Post-COVID-19: Part 7 - What Will College Admissions Look Like? With Cezar Mesquita
Our society is continuing to adapt rapidly in the midst of this pandemic, and one of the most important aspects of our community is undergoing major evolution and iterative change: the higher-ed industry. Continuing with our podcast series of speaking with university-level professionals has helped us better understand what to expect from colleges and universities going forward. We had the opportunity of speaking with Cezar Mesquita, the Director of Admissions at Western Washington University. Our CEO, Reetu Gupta, conducted the interview via video call to abide by social distancing policies.
Watch the full video to hear Mr. Mesquita's valuable insights and feedback about how the pandemic has impacted colleges and universities all over the nation. Mr. Mesquita began by describing some of the challenges that Western Washington University faced in quickly adapting to the changes brought about by COVID-19. It is evident that these struggles are shared among numerous universities, as Mr. Mesquita detailed the initial lack of engagement with remote learning that was present among the student population. In addition, the staff and faculty had to be quickly trained and are continuing to educate themselves on how to deliver an engaging, online education for the students. Another key challenge that several institutions have encountered, is the financial impact of the pandemic on their revenue streams. Mr. Mesquita emphasized the importance of using staff and resources to leverage efficiency during these trying times.
Additionally, it was interesting to hear what Mr. Mesquita had to say about the permanency of digital learning. He believes that an online learning space will continue to be a prevalent method of education, even after the pandemic subsides, because it allows for greater flexibility and delivery of information in a timely manner. Once students become accommodated with a virtual environment, it's clear that there is an increased level of comfort and flexibility that only comes with online education since it doesn't restrict students to a normal, calendar day. They also have the opportunity to engage with different types of resources and overall have more accessibility. This is crucial to reaching students who traditionally wouldn't have considered attending certain colleges. Mr. Mesquita stated that Western Washington University is now able to connect with students from rural and underserved backgrounds to provide them with virtual resources about the college.
Finally, Mr. Mesquita shared his future plans for the college and what he hopes to see in the higher-ed industry as the pandemic continues to shape our current society. One of the major things he touched on was standardized testing, and how the rate of test-optional schools is skyrocketing. He hopes that the confusion and uncertainty surrounding standardized testing will eventually vanish in the upcoming years as universities adopt other admission processes that are more holitistic. Mr. Mesquita also stated that the university is maintaining communication with rising juniors and sophomores, and while plans regarding the class of 2021 are not set in stone, it's good to see colleges connecting with several students to help them find concreteness during these uncertain times.
Cezar Mesquita serves as Western Washington University’s Director of Admission, leading operational efforts and staff development. He brings a strong background in recruiting, marketing and data analytics to the role, having worked in college and university enrollment management for 20 years. A native of Brazil, Cezar earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and International Affairs from the University of Nebraska, and a masters degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Alabama. He and his wife, Megan, have three teenage children and live in Bellingham.
Post COVID-19 - What Will College Admissions Look Like? With Terrence Izzard.
Post COVID-19: Part 2 - What will College Admissions Look Like? With Jonathan Lindsay.
Post-COVID-19: Part 3 - What Will College Admissions Look Like? With Patty Lemon
Post-COVID-19: Part 4 - What Will College Admissions Look Like? With Paul Seegert
Post-COVID-19: Part 5 - What Will College Admissions Look Like? Bryan D. Ryberg
Post-COVID-19: Part 6 - What Will College Admissions Look Like? Anna Miner
