Enrollment management optimization using operations research

Texas Tech University has devoted additional resources to recruitment efforts to help address the declines in applications and yield. However, to best utilize these resources a model-based approach is needed to allow decision makers to meet institutional goals by managing the recruitment and enrollment of students at Texas Tech or any educational institution.

The proposed modeling approach is goal programming. The admissions goal planning model developed in this research is a powerful decision-making tool to optimize university admissions planning and to set a rational basis for the admissions policy based on institutional enrollment goals. It is used to plan admissions for the coming year with the intent to increase the effectiveness of recruitment efforts.

The model is a single-period preemptive integer goal programming model that manages student flows. The decision variables are the number of freshman students admitted (admittance levels) for each student category and the goals are those contained in the Texas Tech University 2005 Strategic Plan.

At the beginning of each academic year admissions and enrollment management personnel can program their recruitment efforts based on the admissions policy for the coming year. The model developed provides the best solution possible subject to the constraints, goals and priority structure established. The solution satisfies the Texas Tech Strategic Plan goals to the best possible extent. The admissions policy is not sensitive to changes in the priority structure and additional effors by the admissions officers should be focused on the goal levels.