this strategic partnership with Education Strategy, the University’s vision for the future carried forward by applying the concepts of Education Strategy’s learning and non-traditional enrollment model to increase in its existing traditional enrollment numbers. To that end, the University developed an accelerated Justice Administration degree completion program in 2000. An online option for both majors was introduced January 2003. The university built on these successes with the creation of an associate degree in general studies guiding well prepared students into these degree completion baccalaureate programs. The growth trajectory continues.
Teresa Shafer, Ph.D., Dean, Assessment and Accreditation and Professor of Sociology served as the founding program director for three years. Currently the program is managed by Nancy Sullivan, Dean for Degree Completion Programs who is a graduate of the Organizational Management program who went on to complete her Master's degree and has been responsible for program oversight for approximately five years.
Program Performance
The Organizational Management program at Tiffin has served as a major contributor to enrollment growth strategy over the years and is currently offered in its entirety at 8 off-campus sites as well as online. Adult enrollments constituted 18% (478 out of total 2705 UG) of the total university population in academic year, 2008.
The University’s Accelerated Degree Completion Programs have experienced quantifiable sustained growth, leading to expansion of course offerings fully online and classroom-based at the following regional campus locations:
Cincinnati Academic Center
Cuyahoga Community College – Eastern Campus
Cuyahoga Community College – Metropolitan Campus
Elyria Academic Center
North Central State College
Northwest State Community College
Terra Community College
Toledo Academic Center
The university has developed strong articulation agreements with the community colleges listed above and others whereby students who upon completion of their associate degrees, having gained core competencies as well as a strong foundation in the liberal arts, advance toward the completion of their bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management or Justice Administration.
Tiffin University President Paul Marion reflects,
“Degree completion programs are an integral part of our strategic enrollment plan as we intend to extend our outreach to adults through this innovative approach to education.”