Office Hours With EAB: Recent Episodes
EAB
EAB’s Val Fox and Pam Royall host a discussion with higher education consultant Donald Resnik to unpack findings from the newest EAB-NAGAP survey of graduate enrollment staff. The three discuss why graduate enrollment teams are facing growing pressure to generate revenue while navigating staff burnout, AI adoption, and shifting student expectations. They explore where institutions are getting it right, where common assumptions are falling short, and what university leaders can do to build more sustainable enrollment strategies for the year ahead.
EAB’s Val Fox and Michael Koppenheffer discuss how AI tools like ChatGPT are increasingly impacting the way students and families discover and evaluate colleges. They explain why embracing generative engine optimization (GEO) has become just as important as traditional search engine optimization. They also offer broader practical advice for strengthening your institution's digital presence, creating AI-friendly content, and preparing your enrollment strategy for an AI-first future.
EAB's Julia Philyaw sits down with Ryan Schmiesing, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at the University of Minnesota, to explore how the university conducted a comprehensive strategic review designed to strengthen the institution's long-term sustainability. Ryan shares how his team assessed organizational strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities across a complex, multi-campus system while building support among campus leaders and other key stakeholders. The two also offer practical advice for higher education leaders on how to turn strategic planning into meaningful action.
EAB’s Alexa Silverman and Margaret Sullivan examine the root causes of the modern student readiness crisis, reframing it not as a generational gap but as a natural response to a rapidly changing learning environment. The pair explore how a student's mental health and academic performance can create a self-reinforcing cycle. They also share evidence-based practices being used by progressive school districts and suggest ways that higher ed and K-12 leaders can align to help bridge the readiness gap.
With Grad PLUS loans ending July 1 and new federal borrowing limits taking effect, graduate schools are facing one of the biggest disruptions in decades. EAB’s Brett Schraeder and Amy Luitjens examine which students, programs, and institutions are most exposed and explain why many colleges may be underestimating the urgency of the moment. The two also share practical advice for enrollment and financial aid leaders on pricing strategy, student communication, and preparing for a more price-sensitive market.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Beth Donaldson break down what it takes to simultaneously manage both graduate and undergraduate enrollment. They explore how to develop bespoke recruitment strategies, financial aid approaches, and marketing messages appropriate for each market. The two also offer practical advice on structuring teams, avoiding common pitfalls, and balancing two distinct enrollment strategies without stretching your resources too thin.
In this episode, Allison Peeler and Val Fox share insights from EAB’s survey of more than 120 marketing and enrollment leaders, highlighting the growing importance of investing in website experience as institutions prioritize enrollment growth. They discuss how AI is changing student search behavior, how teams are adapting with limited resources, and where institutions can take practical steps now to strengthen their digital strategy and boost enrollment.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Michael Koppenheffer examine new data on how students are using AI to learn about colleges and why it matters to admissions teams. Madeleine and Michael explore four possible scenarios for how things might play out in the years ahead. They also offer specific steps teams should take now to thrive no matter what the future holds.
In this episode of Office Hours with EAB, we talk to Alabama Possible Executive Director Chandra Scott and University of Montevallo Executive Director of Admissions Audrey Crawford to explore how they launched a statewide direct admissions initiative in partnership with EAB’s Match platform. The two discuss how the initiative came together, the challenges they overcame, and the powerful reactions of the students who participated. The conversation highlights the power of transformation to improve outcomes for students and institutions.
EAB senior leaders unpack four converging forces reshaping higher education. The conversation explores how political volatility, financial strain, demographic headwinds, and rapid advances in AI are challenging traditional university growth assumptions and business models. The speakers highlight winning strategies that can help institutions survive in a low-growth era and urge higher ed leaders to prepare for prolonged disruption.
EAB’s Beth Donaldson and Anne Dodson unpack new research revealing how AI, politics, and stealth shopping are shifting application behaviors for adult learners and disrupting traditional enrollment strategies. Anne and Beth also share tips for graduate enrollment teams on where to devote their budgets and energies to improve lead generation and ultimately boost enrollment.
