As the postsecondary landscape has changed, it is critical that the field develop a common language through the creation of a typology that can be used to describe the landscape of admissions innovations and the characteristics of each type as the basis to better understand their impact.
When discussing efforts to simplify admissions processes at the state and system levels, we are referring to strategies that eliminate steps in the application and decision-making process for students, while recognizing that a simpler process for applicants may create more complexity for institutional administrators. The typology is organized around four key components derived from the work of Taylor Odle and Jennifer Ann Delaney, who identified strategies that can alter college-going behaviors among students; these strategies include:
- an early guarantee of college admission;
- structural simplification of the application;
- proactive information and nudging at a critical decision point for students;
- and modest financial support through application fee waivers.