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Post by Pinnum on Mar 27, 2015 12:19:47 GMT -5
I would rather investigate and address reasons why SBU is not in demand with students and look to make corrections rather than changing the culture in an effort to find some quick fixes to attract students. But if you want to add a sport to attract students and fill seats while being able to recruit outside the area while having the local communities interested, football is the best bet. Why would we not do BOTH (add a revenue generating sport & look at reasons we can do better) if each one nets more revenue ? You can only chase so many different things. Every initiative takes resources. Without knowing the cost of actually educating students it is hard to say what benefit and risk each initiative would take but when you change the culture you risk losing what you have. If you want to have a school where the majority of the students are athletes and were only attracted to the school because of the sport being offered and spend their time focused on their sport then that can be done. But that will create a drastically different campus culture. It kind of becomes a little more fraternal of a campus makeup so it would change it to more of a culture like that at Bucknell or Davidson. But if you simply want to drive numbers... there is no quicker way to do it than joining the Pioneer Football League. For a local comparison of another local non-scholarship school, these are some recruiting classes for Alfred University football in the last few years. 2010 - 130 New Recruits www.alfred.edu/pressreleases/viewrelease.cfm?ID=61962011 - 101 New Recruits www.alfred.edu/pressreleases/viewrelease.cfm?ID=68282012 - 90 New Recruits www.alfred.edu/pressreleases/viewrelease.cfm?ID=7557
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Post by Pinnum on Mar 27, 2015 12:24:09 GMT -5
So now we are talking about Club Lacrosse.....according to SBU.edu....we already have one. www.sbu.edu/life-at-sbu/activities-programs/student-activities-recreation-leadership/sports-recreation-fitness/club-sportsMen's Lacrosse The men’s club lacrosse team competes in the National College Lacrosse League and is in the Empire West D2 division. The team encourages both experienced players and individuals with a desire to learn to be part of the team. The team begins practicing at the start of the academic year and typically begins its season in the fall, with the majority of games played in March and April. Maybe we need to add a 2nd squad to get those extra students. This discussion reminds me of my former employer. For many years, the quest for quick revenue boosters led them to pursue numerous "add-on" alliances and deals rather than spending the equivalent time/money enhancing the core business. The add-ons turned out to cost more than predicted, brought in less incremental revenue than promised and, in general, became distractions from the what the real business was. It didn't turn out well in the end. You're right. The comparison I was just thinking of was a business where the customers are not happy with the product so rather than take the issues to engineering to improve the product they decide to make a major investment into marketing.
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Post by tastylicks on Mar 27, 2015 12:45:31 GMT -5
Maybe we need to add a 2nd squad to get those extra students. This discussion reminds me of my former employer. For many years, the quest for quick revenue boosters led them to pursue numerous "add-on" alliances and deals rather than spending the equivalent time/money enhancing the core business. The add-ons turned out to cost more than predicted, brought in less incremental revenue than promised and, in general, became distractions from the what the real business was. It didn't turn out well in the end. You're right. The comparison I was just thinking of was a business where the customers are not happy with the product so rather than take the issues to engineering to improve the product they decide to make a major investment into marketing. oh kind of like advocating they spend more on admissions personnel as opposed to improving campus life? oh wait..
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Post by Pinnum on Mar 27, 2015 13:06:53 GMT -5
You're right. The comparison I was just thinking of was a business where the customers are not happy with the product so rather than take the issues to engineering to improve the product they decide to make a major investment into marketing. oh kind of like advocating they spend more on admissions personnel as opposed to improving campus life? oh wait.. I have said that if you're only looking to drive enrollment there are better ways to go about it than adding Lax. I do not know what the issue in enrollment or student retention are because I have not done my due diligence. So like many others I am an outsider. I admit that and thus I am not informed enough to identify if any changes need to be made and if so what they should be. Since I do not have that information, I must work on the assumption that there are not major issues at the core and thus it is merely a matter of getting in front of students that would be interested in what is offered. Which, after all, I believe was the point in the suggestion that SBU should try to attract ten male lax players to campus each year. So if it is a marketing issue, I offered a suggestion on what I believe would be a better means of marketing that could yield a greater return. I will repeat that I do not advocate the addition of football. I don't think it is a wise move but if you just want a quick fix and don't care too much about cultural changes or academic makeup then you have one...
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Post by tastylicks on Mar 27, 2015 13:16:37 GMT -5
Then your analogy in the previous post is not at all relevant.. by your own acknowledgment, or to the best of your knowledge. Which makes me question the point of it.
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Post by Pinnum on Mar 27, 2015 13:20:43 GMT -5
Then your analogy in the previous post is not at all relevant.. by your own acknowledgment, or to the best of your knowledge. Which makes me question the point of it. I was an advocate of the Hilbert study because I believe those are the questions that need to be asked and options that need to be looked into in an effective due diligence process. I pointed out the comparison as I saw it because I believe none of use on this forum are privy to pertinent information in order to make the best decision. But even when we go on basic assumptions (like JH's figures) there are other options that may be a lot more effective without compromising the culture. After all, isn't the culture the one thing that makes Bonas so different and such a special place?
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Post by tastylicks on Mar 27, 2015 13:23:27 GMT -5
Then your analogy in the previous post is not at all relevant.. by your own acknowledgment, or to the best of your knowledge. Which makes me question the point of it. I was an advocate of the Hilbert study because I believe those are the questions that need to be asked and options that need to be looked into in an effective due diligence process. I pointed out the comparison as I saw it because I believe none of use on this forum are privy to pertinent information in order to make the best decision. But even when we go on basic assumptions (like JH's figures) there are other options that may be a lot more effective without compromising the culture. After all, isn't the culture the one thing that makes Bonas so different and such a special place? nah there are a lot of places like Bonas... Illinois State, Baylor, University of the South.. etc
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Post by Pinnum on Mar 27, 2015 13:30:46 GMT -5
I was an advocate of the Hilbert study because I believe those are the questions that need to be asked and options that need to be looked into in an effective due diligence process. I pointed out the comparison as I saw it because I believe none of use on this forum are privy to pertinent information in order to make the best decision. But even when we go on basic assumptions (like JH's figures) there are other options that may be a lot more effective without compromising the culture. After all, isn't the culture the one thing that makes Bonas so different and such a special place? nah there are a lot of places like Bonas... Illinois State, Baylor, University of the South.. etc Sewanee isn't one I mentioned but you're right; one of the best football programs ever in the SEC too! But in all seriousness, I know what you're trying to do and that is fine. Feel free to disregard anything I contribute to the forum if you think you know better. And if you have anything to add to the discussion like maybe how you effectively convey the culture to prospective students when many schools cite their culture as what distinguishes them from their peers I would be glad to read it.
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Post by Bona84 on Mar 27, 2015 14:49:17 GMT -5
Maybe Paschall can play Lacrosse?
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Post by bigdobber on Mar 28, 2015 16:35:47 GMT -5
The advantage of adding a men's lacrosse program would have a benefit to enrollment. That comes with a cost. The present trend is a decreasing enrollment so to do nothing comes with a cost also.
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Post by jh on Mar 28, 2015 20:33:32 GMT -5
The advantage of adding a men's lacrosse program would have a benefit to enrollment. That comes with a cost. The present trend is a decreasing enrollment so to do nothing comes with a cost also. Dont confuse cost with investment.....
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