As enrollments tighten and institutional pressure mounts, the work of student success professionals has never been more essential. EAB’s LaToya White sits down with student affairs leaders from Skidmore College and Lone Star College to examine the realities of staff burnout, capacity constraints, and misaligned institutional priorities. Together, they share practical insights for higher ed leaders looking to better support this workforce and build a stronger, more sustainable talent pipeline.
EAB’s Paul Gunther sits down with University of Central Arkansas President Houston Davis to reflect on the first year of the UCA Commitment, an ambitious effort to create a debt-free pathway to a college degree for eligible students across the state. President Davis shares what’s working, what’s been harder than expected, and the lessons his team has learned since launch. The conversation offers practical insights for university leaders looking to improve affordability while navigating other complex institutional challenges.
This week on Office Hours with EAB, EAB’s Val Fox and Todd Heilman unpack the adult learner mindset using insights from EAB’s latest adult learner survey. They discuss how increased cost sensitivity and evolving college search patterns are reshaping how adult learners make decisions. The conversation also offers practical insights for enrollment leaders looking to optimize their website and navigate federal policy changes.
EAB’s Beth Donaldson is joined by Sydney Mathes of Service to School to explore what authentic institutional commitment to military-connected students really looks like. They discuss common misconceptions, the importance of wraparound services, and why admissions should be viewed as the starting line—not the finish line—for military student success. The conversation closes with practical advice for university leaders looking to serve this important population more effectively.
EAB’s Ed Venit sits down with Brian Reed from the University of Montana to discuss how his team is supporting students who started college but left before completing a bachelor’s degree. Dr. Reed shares how Montana retroactively awards associate degrees where possible, giving former students a meaningful credential that can improve their earning potential and, in many cases, motivate them to return and finish their studies. Ed and Brian also offer practical guidance for campus leaders seeking to build more effective pathways to completion.
This week on Office Hours with EAB, we sit down with the National Education Opportunity Network (NEON) to discuss the innovative work they’re doing to expand college access for students in Title I high schools. NEON’s model brings college-credit courses and academic support directly into classrooms through a coordinated team of university faculty, teaching fellows, and high school educators. We explore how this approach strengthens the transition to college, boosts enrollment and persistence, and why a growing number of universities are joining the effort.
Wichita State University President Richard Muma joins EAB’s Sally Amoruso to share how the university’s deep partnerships with private industry define the student experience and fuel regional growth. From embedding students with local companies on day one to building an innovation campus that anchors nearly 50 businesses, Wichita State is redefining what it means to be a public research university. Dr. Muma discusses how this “applied learning” model not only prepares students for the workforce but also makes the city of Wichita a hub for talent, innovation, and opportunity.
EAB’s Amy Luitjens and Brett Schraeder discuss the end of Grad PLUS loans and the new cap on Federal Direct loans. The two break down what these shifts mean for student borrowing. They also share practical tips for graduate enrollment leaders and financial aid strategists on how to prepare for the changes ahead.
EAB’s Meghan Ondrish and JP Lafors review ways that AI-enabled search is reshaping the way digital teams create and structure content for .edu websites. Meghan and JP discuss how institutions should adapt search engine optimization to ensure their web content remains visible and prominent as search behaviors evolve. The two also explain the metrics that matter most when assessing how prospective applicants interact with your institution online.
EAB’s Beth Donaldson and Todd Heilman examine ways that graduate admissions leaders are adjusting to the steep drop in foreign enrollments. The two suggest strategies designed to strengthen domestic student recruitment, differentiate your institution from competitors, and contend with the giants of online graduate education.
EAB’s Christine Doci and Lars Waldo discuss ways that AI is helping universities manage and access fragmented IT systems. The two discuss the shortcomings of early data warehousing efforts and offer tips on how to use AI to organize and accelerate access to data without compromising privacy or governance constraints.
EAB financial aid experts, Brett Schraeder and Kathy Ruby explore what’s ahead as FAFSA 2026 updates roll out alongside sweeping changes from the Big Beautiful Bill. Their conversation covers the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, new limits on Parent PLUS, the introduction of Workforce Pell Grants, and a revamped repayment plan. They also share insights on how institutions can adapt their aid strategies and strengthen communication with students and families.
