Three Wins This Week: Reality Check

The honeymoon phase is over.

As a higher ed marketing leader, I know firsthand how quickly the pace ramps up after the first few weeks. The never-ending demands from every corner of campus, urgent emails, last-minute requests, and a calendar packed to the brim can make it feel nearly impossible to get ahead—let alone catch your breath. No matter how much you accomplish, there’s always something new competing for your attention.

This time in the semester brings a different energy. The move-in excitement has faded. Students are realizing their 8 AM class might have been a mistake. Parents are checking their bank accounts and wondering if they made the right choice.

This is when your real work begins.

While other marketers panic at the first signs of student stress or parent anxiety, you can position your institution as the steady, supportive choice they made for good reasons. This week isn't about crisis management – it's about strategic relationship building when it matters most.

That’s where "Three Wins This Week" comes in. Instead of spreading yourself thin, you can focus on three clear priorities—knowing that meaningful progress is possible, even when the demands feel relentless.

Here are your three priorities for maximum impact with minimal overwhelm:

Thing One: Launch Early Intervention Retention Strategies

The window is closing fast. Students who struggle in weeks 2-4 are at the highest risk of transferring or dropping out entirely. Your retention efforts right now prevent bigger problems later.

Identify At-Risk Students Before They Disappear

Partner with academic affairs to flag students showing early warning signs:

• Multiple missed classes

• Late assignment submissions

• No campus involvement yet

• Limited social connections

Quick Action: Create a "September Check-In" campaign. Send personalized messages to students who haven't engaged with campus resources yet. Not generic "How are you doing?" messages – specific outreach based on their interests and academic program.

Spotlight Student Success Resources

Students don't know what they don't know. Your tutoring center, writing lab, and academic coaching services exist – but struggling students aren't finding them.

Make these resources visible everywhere:

• Social media stories showing resources in action

• Email signatures linking to academic support

• Quick-reference cards in dining halls and residence halls

Create Connection Points for Isolated Students

The students posting happy dorm photos aren't your concern. Focus on the quiet ones. The commuters. The transfer students. The ones eating lunch alone.

Launch micro-engagement opportunities:

• Study group formation events

• Interest-based meetups (15-20 people max)

• Mentor matching programs

• Campus tour volunteer opportunities

Track engagement rates on retention-focused content. Students who interact with your support-focused posts are more likely to actually use those services.

Thing Two: Activate Strategic Alumni Communications

September nostalgia is real. Alumni scroll through campus photos feeling wistful about their college days. This emotional connection creates your biggest advancement opportunity of the fall.

Segment Alumni by Engagement Level and Capacity

Stop sending the same message to every alumnus. Your recent graduate working their first job needs different communication than your established professional with disposable income.

Create three communication tracks:

• Recent Grads (0-5 years): Focus on career services, networking events, and low-cost ways to stay connected. They can't give major gifts yet, but they can refer prospective students.

• Mid-Career Alumni (5-15 years): Highlight how their education shaped their success. Share stories about current students in their field. Ask for mentorship participation and modest annual giving.

• Established Alumni (15+ years): Focus on legacy and impact. Share how their past support created current opportunities. Invite them to major events and strategic conversations about institutional direction.

Share Authentic Campus Evolution Stories

Alumni want to see how their alma mater has grown while maintaining its character. Show them changes that enhance student experience rather than abandoning tradition.

Examples that work:

• New technology in familiar spaces

• Updated facilities serving the same mission

• Expanded programs building on institutional strengths

Avoid: Major changes presented without context, or nostalgia-heavy content that implies everything was better "back then."

Create Alumni-to-Student Connection Points

September is perfect for launching alumni engagement programs:

• Virtual career panels by industry

• Alumni guest speakers in relevant courses

• Mentorship program launches

• Regional alumni chapters hosting student meetups

Track which alumni engagement content generates the most prospective student inquiries.

Alumni sharing their positive experiences drives recruitment more effectively than any paid advertising.

Thing Three: Optimize Digital Content for Peak Recruitment Season

October application deadlines are approaching fast. Your digital content right now determines whether prospective students remember your institution when decision time arrives.

Audit Your Current Digital Presence

Check these elements immediately:

Website homepage: Can a confused parent find key information in under 30 seconds? Application deadlines, tuition information, and contact details should be impossible to miss.

Social media profiles: Are your bio links current? Do your highlights tell a clear story about student life, academics, and outcomes?

Google Business listing: Accurate hours, contact information, and recent photos matter more than you think. Consider establishing other listings to help drive searchability.

Create Content That Answers Real Questions

Stop guessing what prospective students want to know. Review your admissions office's most frequently asked questions and create content that addresses them directly.

High-priority content to create this week:

• Financial aid process explanations (video works best)

• Day-in-the-life content from different student perspectives

• Academic support services demonstrations

• Campus safety information (parents worry about this constantly)

Implement Social Proof Strategically

September testimonials carry more weight because they're fresh and authentic. New students can speak honestly about their decision-making process and first impressions.

Collect content from:

• Transfer students explaining why they chose your institution

• Parents describing their comfort level with their choice

• Faculty discussing what they love about new students

• Current students comparing their expectations to reality

Present social proof in multiple formats: Instagram story highlights, YouTube testimonials, website case studies, and email newsletter features. The same positive message reaches different audience segments through different channels.

Your Strategic Focus This Week

As someone who’s felt the pressure to do it all, I’m here to remind you: the key to feeling forward momentum is focusing on the three wins that matter this week—not the endless to-do list or the mountain of requests. When you achieve these focused priorities, you not only move your institution forward but also reclaim a sense of accomplishment that so often gets buried under daily demands.

Launch early intervention strategies now, while you can still influence at-risk students' decisions to stay. Activate alumni communications while September nostalgia creates emotional connection. Optimize digital content before October application pressure peaks.

Which of these three will you tackle first? Start there, complete it, then move to the next. Your students, alumni, and prospective families will notice the difference.

Have a success story or challenge you're facing? Share it with other higher ed marketers in the comments.