With nine selective programs and nearly 1,000 students yearly, Salt Lake Community College struggled with increasing applicants and limited staff to review essays, an essential part of the admissions process.

Scaling holistic review at the community college level

The School of Health Sciences offers 10 programs, nine of which use holistic selective admissions. With nearly 13,000 students in the pipeline planning to apply in the coming years, scalability was a growing concern. These programs encompass a range of healthcare disciplines, including Nursing, Physical Therapy Assistant, Dental Hygiene, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Technology, and other allied health professions.

“Our programs are highly competitive,” shared Cher Knupp. “And our healthcare partners are very clear about the qualities they’re looking for in future professionals. We needed an admissions process that reflected that.”

By implementing Kira Talent’s standardized video interviews, we were able to assess a broader range of competencies while maintaining consistency across programs and reviewers.

Replacing essays with meaningful, efficient assessment

Previously, essays were central to the admissions process—but they came at a high cost. Admissions staff spent extensive time redacting personal information, and faculty reviewers often received documents stripped of context.

“By using video interviews instead of essays, we gained so much time back,” Knupp explained. “Not just for admissions, but for faculty as well. And students can show us who they really are in a way an essay just can’t.”

The shift allowed the team to ask more targeted questions earlier in the process, while giving applicants a chance to demonstrate communication skills and professionalism.

Supporting diverse and non-traditional applicants

As a community college, Salt Lake Community College serves a wide range of learners—from career changers entering healthcare fields to younger students completing dual enrollment and applying directly into professional programs. The applicant pool is also ethnically diverse.

Students responded positively to the new format, particularly re-applicants who had experienced the essay-based process before.

“They told us it saved them time and stress,” Knupp shared. “They felt seen and heard, and they appreciated being able to answer questions in depth without worrying about word limits.”

Fast, collaborative implementation

Despite a tight timeline—less than one month before going live—the onboarding process was smooth and efficient.

“The customer service team was incredible,” said Knupp. “They were responsive, knowledgeable, and willing to jump on calls whenever I needed help. It was easier than any other platform I’ve used.”

The team successfully launched on schedule, even during the holiday period, reinforcing confidence in the partnership.

Looking ahead

After a successful initial rollout across two programs, the School of Health Sciences is expanding its use of Kira Talent to additional programs. The team continues to refine its holistic admissions process, leveraging Kira’s expertise to reduce workload while improving outcomes for students and faculty alike.

Reviewer Services has improved the reviewer experience by providing clear structure, manageable workloads, and consistent evaluation criteria. Reviewers appreciate being able to focus on meaningful applicant signals—without the fatigue and inefficiencies of essay-heavy review—and look forward to incorporating Reviewer Services into future cycles.

“If you’re considering holistic admissions, don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Knupp advised. “Kira knows this work, and they’ll sit down with you and help you build it. That kind of partnership is incredibly valuable.”

Program Snapshot

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