Student expectations keep rising, yet too many recruitment marketing campaigns still read like mass emails. In this episode, EAB’s Michael Koppenheffer and Ryan Gardner-Cook outline a four-stage roadmap for hyper-personalizing the recruitment journey. and identify the student data required to power each step. You’ll hear where to start, the kinds of student data needed, how to design meaningful tests, and the pitfalls to avoid so you can replace “spray-and-pray” blasts with personalized recruitment experiences that scale.
EAB’s Jennifer Lerner sits down with the authors of “The Chief Online Learning Officers’ Guidebook” to explore the evolving and increasingly strategic role of the Chief Online Learning Officer (COLO). The conversation delves into the key competencies that define effective digital leadership in today’s academic landscape. Our guests, Thomas Cavanagh and Jocelyn Widmer, also unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of online learning.
EAB’s Camilla Arias and Pam Royall sit down with global higher education consultant Donald Resnik to unpack key findings from the latest EAB-NAGAP survey of nearly 600 graduate enrollment professionals. Their conversation examines the widening gap between enrollment expectations and the staffing and budget resources available to meet them. The three also touch on areas that GEM professionals consider positive trends, including the growth of corporate partnerships.
EAB’s Beth Donaldson and Val Fox unpack findings from our latest benchmarking survey of graduate enrollment leaders. The findings highlight a significant disconnect between the graduate enrollment goals being set by university leaders and the market realities confronting those charged with recruiting adult learners. Val and Beth offer advice to admissions teams on how to invest limited marketing dollars to generate the maximum number of leads, applications, and matriculants.
EAB’s Ed Venit hosts a conversation with Knack CEO and co-founder Samyr Qureshi, who shares how institutions can build a peer tutoring strategy to fill gaps in academic support services. The two discuss how Knack’s approach helps institutions recruit, train, and compensate student tutors. They also explain how a student-led tutoring model can help scale up support infrastructure and reach more at-risk students with after-hours and virtual tutoring sessions.
EAB’s Ellyn Artis and Ed Venit examine the new Student Access and Earnings Classification system—set to launch this spring—that could turn traditional college rankings on their head. Unlike rankings that prioritize prestige and exclusivity, this new framework was designed by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education to put student access and career outcomes front and center. Ellyn and Ed explore how this shift could become a powerful catalyst for change, pushing institutions to redefine institutional excellence. They also offer practical guidance for higher ed leaders on how to make the necessary institutional improvements.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Michael Koppenheffer review new analysis of over 80 school characteristics to uncover what draws students to U.S. campuses today. Spoiler alert: the number of majors offered, availability of student organizations, campus safety, and favorable weather all outweigh affordability in influencing students’ college decisions. Learn how to leverage your true strengths and opportunities to stand out in a crowded market.
EAB’s Tara Zirkel hosts a conversation with Dr. Jessica Gerrity, a grant expert from McAllister & Quinn, a federal grant consulting and government relations firm in Washington, DC. The two discuss what changes at the Department of Education could mean for grant funding. They also share tips on how university leaders might adapt grant strategies in the months ahead.
EAB’s Carla Hickman and Kate Brown discuss the practical effects of the “Dear Colleague” letter and offer insights into how higher education institutions might respond to increasingly aggressive federal attacks on DEI. They urge listeners to prepare for all contingencies while avoiding the risks of proactive compliance. Carla and Kate also share resources available to help education leaders make informed decisions as they navigate the political landscape.
AI is reshaping how we search for and discover information online—so what does that mean for university websites? In this episode, EAB’s Emily Upton and Philip Walton break down the profound impact of AI on search and share practical strategies for staying ahead. They also offer the latest SEO tips to boost traffic and engage site visitors more effectively.
EAB’s Chrysanthi Violaris and Ally Stanton explore best practices for benchmarking in advancement, helping teams assess their fundraising productivity compared to peer institutions and past performance. They discuss how to interpret key metrics, avoid common pitfalls, and use data strategically to strengthen decision-making. The episode also offers practical tips on leveraging benchmarking insights to guide budget discussions with university leaders and demonstrate the impact of financial investments on fundraising success.
EAB’s Rebecca Kelley interviews Chris Goodbourn from GEMS Education, one of the largest private K-12 education providers in the world. Rebecca and Chris discuss the challenges US colleges face in attracting international students. They also share tips—including leveraging EAB’s Global Match platform—to connect with and enroll more overseas students more cost-effectively.
