AREAS OF EXPERTISE

We provide market-informed strategy that covers a range of institutional challenges. Our work is focused on substantive, long-term strategic responses to challenging and changing market forces — affordability, technology, mission, curriculum, infrastructure, value, competition and access. The strategies and actions we recommend are based on thorough empirical evidence about the results they will produce. And the tail does not wag the dog: branding and communications do not drive substantive planning strategies, but instead are based on them. 

 

MARKET INFORMED STRATEGIC PLANNING

Develop a vision and refine it in light of solid data about the competitive environment in which your institution operates.

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INSTITUTIONAL POSITIONING & BRANDING STRATEGY

Optimize your institution’s competitive position in response to market inputs.

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ENROLLMENT MARKETING, RESEARCH, & PLANNING

Determine the enrollment and net revenue impact of major strategic initiatives for institutional improvement and change.

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TUITION PRICING & FINANCIAL AID STRATEGIES

Gauge the enrollment and net tuition revenue consequences of prices changes.

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ADVANCEMENT STRATEGIES

Assess the impact of campaign strategies and goals on philanthropic support.

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WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

  • The biggest plus was the firm’s experience working with educational institutions and its understanding of the complexities of what goes into an institution’s reputation. A principal of the firm was directly involved in every phase of the project and the firm is small enough that there wasn’t a mass-market, cookie cutter approach.

    — Don Filer, Executive Director, Office of International Affairs, Yale University

  • In our conversations with other colleges, people described Art & Science’s research techniques as first-rate and said the firm’s ability to help institutions identify their defining characteristics was one of its strongest attributes. We found both to be true. A&S provided us a thorough, thought-provoking study and actionable data. We learned new information about Hamilton, confirmed perceptions and were disabused of several persistent myths.

    — Mike Debraggio, Executive Writer and Director of Community Relations, Hamilton College

  • I thought Art & Science Group would come in and test a couple of different ideas. But the research findings revealed that we needed to address size and A&S provided us overarching strategies to grow enrollment. Now we’ve grown enrollment and should reach our goal in a few years. I don’t think I would have been able to drive change without the solid market research A&S provided. The firm really helped us hone in on the major issues we had to address as an institution.

    — Robert Wyatt, President, Coker College

  • Art & Science Group conducted high-quality research. The development of the survey questionnaire was a careful and thorough process. The research results gave us a clear picture of where we needed to improve, including the gap in perceptions in terms of what parents were looking for and what they were actually experiencing at our school...Our design firm told us that the Art & Science Group final report provided the most thorough starting point to guide re-branding and communications efforts that they had ever received.

    — Dr. Scott Erickson, Head of School, Phillips Brooks School