I am sharing an update on the Strategic Plan deliverable I’m leading, which falls under our commitment to creating globally relevant connections. More specifically, developments within the primary focus on student access and entrance under the Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) Plan implementation for 2022/23.
To date, we have completed the first pilot of migrating eight Finance and Accounting Flexible Learning (formerly PTS) programs to an admission model. This allows BCIT to align programs with their full time equivalent while recognizing the different paths to completion, managing growth, and improving student preparedness for success. We are now embarking on the second pilot with three programs in the School of Construction and the Environment with an anticipated launch date of April 2023.
In our continued focus on student entrance, and in alignment with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training Mandate Letter, we have initiated the project to join the EducationPlannerBC common program application portal.
BCIT will be joining the other BC public post-secondary institutions to accept program applications intakes via the EducationPlannerBC portal. The portal will enhance the applicant experience and expand BCIT’s outreach to parents, counsellors, and community supporters. In addition, this will be an opportunity to improve application and admission processes across all programs. Please stay tuned for more information and community presentations on this project in Winter 2023.
In addition, we recognize the ongoing impact to enrolment from factors such as the pandemic, strong labour market, evolving student needs and increased competition amongst post-secondary institutions and other education providers. We understand the need to collectively amplify our recruitment efforts in a coordinated manner; as such, BCIT is working towards a phased activation plan to increase student recruitment activities in Canada, with the support of senior leaders. As the activation plan is developed over the coming months, we look forward to collaborating with partners across the institute to mobilize recruitment synergies, strengthen market shares, and optimize enrolment.
We are making progress towards BCIT Reconciliation and Indigenization by working closely with Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships to advance BCIT’s Indigenous Vision and awareness across the BCIT community for front line student services. To date, workshops have been facilitated with over 150 employees from all campuses, with more sessions scheduled over the coming weeks. In addition, we are supporting the development of BCIT’s first Indigenous Viewbook; as a first phase, we have completed focus groups with students in July and consulted with visiting Elders in October. Over the coming months, we will be expanding consultation to external Indigenous community members and internal BCIT stakeholders. Please click here to be added to the distribution list and we’ll reach out when this engagement starts.
Finally, if you missed it, we invite you to watch the presentation on key findings and actions from the 2022 Applicant Study and to attend the upcoming 2022 Acceptance Declined Study presentation on December 8. Both of these sessions will leave you with insights on how to improve the applicant experience and actionable strategic intelligence around key decision factors for why applicants may or may not be choosing BCIT. In addition, if you have a keen interest in Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) and you or someone on your team would like to obtain a microcredential in the Fundamentals of SEM, please reach out to us (sem@bcit.ca) for a special BCIT rate. Building our collective knowledge around SEM allows us to better support our students and ensure their success.
Thank you,
Bacel Younan
Associate Director, SEM Implementation
Commitment: Globally relevant connections
Initiative: Open and representative community
Deliverable: Continued implementation of the Strategic Enrolment Management Plan with a focus on student access and entrance
Deliverable lead: Bacel Younan, Associate Director, SEM Implementation