EAB’s Val Fox and Todd Heilman unpack data from a new survey that examines the mindset and preferences of today’s adult learners. Val and Todd highlight important changes in current and prospective students’ search behavior, expectations, and application preferences. They also offer enrollment leaders tips to engage and enroll prospective students more effectively.
Community college enrollment was up nearly six percent in 2024, outpacing every other higher education sector, and retention rates are higher now than before the pandemic. EAB’s Tara Zirkel hosts a discussion with Dr. Martha Parham from the American Association of Community Colleges about how to keep this momentum going in 2025. They also share thoughts on potential challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
EAB’s Rebecca Knisely and Jesse Holzbach share tips and tools (like Appily Advance) to help institutions attract and enroll adult learners and graduate students. Learn counterintuitive best practices for optimizing your website, prioritizing information about degree programs, and making lead nurturing a year-round strategy.
EAB’s Kena Wolf and Val Fox share insights from a secret shopping spree across the graduate schools at 50 universities to see how they stack up against one another and industry best practices in adult learner recruitment. They also share tips for institutional leaders on how to adopt a “testing and learning” culture that energizes enrollment growth without breaking the bank.
EAB’s Brian Schueler and Todd Heilman share the latest findings from EAB’s research into graduate and online enrollment trends. The two discuss how institutions are rebounding from the pandemic enrollment dip. They also advise university leaders on how to serve adult learners who increasingly want community and in-person interaction blended with online alternatives to give them maximum flexibility.
Colleges face extraordinary financial pressures with an average of one per week closing for good. Merger activity has slowed so the best option available to the most financially challenged institutions is to minimize the damage to students, faculty, and staff before closing down for good. For the rest, EAB’s Michael Fischer and Molly Bell share steps that university leaders should take to assess their current financial health and take proactive steps to build a stronger financial footing.
EAB’s Lindsay Schappell hosts a conversation with Dr. Andrea Lewis from Spelman College about helping new students get off to a strong start. Dr. Lewis shares details of the student onboarding and orientation process at Spelman, which starts with a college readiness program the summer before they enroll. Spelman’s student support efforts also include mandatory study groups for first-year students and the use of Navigate360 to unite students, faculty, and administrators in a shared effort to keep students on the right path.
Jonathan April, head of EAB’s College Greenlight team, hosts a conversation with Andrew Moe, Rajwantie Sahai, and Julia Perkins — all from an organization called Matriculate. The group discusses how Matriculate is narrowing the college access gap by recruiting and training college students to serve as “near-peer” advisors for high school students. They also share advice for higher education leaders on how to connect with and help young people who can flourish in college but need help navigating all of the administrative obstacles.
EAB’s Michael Koppenheffer and Pam Kiecker Royall discuss a new survey that shows most prospective college students want colleges to send them more personalized recruiting messages that incorporate what institutions know about their academic and non-academic interests. Students say this kind of hyper-personalized messaging saves them time and makes them feel the university values them as individuals. Pam and Michael discuss what’s possible and advisable in creating bespoke recruiting packets for thousands of students.
EAB’s Carla Hickman joins Seramount President Subha Barry to review the findings of a new paper that explores the rapid decline in student readiness. That decline is causing unprecedented numbers of young adults to either forgo college completely or enter college without the skills needed to be successful. Carla and Subha share advice for leaders working in higher education and corporate America on how to adapt to this new reality.
EAB’s Erin Preston hosts a discussion with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Vice President for Enrollment Management, Dr. Jonathan Wexler, about his study of university consolidation and closures. The two discuss the types of institutions at greatest risk and options available to those facing declining enrollments and revenues. They also offer insight into current trends in M&A activity versus outright closures.
EAB’s Sean Tiernan and JP LaFors discuss how new college search behaviors are forcing university websites to evolve. The two share tips for connecting and engaging with Gen Z “stealth shoppers” who are heavily influenced by your institution’s digital presence. Tips include quick fixes and more comprehensive strategies to improve your site’s navigation and information architecture.
