The process of recruitment and matriculation for the admission and enrollment management operation represents the lifeline of a higher education institution because their efforts fuel the engines of academia-recruiting students for the classrooms. Any mismanagement of stress on their part can produce consequences that may negatively affect the institution's fiscal survival, enrollment and matriculation of new students, students' and parents' comfort levels, and possibly student retention and graduation rates. The purpose of this article is to identify and describe the stresses experienced by individuals in the admissions and enrollment management profession and to highlight several techniques for reducing and eliminating stress. It should be noted that this merely skims the surface in examining higher education-related stress, yet it offers some concrete remedies for consideration. For the admission and enrollment management professional, what matters is the enrollment and matriculation of that next freshman class, and this concern typically takes precedence over all other activities or issues in the office.
Stress affects everyone differently.
Many individuals deal with stress by withdrawing within themselves and not sharing their thoughts or concerns regarding issues or projects. Other people exhibit stress by acting out in anger. These individuals tend to be argumentative, difficult to work with, and inflexible in dealing with concerns and issues. In order to identify the origins of stress, one must consider many factors such as heredity, environment, socioeconomic level, personality, academic interests, attitudes, and professional or career interests. Attempting to decipher and explore the roots of stress can be an important step in managing it.