Professional Development in
Catholic Advancement

Institute for School and Parish Development and the Institute for Pastoral Initatives at the University of Dayton offer online, for-credit certificate courses for Catholic leaders in the Operational Vitality Domain. Since 2017, thousands of students have taken ISPD’s online courses for professional development credit. Our courses are tailor-made for Catholic leaders.

Spring 2025 Semester

40 Best Practices in Enrollment Management

This course is made up of eight classes with practical, how-to “nuts and bolts” processes that you can learn and implement right away

Course Outline

  • Introduction/Background
  • # 1: The Principal’s Letter
  • # 2: Guiding Families through the Application Process
  • # 3: State of the School Message
  • # 4: Showcasing Performing Arts Groups
  • # 5: Personalizing Everything

  • # 6: Developing Your Top 10
  • # 7: Developing Your WOW
  • # 8: Working with an Enrollment Management Core Team
  • # 9: Shadow Days
  • # 10: Written EM Plan of Action

  • # 11: Understanding and Using Demographics
  • # 12: Postcard Campaigns
  • # 13: Ambassador Teams
  • # 14: Exit Interviews
  • # 15: Written Student Retention Plan

  • # 16: Open House(s)
  • # 17: Catholic Schools Week
  • # 18: Educating Families on the GAP
  • # 19: The Ultimate Question Survey
  • # 20: On-Campus Events

  • # 21: Inviting Prospective Families to School Events
  • # 22: Creating an Interactive Website for EM
  • # 23: Effectiveness of Social Media for EM
  • # 24: Visiting Feeder Sources/Schools
  • # 25: Creating Video Testimonials

  • # 26: Building Relationships with Feeder Sources
  • # 27: Visiting with Every School Family
  • # 28: Hosting Neighborhood Receptions
  • # 29: Filling Every Seat Mentality
  • # 30: Creating “Disney-like” Signage

  • # 31: Individualized School Tours
  • # 32: Participating in Community Events
  • # 33: Creating Yard Signs and Banners
  • # 34: Speaking to Civic Organizations
  • # 35: Using Referral Forms with Parents, Students, Alumni, and Parishioners (if applicable)

  • # 36: Educating Prospective Families about Scholarship Opportunities
  • # 37: Marketing in Catholic Newspapers and Parish Bulletins
  • # 38: Creating a Scorecard of Enrollment Goals
  • # 39: Understanding the “Closing Room”
  • # 40: Creating the “What to Do if You Are Interested” Document
  • Wrap-Up and Looking Forward

Testimonials from previous students who took past UD/ISPD online courses.

“These courses have been a tremendous help to provide guidance and direction from the entire ISPD team and the guest faculty. The amount of material that was covered in a short amount of time was amazing! Thank you, and hats off to the ISPD team!”

Julie Bebey

Advancement Director
Our Lady of Mercy Regional School
Maple Glen, Pennsylvania

“Thank you, Frank, for the wonderful information.”

Carol Grewal

Associate Superintendent
Archdiocese of San Francisco

“This course is very thorough, providing step by step instructions, with all the handouts needed to help leaders with the advancement and development of their Catholic schools. Excellent presentations, excellent information! Well worth the time invested!”

Mary Dorn

Principal
Our Lady of Sorrows School
Homewood, Alabana

“The instructor shares a wealth of knowledge and strategies that he shares for our benefit. You cannot get this kind of information anywhere else. His classes have been extremely valuable to the growth of our school.”

Jim Horan

Principal
Most Holy Trinity
El Paso, Texas

“This was a highly informative and beneficial course. The course was fast-paced, full of pertinent information, and timely, with helpful handouts. I strongly recommend any course offered by ISPD.”

Chris Kirkpatrick

Director of Development
Our Lady of Victory Parish and School
State College, Pennsylvania

“This course was jam-packed with practical ready to use templates, plans, resources and best practices for ensuring the vitality of your school. These ideas have stood the test of time but remain relevant today.”

Mary Beth Webster

Principal
St. Aloysius Regional School
Springville, New York

ISPD/UD Professional Development Courses

frequently asked questions

Students who attend the course and complete the associated assignments will be eligible to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the University of Dayton.
If a participant is not interested in the credits for the course or certificate, then she/he can audit the course, but the cost is the same.

If a participant cannot attend any of the “live” classes in the course, he/she will be able to attend the class(es) by viewing the recording, the PowerPoint, and the handout materials on her/his own time.

There are eight classes; each class lasts approximately 50-60 minutes. The course will be taught by Frank Donaldson, president of ISPD, and invited guest presenters.