EAB’s Linda Marchlewski is joined by Todd McLees, an internationally recognized strategist and thought leader on the future of work and learning. The two share why it’s so critical for colleges to teach students how to use AI to make them better architects, actors, or anything else they want to be. They also share tips for higher ed leaders on how to develop private-sector partnerships that will help them strengthen the AI literacy of their institution.
EAB’s Val Fox and Jennie Bailey take a fresh look at the relationship between universities and OPMs, companies that partner with schools to help them develop and market online programs. The two offer tips on how to exit a relationship with an OPM that is no longer generating sufficient value. They also outline steps schools should follow to help them transition to a more effective growth strategy.
EAB’s Jenny Jones hosts a discussion with the University of New England VP for Institutional Advancement (Alicia Fereday) and the Associate VP of Finance and Administration (Matthew Kogut). The three offer tips to help department heads communicate more effectively with the people in charge of approving budget requests. Tips include advice on planning, prioritizing, presenting data to support your requests, and ways to model expected outcomes that might result from less than full funding.
EAB’s Sally Amoruso sits down with Paul LeBlanc and George Siemens from Southern New Hampshire University to discuss how higher education institutions can reap the benefits of AI. Paul and George argue that university leaders have been slow to embrace AI despite the extraordinary opportunity the technology gives us to transform higher education for the better. This episode was excerpted from a recent Presidential Experience Lab event hosted by EAB and NVIDIA.
EAB’s Brett Schraeder hosts a conversation with Bill Hall, the founder and President of Applied Policy Research. The two discuss the impact of the FAFSA delays on this year’s enrollment figures and discuss the extent to which admissions teams may still have financial aid levers they can pull that could boost yield. They also talk about how APR will be working together with EAB’s Financial Aid Optimization team in the months ahead.
EAB’s Kate Brown and Lilia Shea examine the protests that spread across US campuses this spring and provide historical context on student activism. The two also explain why it’s so important for university leaders to prepare this summer for more student unrest this fall as the presidential election season heats up. Finally, they offer tips on how to plan for and manage the university's response to future campus flashpoints in a way that preserves the institution while making students feel supported and safe.
EAB’s Pam Royall and Michael Koppenheffer discuss what colleges can learn from EAB’s newest survey of nearly 13,000 recent high school graduates. The survey examined the factors that drive college search behaviors and influence student satisfaction with the college experience. Pam and Michael explore how those factors vary by race, ethnicity, and income, and how colleges might adjust their recruitment and retention strategies.
EAB’s Camila Aria hosts a discussion with Pam Royall, head of research for EAB’s enrollment division, and global higher education consultant, Donald Resnick to unpack findings from the latest EAB-NAGAP survey of graduate enrollment leaders. The three discuss the extent to which graduate enrollment professionals are happy in their jobs, meeting their goals, and embracing new technologies like AI. They also share advice on growing enrollments by understanding the most important factors motivating prospective applicants.
EAB’s Linda Marchlewski is joined by Dr. Siri Terjesen from Florida Atlantic University to discuss how to trim bureaucratic impediments that stifle innovation and lead to disengaged faculty and staff. The two talk about how to identify policies and organizational structures that do more harm than good. They also offer tips on making your organization more agile by sourcing more ideas from the lower rungs of your organizational ladder.
EAB’s Jennie Bailey hosts a discussion about performance-based admissions (PBA) with the Assistant Vice President, New Ventures & Business Operations at Northeastern University, Robert Towner. Rob recently helped Northeastern pilot the use of PBA to admit students to the school’s online MBA program. Jennie and Rob share their thoughts on the growing use of alternative admissions models at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. They also share tips for other university leaders who may be considering the use of PBA at their institution.
Jonah Nigh and Jenna Bastian from The New School in NYC join EAB’s Paul Gunther for a conversation about the state of university fundraising. The three discuss the critical role of technology, particularly CRM tools, as well as the importance of diversity and inclusion within the field of advancement. They also offer tips to other advancement teams on how to build a stronger, healthier work environment.
