Brock University SWOT Analysis Example

Brock University is one of the most notorious universities for international and domestic students alike for several reasons. The purpose of this assignment is to outline the reasons that illustrate Brock University to everyone, both positive and negative, and to use the SWOT analysis in doing so. In outlining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of Brock University, I will both ameliorate my ability to research and conduct useful business analysis, as well as possibly learn more about Brock myself. Even without the knowledge in which I will discuss later throughout the assignment, I decided to pursue my post-secondary education at Brock University. One reason I decided to choose Brock is that it is a leader in experiential learning, meaning that the co-op program I am a part of is well developed and will benefit both my educational and professional growth in the future. As a student who values individual experience and hands-on work, the co-op option better fits my needs as a student as opposed to other institutions such as Laurier, who have a heavy focus on group work and experiences rather than individual experience. 

One major strength of Brock University is that it is rated number one in mental health services as per Maclean's University Ranking 2021 (BU, About, Brock Facts). Services such as SWAC, the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre at Brock, provides students with counselling and health services that help students to feel heard, and gives them access to the support they need to handle stress. Having positive mental health allows students to excel in their education and lifestyles which is why mental health support is so important, and comparably why mental health services at Brock are a strength. Another notable strength Brock possesses is that it is rated second in Canada for academic advising for the fourth consecutive year (BU, About, Brock Facts). Brock has both central academic advising and department-specific advising for students that offer assistance to students regarding planning for degree programs, choosing courses, and guiding students through academic difficulty. Each of these services is a huge strength in helping current students succeed academically, and in influencing incoming students to consider Brock. However, Brock has the huge weakness of being considered lesser to other schools such as Guelph or Laurier due to negative social status. Brock has a lower admission grade average, and an overall higher admission rate compared to other schools. From an outside perspective, this displays Brock as an easier school to get into and onlookers believe this means Brock isn’t as reputable as other institutions. As a Niagara local, I consider another weakness of Brock to be its location. While St. Catherines is a big city itself for student life and engagement, graduates might find it difficult to find a full-time career within the region. Outside of St. Catherines, most businesses have an aged employee network which means that there have been the same workers for years and will continue to work, which leaves fewer full-time careers for Brock graduates. I predict older generations of workers will retire within the decade and this will not be an issue, however, currently, this is not the case.

One opportunity that Brock can pursue is putting more effort into marketing its strengths and student satisfaction for Niagara and Niagara-border locals. With a large number of new condominiums, townhouses, and houses in general, being built in the region, specifically Fonthill, Welland, and St. Catherines, it would be sensible for Brock to involve themselves in local elementary and high schools to influence new students and their families. On the same note, many families and individuals are moving to Niagara from the GTA as a result of the pandemic, therefore the community-like campus-feeling of Brock will likely interest those from a big city. Additionally, the building and future ownership of the Canada Games (BU, About, Brock Facts) sports facility will incentivize student-athletes to attend Brock. While Brock already has sports facilities, the stadium will influence both spectators, and new athletes due to the increase in both indoor and outdoor facilities. One threat to Brock is the competition of other schools -if other schools create a new program, receive more funding, or hire a well-known professor, then Brock might lose the interest of prospective students if they lack in these additions. For example, the University of Waterloo offers an English course about the Harry Potter series. English students deciding between Brock or Waterloo who are fans of the series might select Waterloo. Another threat Brock faces is backlash from the coronavirus vaccine regulations. For the most part, Brock students and staff comply with the double-vaccination rule to be on campus in person, however, some are not. There are some unvaccinated students and staff who have been seen protesting their contradicting views earlier during the semester. While the consequence of this appears to be minimal, it can lead to a loss of support and is still a threat nonetheless. 

Throughout my analysis of Brock University, I discovered that the SWOT analysis is extremely useful as it helped me in staying organized with my research, and provided a structured outline for me regarding what information is truly important to discuss for this assignment. It helped me in researching what Brock does well, and what it should work on to improve. Credit to the SWOT method of research, I discovered that not only does Brock University prioritize the mental health of students over grades and assessments, they also encourage students to reach out for special accommodations during tests, exams, and online classes. This measure both helps students with poor mental health to relieve stress and hopefully better their mental health, but likewise improves their work ethic and overall performance in school, assumingly.