Academic Department Best Practices : Attracting Students to Study Economics

Internet survey research was conducted to establish the best practices being followed by economic departments at leading research universities in the United States. The survey research and literature review of best practices in online student recruitment will be used by a department of economics at a leading US research university to attract students to its undergraduate and graduate programs including a newly created doctorate in economics. The survey research indicated that a key practice is to supply students with the information they are seeking online. Also, there are opportunities to include undergraduate students in faculty research in order to encourage students to continue studying economics. A source of students that is being tapped is the international market, although many geographic regions are underrepresented. The research also indicated that economic departments are neither using prospect management systems nor much advertising