EAB’s Alexa Silverman hosts a conversation with Emily Isaacs and Danielle Insalaco-Egan about how to help students adapt to the rigors of college. Emily and Danielle discuss the “Strong Student” campaign they launched at Montclair State University to help students acquire the skills they need to complete assignments, actively participate in class, and manage their time. The three also offer tips to university leaders on how to ease the administrative burden on faculty so they can spend time helping students learn these softer skills.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Lorianna Mapps discuss the top concerns shared by admissions leaders as they begin to hear back from accepted applicants. From dealing with the revised FAFSA to navigating their involvement with various direct admissions programs, admissions teams face significant change and uncertainty. Madeleine and Lori discuss the challenges and offer advice on ways to adapt while supporting staff who are feeling the pressure.
EAB’s Paul Gunther hosts an extraordinary conversation with University of British Columbia President, Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon. In a remarkably candid interview, Dr. Bacon shares how his personal struggles and healing journey inform his views on leadership and the elements of a healthy organizational culture. Dr. Bacon also offers advice to other university leaders who are ready to do the difficult but necessary work of making mental wellness a central focus at their institution.
EAB’s Ed Venit hosts a conversation with Nathaan Demers from Mantra Health and Joe Cooper from Montana Technical University regarding ways to meet surging student demand for mental health services. The three acknowledge that colleges can’t hire enough licensed clinicians to meet demand, so the conversation focuses on ways to expand the use of telehealth to give students fast access to one-on-one counseling, self-care content, peer-to-peer support, and more. They also share advice for other university leaders who may be looking to expand telehealth services for their students.
EAB’s Linda Marchlewski hosts a conversation with Jason Bentley and Shelly VandePanne from Ferris State University to discuss the “ReFOCUS” program. The program enables Ferris students who are struggling academically, to engage in skill-building, receive academic, social, and financial support, and get back on track instead of falling through the cracks. The three also offer advice to other higher education leaders about how to get technology, staff, and volunteers from across your campus community to work together to help students succeed and build a stronger sense of belonging.
EAB’s Matt Logan interviews his colleague, Jason Browning, about how to improve data integrity, reliability, and accessibility. The two examine what’s driving the increasing complexity of campus data and IT systems and suggest ways that senior leaders can access the information they need without relying on data specialists. They also offer advice to other higher education leaders on how to use data more strategically to inform decision-making.
EAB’s Heather Darrow hosts a discussion with noted student success pioneer, Donna Linderman. Currently the Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Success at SUNY, Donna helped launch the ASAP (Accelerated Study in Associate Programs) and ACE (Accelerate, Complete, and Engage) programs during her time at CUNY. Both programs have been studied widely—and with CUNY’s active support—replicated successfully at dozens of two- and four-year institutions. Donna suggests that while the individual program elements are hardly innovative, what makes the programs so successful is the fidelity with which program stewards collect, analyze, and act on critical student success data. She also offers advice to other higher education leaders who are interested in establishing an ASAP or ACE program at their institution.
Jo Fretwell from the International Schools Partnership joins EAB’s Adam Wu to talk about how her team uses Global Match to help international students engage with US colleges that fit their interests and aptitudes. The two discuss how students use the platform, ways that students and colleges benefit, and how the matching process yields bona fide offers of acceptance without requiring students to submit an application. They also offer tips to other international schools that may be looking to provide more effective support to students looking to study at universities outside their country of origin.
EAB’s Alice Shindelar and Amanda Kelly discuss how virtual campus tours are created and why they’re so popular with students and university recruiters. They explain the uses for different interactive elements, share basic dos and don’ts, and talk about what differentiates a truly exceptional virtual tour from one that is average at best. They also offer tips to university leaders on how to collaborate with a virtual tour vendor to create tours that are just as useful for the university as they are for prospective students.
This episode is a condensed version of a recent webinar in which EAB’s John Workman presented findings from EAB’s annual “State of the Sector” research. John summarizes EAB’s research findings, which focused on six key themes that ranged from questions about declining public confidence in the value of higher education to the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence. He then opens the discussion to a panel of experts including journalist and higher education author Jeff Selingo, California State University Chancellor Dr. Mildred García, and American Council on Education President Dr. Ted Mitchell.
EAB’s Jenny Jones and Mark Shreve offer advice to help advancement professionals fine-tune fundraising budgets and strategies for 2024. The two share tips on how to prepare for discussions with your CFO, energize staff, and analyze the right data to stay on track. They also suggest ways to keep your fundraising messages focused on the good work being done by your institution and alumni amidst election-year attacks on the value of higher education.
