SEM attendees gain research and writing ideas

AACRAO’s research director and journal editors offered guidance to SEM Conference attendees interested in research and publishing at a Monday afternoon session in San Antonio.  

Wendy Kilgore, director of research at AACRAO, along with Tom Green, editor-in-chief of Strategic Enrollment Management Quarterly (SEMQ), Jeff vonMonkwitz Smith, editor-in-chief of College & University Journal (C&U), and Heather Zimar, managing editor of C&U and SEMQ, hosted a discussion-based session titled “Develop Your Research and Writing Skills for Publication.” The presenters described various opportunities for sharing student services research, from in-depth peer-reviewed features to shorter commentaries and campus viewpoints.

“We want to encourage as many people as possible to contribute to the profession through research and writing,” said Zimar. “This session provided potential authors with practical guidelines as well as ideas and inspiration for pursuing their research interests.”

Audience members included national and international enrollment management practitioners, as well as current and former graduate students.

Many practical tips for how to approach writing were shared, including:

• Know your audience/readers

• Ground your research in the work of others by conducting a thorough literature review

• Consider co-authoring

• Ask others to read and provide feedback on an article before submitting

• Include the practical application of the research

• Write in third person and don’t use jargon

• Repurpose dissertation research

Potential research topics were discussed, including: SEM in the community college context; transfer; financial aid; mentoring; and professional competencies in higher education.  

For more information or to submit a manuscript to AACRAO, please contact Heather Zimar at heatherz@aacrao.org.