Adopting Automation is now a must for Higher Education
In an era defined by rapid technological advancements, higher education institutions are under increasing pressure to adapt and leverage automation to optimize their operations. One area where automation can have a transformative impact is the admission process. By embracing automation, institutions can achieve significant benefits in terms of speed, accuracy, diversity, equity, inclusion, and information security. Providing higher education decision makers with valuable insights on why and how automation should be embraced in the admission process will drive the transformation envisioned by the institutes.
“Embracing automation in admissions is a commitment to speed, accuracy, and fairness. It’s a commitment to excellence in higher education.” – Arne Duncan, Former U.S. Secretary of Education.
Speed: Streamlining the Admission Journey
According to a study by Hobsons, automation can reduce application review time by up to 90%. This not only enhances the applicant experience but also enables institutions to make faster admission decisions, increasing their competitiveness and attracting top talent.
Accuracy: Mitigating Errors and Bias
Research by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) indicates that automation can reduce data entry errors by up to 95%. To ensure the accuracy of admission decisions and provide equal opportunities to all applicants, automation helps in overcoming the challenges that come with human mistakes.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Fostering a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Environment
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) reports that 66% of institutions believe automation helps increase diversity in incoming classes, contributing to a vibrant and inclusive campus community. Studies have shown that human evaluators can unintentionally introduce bias based on factors like gender, race, or socio-economic background. Automation allows for the creation of objective evaluation criteria and reduces the influence of personal biases.
Inf
ormation Security: Safeguarding Confidential Data
A survey by Ellucian found that 82% of institutions believe automation improves data security in the admission process. It is every leader’s duty to protect the privacy and confidentiality of their students and applicants. Automation can provide robust security measures, such as encrypted data storage, restricted access controls, and secure transfer protocols
Enhanced Decision-Making: Leveraging Insights for Strategic Advancement
According to the Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 75% of institutions reported that automation helps them make more informed decisions about their admissions strategies. Automation empowers leaders with valuable data insights. By analyzing historical data, institutions can identify trends, evaluate the effectiveness of their admission strategies, and make data-driven decisions
As leaders in higher education,embracing automation in the admission process is an essential step in achieving these goals. By harnessing the power of automation, we can streamline the admission journey, improve accuracy, foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, enhance information security, and make data-driven decisions. Let us seize this opportunity to transform our institutions into beacons of innovation, efficiency, and fairness, ensuring a brighter future for our students and our higher education community as a whole.
Sanmita is an award-winning strategy, design and technology firm with over 15 years’ experience in working with higher education. Check out our projects, great testimonials from major universities, and our exceptional leadership team.