Strategic Enrolment Management

A Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) plan for Concordia

Concordia is embarking on an exercise to develop a student-centric five-year Strategic Enrolment Management Plan.

Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) is a data-driven approach to planning and managing the recruitment, retention, and graduation of students. It involves aligning institutional goals with enrolment objectives.

Concordia’s SEM plan will be developed through a holistic approach, with the aim to enhance the overall student journey by prioritizing academic achievement alongside mental and physical wellbeing, a fulfilling campus life, timely degree completion, and professional preparedness.

SEM governance

Working groups

The working groups will develop recommendations – based on research, interviews, feedback, data analysis and consultations – in line with enrolment goals and objectives set by the steering committee.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee will develop SEM plan guidelines and set enrolment goals and monitor progress.

Academic Cabinet

Academic Cabinet is the final decision-making body for approval of Concordia’s Strategic Enrolment Management plan.

Working groups and mandates

Recruitment

Develop a robust multi-year recruitment strategy that integrates both undergraduate and graduate approaches. leveraging targeted recruitment mechanisms and key performance indicators (KPIs) to track success. This strategy will involve identifying and adapting to target markets through a structured process, implementing early-stage awareness strategies to engage prospective students, and establishing a coordinated framework for local and central recruitment efforts.

Co-Chairs:

Marie-Eve Roy, Manager, Graduate Strategic Enrolment and Outreach, School of Graduate Studies
Savvy Papayiannis, Director, Student Recruitment, Enrolment Services

Admissions – undergraduate

Develop strategies aimed at improving transition and conversion rates in the admission process. This includes evaluating admission procedures for enhancements that prioritize applicant and student success and satisfaction. Additionally, it involves reviewing and refining academic requirements to support student success, enhance the student experience, and promote inclusive academic excellence.

Co-Chairs:

Sophie Fontaine, Director, Admissions, Enrolment Services
Isabelle Lacelle, Senior Director, Faculty of Arts & Science

Admissions – graduate

Enhance the admissions experience by implementing improvements for consistency and efficiency. This involves optimizing admission letters for clarity and brevity, simplifying recommendation letter submissions, reducing application deadlines, and improving the process of matching applicants with supervisors. These changes aim to enhance the overall efficiency and ease for prospective students navigating the admissions process.

Co-Chairs:

Donald Lafrance, Director, School of Graduate Studies, School of Graduate Studies
Sandra Betton, Associate Dean, Student Academic Services, John Molson School of Business

Retention and advising

Identify barriers to student success, develop an early identification framework for at-risk students, and implement proactive and reactive support strategies. This includes prioritizing critical issues, understanding retention challenges for undergraduates and graduates, and coordinating existing support services and advisors to sustain student retention efforts.

Co-Chairs:

Darragh Languay, Senior Lecturer & Undergraduate Program Advisor, Department of English, Faculty of Arts and Science
Julie Foisy, Director, Student Success Centre, Student Services

Pathways to graduation

Develop recommendations about ways to reduce delays and lower barriers to program completion, in particular for students with extended credits requirements.

Co-Chairs:

Jason Ens, Executive Director Academic Policy and Planning, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic
Sandra Gabriele, Vice-Provost Innovation in Teaching and Learning, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic

Teaching space

Address challenges related to space and scheduling systems at the university. This includes resolving issues with the different space booking systems, addressing bottlenecks in program sequences that affect student scheduling, and optimizing teaching space usage.

Co-Chairs:

Aaron Johnson, Associate Dean, Planning & Academic Facilities, Faculty of Arts and Science
Stephanie de Celles, Executive Director, Enrolment Services & University Registrar

SEM leadership and membership

Project Co-Chairs

Nadia Hardy, Deputy Provost and Vice-Provost Enrolment and Student Experience (OPVPA)
Jason Ens, Executive Director, Academic Policy and Planning (OPVPA)

Steering Committee

Amir Aghdam, Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Gina Cody School
Caroline Baril, Executive Director, Integration, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic
Pippin Barr, Associate Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Design and Computation Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts
Sandra Betton, Associate Dean, Student Academic Services, John Molson School of Business
Elana Bloom, Director, Campus Wellness and Support Services
Philippe Caignon, Associate Dean, Student Academic Services, Faculty of Arts and Science
Elaine Cheasley Paterson, Associate Dean, Academic Programs and Pedagogy, Faculty of Fine Arts
Stephanie de Celles, Executive Director, Enrolment Services & University Registrar
Julie Foisy, Director, Student Success Centre, Student Services
Sophie Fontaine, Director, Admissions, Enrolment Services
Paul Fournier, Director, Digital Transformation Office, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic
Sandra Gabriele, Vice-Provost Innovation in Teaching and Learning, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic
Hua Ge, Associate Dean, Student Academic Services, Gina Cody School
Mona Himmo, Manager, Student Academic Services, Gina Cody School
Aaron Johnson, Associate Dean, Planning & Academic Facilities, Faculty of Arts and Science
Tristan Khaner, Director, Office of the Dean and Faculty Operations, Faculty of Fine Arts
Charmian Harvey, Executive Director, University Communications Services
Isabelle Lacelle, Senior Director, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science
Donald Lafrance, Director, School of Graduate Studies
Darragh Languay, Senior Lecturer & Undergraduate Program Advisor, Department of English, Faculty of Arts and Science
Cedric Lesage, Associate Dean, Research & Impact, John Molson School of Business
Jooseop Lim, Associate Dean, Academic & Student Affairs, Undergraduate Programs, John Molson School of Business
Savvy Papayiannis, Director, Student Recruitment, Enrolment Services
Marie-Ève Roy, Manager, Graduate Strategic Enrolment and Outreach, School of Graduate Studies
Francesca Scala, Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Faculty of Arts and Science
Daniel Therrien, Associate Vice-President of Integrated Planning, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic
Eldad Tsabary, Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Fine Arts
Lisa White, Executive Director, Equity Office
Stephen Yaeger, Chair, Department of English, Faculty of Arts and Science

Project team

Linda Campione, Project Director SEM, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic
Andrée Bertrand, Project Coordinator, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic

Key dates

Project launch: April 1, 2024
Completion of final report: February 2025
Adoption by Academic Cabinet: Spring 2025
Sharing of report to university community: Spring 2025
SEM development and implementation: 2025