Students

• 20% Targeted growth
• Develop new markets-domestic and international
• Grow local programming
• Develop new program areas and skills
• Increase educational partnerships

Photo: Jamie O'Donnell

Our goal continues to be providing an excellent education for a growing student body. We intend to develop new markets, both in the U.S. and internationally, as well as new course types and locations. Growth will be targeted with an emphasis on quality.

NOLS provides high quality, transformational educational experiences for our students. We measure this success through post-course surveys and academic research conducted by educational partners. We will make this education available to every student who is willing to work to attain it by increasing our outreach efforts and scholarship support. NOLS Professional Training and WMI provide a mechanism to deliver NOLS education to a variety of new and expanding markets.

Further Goals and Tactics
1. To expand our educational impact and availability we will enroll up to 20% more student days by 2013. This could be achieved by growing at an average annual rate of 3% for catalog and WMI courses and by 10% for NOLS Professional Training.

2. With growing student demand we will adopt top-end growth targets for each season and investigate selectivity schemes to further improve our educational outcomes.

a. In 2008 define selectivity as it relates to NOLS and determine how we might implement. Determine if we will pursue selective admission or continue first come/first served.

b. Align financial aid policies with admission standards.

3. NOLS will continue its focus on U.S. markets for our students, but will seize opportunities to enter international markets.

a. Program expansion into Northern Europe provides an opportunity to expand into European markets.

i. We will develop and implement a marketing strategy to cost-effectively enter this market. Markets identified by 2010.
ii. Increase enrollment of European students from 26 in 2007 to 100 students by 2013.

b. NOLS will focus on improving domestic (U.S.) diversity. We will significantly increase the percentage of students from diverse backgrounds enrolled by 2013.

4. We will expand educational opportunities for local students (students who live near our operating schools). These programs are often subsidized to some degree.

a. Expand local student opportunities in Australia, New Zealand, the Yukon, and India.

b. Introduce offering in Brazil and Norway.

5. We will survey select populations to determine program expansion (skill and location) and identify new demographic markets.

a. We will scout three new international locations during the timeframe of this strategic plan. Investigations will include returning to Africa.

b. We will open new program locations as suitability is determined and programming is developed.

6. We will increase our educational partnerships by:

a. Adding ten colleges or universities to our college credit list at a rate of two per year. This will yield 100 students per year by 2013.

b. Gaining recognition for high school credit in the State of Wyoming.

c. Developing our relationship with the new WMI Australia leadership.

d. Further developing our relationship with Landmark Learning.