The most damaging phrase in the language is: 'It's always been done that way.'
—Rear Admiral Grace Hopper
The most damaging phrase in the language is: 'It's always been done that way.'
—Rear Admiral Grace Hopper

Among the many attributes that allow The Lawlor Group to be successful in interpreting institutional strengths and distinctions, what stands out is that they listen carefully. Through their own sense of discovery, we have been better able to rediscover ourselves.
— Jeffery G. Hanna
Former Executive Director of College Relations
The College of Wooster
Wooster, Ohio
Now Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia
Lawlor Focus is The Lawlor Group’s monthly e-newsletter. Each issue explores aspects of a topic relevant to marketing and communications professionals in higher education. Featuring insights from our consulting work, ideas from thought leaders, and synopses of important news, data and trends, Focus offers information and ideas that can be applied immediately to improve strategic marketing and communications results.
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The Lawlor Group offers this summary of trends in the higher education marketplace that we predict will have a significant impact on student recruitment and enrollment efforts during the coming year.
In preparation for our annual trends report, we asked senior leadership at colleges and universities throughout the country to share what they think are the greatest challenges and opportunities facing higher education in 2012.
Market forces are causing plenty of disruption to higher education’s ecosystem. But disruption is not necessarily a negative; it can indeed reflect positive evolution.
Young digital natives are a key target audience for higher education marketers. Yet too few senior administrators at colleges and universities are able to relate to the way younger people communicate today.
Institutions that are relatively expensive but not highly selective will face challenges as they try to recruit in an “hourglass” marketplace.
Savvy consumers in the higher education marketplace are focusing not just on the money they’ll put into attaining a college degree, but also on the value they’ll get out of it.