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More inquiries. More applications. More digital tools competing for students’ attention. Yet for many colleges and universities, turning that activity into enrollment remains a stubborn challenge. Doing more isn’t necessarily the same as getting better results. The real challenge is making every part of the enrollment journey work harder—and work together. Another NACAC is officially […]
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ROANOKE, Va. (September, 11, 2026) – As AccessU celebrates its 30th anniversary, the agency is entering one of the strongest periods in its history. While three decades of experience provide a solid foundation, the firm continues to operate with the energy, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of a startup. Since 2021, AccessU has experienced significant growth, […]
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In September 1996, AccessU opened as a two-person agency in Roanoke, Virginia. At the time, we could not have imagined what the next three decades would bring. Today, nearly 30 years later, we are an award-winning communications and creative firm serving clients across the nation, with a team of strategists, designers, developers, educators, writers, researchers, […]
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Why the start of the academic year may be the most stressful time in enrollment marketing September has a reputation for being a month of transition. Summer is over. Students are back. Campus is buzzing again. The new academic year is officially underway. For admissions and enrollment marketing professionals, however, September doesn’t always feel like […]
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Somehow in 2026, communications still has a measurement problem. Too many reports focus on output metrics: stories placed, impressions, posts published, open rates, and click-through rates. At best, those numbers show that the work happened and reached…someone. They don’t show whether anyone understood, trusted, or acted on the message, which is what matters. A campaign […]
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How enrollment teams can shift from chasing volume to creating value You’re thinking of your enrollment funnel the wrong way. Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Most enrollment managers and marketers focus on the question, “How many prospective students entered the funnel?” More inquiries.More names in the CRM.More students requesting information. Historically, that approach made sense. […]
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The modern higher education enrollment market presents a new set of challenges for colleges and universities of all types and sizes. Institutions can no longer survive simply by generating a large volume of inquiries to fill their classes. Today’s prospective students are seeking a seamless journey from initial interest all the way through to employment. […]
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With all the doom and gloom messaging about the “demographic cliff” over the past several years, you may have missed the fact that we are on the precipice of Gen Alpha replacing Gen Z as the primary audience for higher education marketing. With birth dates of 2010 and later, the first cohort of Gen Alpha […]
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Crisis events happen in every organization, from a building’s structural concern to a data breach to an employee who says something offensive online. How we handle those things in the moment is a different blog post. I want to focus on preparing for potential crisis events through proactive, cohesive messaging. Not through tabletop exercises or crisis training. I’m talking about preparing for the […]
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Expansion Brings Added Opportunity & Increased Competition The U.S. Department of Education is expanding Pell Grant access to include high-need students enrolled in workforce development programs starting July 1, 2026. Advocates for college access are praising this addition, and for good reason. Improving access for low-income adults to pursue career advancement through industry-based studies and credentials is a significant benefit […]
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Virginia’s Community College System (VCCS) received a Bronze Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for the “Find Your Answer” campaign, a statewide initiative developed in partnership with The Hodges Partnership and AccessU. The Bronze Anvil recognizes outstanding tactical public relations programs that deliver exceptional return on investment. Among national competitors in […]
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Your marketing strategy needs both. AI is not the first major disruptor to upend the world of marketing. Mobile phones changed how we designed for web. Social media changed how we engage with our audiences. Search changed how those audiences find us. AI adds another shift, but it’s one that’s changing everything all at once. Design, communications, distribution, and search. And we don’t have […]
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