Colleges Turn To Television To Recruit Students
Name Changes Also Being Considered
POSTED: 12:10 pm EDT October 1,
2008
UPDATED: 5:25 pm EDT October 1,
2008
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BOSTON -- The bleak economic forecast has colleges re-thinking how they recruit students. The competition is getting more fierce and local schools want to stand out, NewsCenter 5's Bianca de la Garza reported Wednesday.
Colleges Turn To Television To Recruit Students From producing television ads to changing their name, it's all about marketing. Framingham State College is producing its first television ad in its history, looking to attract students from around the globe. "It's a very competitive marketplace," said President Timothy Flanagan.If a media blitz doesn't grab prospective students, he is hoping a name change might.Does Framingham State University have a nice ring? "That would be odd," said one student rushing off to class. Flanagan insisted it's not strange. He said it makes perfect sense. He points out students overseas equate the term college with high school. University, he said, is more prestigious, adding "I think it would help us in student recruitment and as well as attracting international students to our campus." Framingham State already offers between 400 and 500 masters degrees in 24 different areas."By any definition we are already a university," Flanagan said. A university must meet certain requirements, including offering graduate programs and doctoral degrees. It's not just state schools that are looking for a new name. Bentley College is currently undergoing a required review by the Board of Higher Education, hoping to officially change its name to Bentley University. State Representative Peter Koutoujian likes the idea, but pointed out Bentley is a private institution and differs from the state colleges. Koutoujian said Framingham State would need laws to change before its name can. He's filed legislation that would let each campus decide their name."Basically our state colleges would be state universities in other states. In fact, 45 of 50 states offer language that lets schools go in this direction," he said.Koutoujian said Massachusetts is losing about 20 percent of students who leave to go to other state's schools. He said keeping students in-state be it by a name or an ad is important to our future economy.Bentley will know its future name Thursday when the Board of Higher Education will announce its decision on whether Bentley can call itself a university.Framingham and other state colleges will be waiting. Koutoujian's legislation still has a ways to go on Beacon Hill.
Colleges Turn To Television To Recruit Students From producing television ads to changing their name, it's all about marketing. Framingham State College is producing its first television ad in its history, looking to attract students from around the globe. "It's a very competitive marketplace," said President Timothy Flanagan.If a media blitz doesn't grab prospective students, he is hoping a name change might.Does Framingham State University have a nice ring? "That would be odd," said one student rushing off to class. Flanagan insisted it's not strange. He said it makes perfect sense. He points out students overseas equate the term college with high school. University, he said, is more prestigious, adding "I think it would help us in student recruitment and as well as attracting international students to our campus." Framingham State already offers between 400 and 500 masters degrees in 24 different areas."By any definition we are already a university," Flanagan said. A university must meet certain requirements, including offering graduate programs and doctoral degrees. It's not just state schools that are looking for a new name. Bentley College is currently undergoing a required review by the Board of Higher Education, hoping to officially change its name to Bentley University. State Representative Peter Koutoujian likes the idea, but pointed out Bentley is a private institution and differs from the state colleges. Koutoujian said Framingham State would need laws to change before its name can. He's filed legislation that would let each campus decide their name."Basically our state colleges would be state universities in other states. In fact, 45 of 50 states offer language that lets schools go in this direction," he said.Koutoujian said Massachusetts is losing about 20 percent of students who leave to go to other state's schools. He said keeping students in-state be it by a name or an ad is important to our future economy.Bentley will know its future name Thursday when the Board of Higher Education will announce its decision on whether Bentley can call itself a university.Framingham and other state colleges will be waiting. Koutoujian's legislation still has a ways to go on Beacon Hill. Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
