Like any other sector, education is in dire need of lower costs. One way of achieving cost reduction can be to make the admission procedure more efficient. Ahead of 2013 college admission season, education technology firm Hobson has added a Web-based AppReview interface to its highly popular ApplyYourself solution.
The move is intended to enable institutions to gain operational efficiencies through the paperless review of applications.
Released at this year's Educause conference in Denver, the AppReview has been designed to cut repetitive, time-consuming requirements out of the equation.
Prior to admission seasons, universities often hire contractual staff to review the applications. These workers are typically based in different locations, making coordination between multiple reviewers more challenging.
Used along with Hobson’s centralized application management solution, ApplyYourself, AppReview will help institutions to support programs with reviewers both onsite and in remote locations, in centralized and de-centralized offices.
AppReview allows coordinators to easily bundle and assign applications to reviewers, who can then sort, filter and search the materials the way they want using a familiar inbox look and feel. Once they complete an application, head reviewers can send decision recommendations into the ApplyYourself centralized application management solution in real time.
“As admissions offices face increasingly limited resources and competing priorities, the student application review process poses opportunities to improve operational efficiencies. AppReview enables institutions to streamline time-consuming activities like collecting materials from each applicant and improving the experience for faculty and others involved in the process. These efficiencies free schools to focus on the core mission of attracting the right students and supporting their success,” said president of higher education at Hobson, Todd Gibby.
Johns Hopkins University is one of the institutions leveraging the benefits of AppReview. The university is also a long-term user of the company’s Applyyourself solution.
“We are really pleased to be involved with AppReview as we were looking for a product that had synergy with technology we already knew and our end-users trusted. AppReview's integration with our online application makes for a more seamless graduate admissions review experience.
We’re also hoping to gain long-term workflow efficiencies, but most of all, a robust and sustainable review process for our programs,” said Anna De Cheke Qualls at Johns Hopkins University.
A few months ago, Hobsons announced a partnership with the University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), to study and improve non-traditional student success. As a UPCEA Industry Partner, Hobsons and the Association's Center for Research and Consulting planned to examine UPCEA members' labor market outcomes, which will serve as a benchmark study for future measurement.
Hobsons clients and UPCEA members will be able to access the completed study in a free webinar offered in 2013.
Edited by Braden Becker