Happier days at Eastern Illinois University

In the last five years, Eastern Illinois University lost more than a third of its student population. The downward trend eased last fall and then January-over-January enrollment ticked up and this fall’s enrollment rose by 7 percent, including a 24.5 percent jump in freshman enrollment. How did they do it? Aside from finally having a stabilized state budget, the university points to three things: New programs, better marketing and forging bonds with the surrounding community…

EIU introduced seven new majors this year, and hired a marketing firm, The Thornburn Group, to completely rebrand their website, images and promotional materials, [EIU Admissions Director Kelly Miller] said.

The company also helped the university improve the positioning of its radio and TV ads, its billboards and social media publicity, to better reach the university’s target students.

EIU advertises as far away as Chicago, Miller said, but got a significant enrollment bump from local students this year, thanks to improved marketing and community support.

Read more: https://capitolfax.com/2018/09/07/happier-days-at-eiu/