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Boarding Schools Should Borrow a Page From College Student Affairs
In higher education, the concept of student affairs is well established. Colleges understand that the learning experience extends far beyond the classroom. Offices dedicated to student involvement, residential life, leadership development, and campus programming exist to help students build identity, community, and independence. In boarding schools, however, this model is far less developed. Many schools…
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Admissions Is Only Step One: Why Student Life Determines Whether Students Actually Stay
Every boarding school invests enormous energy into admissions. Schools travel across the world recruiting students. Admissions teams read hundreds of applications. Families tour campuses, interview with faculty, and carefully consider whether a school is the right fit for their child. When a student finally enrolls, it often feels like the work is finished. In reality,…
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A January Reminder: The Beyond the Bell One Minute Reflections on LinkedIn
As schools return from winter break and routines reset, I want to make sure Beyond the Bell readers are aware of something we have already put into motion. In early December, Beyond the Bell began publishing a weekly one minute reflection video series on LinkedIn. The series is public, ongoing, and designed to add a…
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The Retention Gap: Why Admissions and Student Life Still Operate on Different Planets
In most boarding schools, admissions and student life share the same goal of building a thriving and engaged community. Yet they rarely share the same playbook. One department recruits students, while the other helps them stay. Both depend on one another for success, but their collaboration often fades once orientation ends. This divide creates what…