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MWC COC-SACS Home > Committees
> Minutes > University
Relations and Development Committee: 6/01
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SACS
University
Relations and Development Committee
Minutes,
James Monroe Center
June 7,
2001
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| Present: Jeff Rountree, Mark Safferstone,
Beth Harper (invited speaker), Cindy Snyder, Liane
Houghtalin, Rita Stone, Lea
Ziobro, Margaret Mock, Joe Nicholas (chair) |
| The meeting convened at the James Monroe Center
so that Mark Safferstone and Beth Harper (Associate
Dean of Admissions for Adult Degree Programs) could
talk about marketing issues regarding JMC. Mark
began by presenting an overall view of JMC: its facilities,
mission, and programs. (See handouts: Spring
Newsletter and stapled packet "About
the James Monroe Center") Mark stated that the
current primary goal is to fill seats, and for courses
offered during the popular evening time slots, that
goal has largely been met. The secondary goal
is to increase daytime utilization by involving community
and business groups with the facilities available
at the Center. Because of the type of student
enrolled at JMC, daytime classes are not likely to
be in much demand, but local businesses are likely
to use JMC for things like conferences, workshops,
and seminars. Liane suggested that perhaps classes
could be offered in an early morning time slot as
well as in the evening. (Marketing
Issues and Strategies, Program Objectives and Marketing
Channels) |
| Mark continued with a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats) analysis (see handout,
3rd page, labeled "page 1"). Strengths include name
affiliation with MWC, relatively low cost (one third
Strayer's tuition), quality, flexibility with program
offerings, and relationship with the community colleges.
Weaknesses include a relative lack of market penetration,
especially in northern Virginia (beyond Woodbridge);
competition for potential students' time with all
of the other demands that these people have on their
time (families, jobs, etc.). Opportunities include
an array of unique programs that can be offered; fruitful
relationships with regional businesses and school
systems. The major threats come from local and
regional institutions that serve much the same demographic
group as JMC. In the Fredericksburg area, Strayer
is a strong competitor: it offers a large array of
programs, it is well-known and has an almost unlimited
advertising budget, and students can get a degree
with a minimum of qualifications or effort.
The advantages that JMC has over Strayer are that
Strayer is known widely for its low quality, and JMC
is less expensive |
| A short question-and-answer session concluded the
meeting. We discussed briefly the advent of
credit card payment of tuition and its increasing
necessity at colleges and universities. On the
question of college vs university for marketing and
attracting students, it was thought by both Mark and
Beth to make little or no difference, but if it did
make a difference, it would be positive. |
The next meeting is scheduled for 4 PM Thursday,
August 16, 2001 at Trench Hill.
The meeting adjourned at 5:05 PM. |
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Page Last Modified on:
March 29, 2002
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