Matt Nickodemus from Utah Tech University joins EAB’s Devin Jones to talk about how his school uses technology (including EAB’s Edify and Navigate360 software) to gain more efficient access to and insights from their institutional data. Their discussion is focused primarily on better ways to define, track, and report on metrics that matter in assessing student success efforts. They also offer tips to other university leaders who may be looking to make similar advances.
EAB’s Tara Zirkel and Grace Anderson discuss a recent EAB survey that highlighted ways that pandemic disruptions continue to influence the college search process, as well as student preferences and academic readiness. The two focus on six key themes that emerged from the survey that are important for community college leaders to understand. They also offer tips on how they might adjust their approach to better serve students who may be thinking about taking classes during or after high school.
EAB’s Tisleen Singh and Emily Niedermaier discuss the emergence of Appily, a new online resource that streamlines the college exploration process for teens and enables colleges to connect with more prospective applicants. The two examine findings from a new survey of more than 6,000 students that highlights a strong correlation between adolescent mental health and college-going behaviors. They also offer suggestions to admissions leaders on how to engage prospective applicants in a way that will make these students more confident in their ability to find their people and their purpose in college.
EAB’s Paul-Anne Robb and Brian Schueler unpack the data from a new survey of college-aged non-consumers. One of the key findings is that while price matters, perceptions of high cost may be at odds with the actual cost of attendance once you factor in grants, scholarships, and other institutional “discounts.” Paul-Anne and Brian share tips on more effective ways to communicate with prospective students on price and other potential objections.
EAB’s Kathy Ruby and Brett Schraeder recap the early days of the newly revised Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Kathy and Brett discuss the merits of the form itself, review the technical glitches that have plagued the so-called “soft launch,” and share what they’re hearing from front-line admissions and financial aid professionals about the new FAFSA. They also offer advice on things that college leaders can and should be doing now to serve students and their institutions while the Department of Education works out the kinks.
EAB’s Michael Fischer and Afia Tasneem discuss ways that institutions are moving beyond their initial resistance to artificial intelligence and are now incorporating AI technologies within academia. They highlight some of the most promising opportunities for leveraging AI to reshape curricula, improve student support, and gain efficiencies across hundreds of administrative functions. Finally, the two offer tips to higher ed leaders on how to focus their energies and governance processes to gain the greatest institutional benefit from AI.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Kathy Ruby pull back the curtain to reveal how admissions professionals sift through thousands of applications and decide who gets admitted. The two differentiate between the approach typically used at highly selective institutions versus those that admit most applicants. They also explore how financial aid optimization works and the ways that institutions apply FAO to help fill and shape their incoming classes.
EAB’s Tom Sugar hosts a conversation with Carthage College President John Swallow. The two look back over their three-year (and counting) collaboration on EAB’s Moon Shot for Equity to share lessons learned in eliminating equity gaps that are having an enormously positive impact on students from more privileged backgrounds as well. They also offer advice to other institutions looking to apply proven strategies to improve graduation rates and close equity gaps despite potential pushback from those who may impede those efforts.
EAB experts Dr. Tara Zirkel, Dr. Christina Hubbard, and Allison Peeler discuss the major shifts and trends impacting community colleges over the past year. The three share specific examples of institutions doing innovative work and overcoming post-pandemic challenges. They also offer advice on what community college leaders can do in 2024 to improve student retention and modernize the student experience.
EAB’s Julianne Turpin and Brendan Mannix explore the many changes that have made modern student success software such a central component of student retention efforts. The two discuss newer features (including CRM capabilities, AI enhancements, and more) that differentiate a truly effective system from those that fail to wrap students at risk in an effective, coordinated care network. They also share a glimpse into emerging tech features that prepare students for a successful launch after graduation.
EAB’s Paul Gunther hosts University of Central Arkansas President Houston Davis for a wide-ranging chat about how to reach students and families who feel that a college degree is out of reach. They examine UCA’s innovative new program that creates a debt-free pathway to a college degree for all incoming Arkansas freshmen who qualify based on financial need. They also offer tips for higher ed leaders on ways to help students overcome learning gaps and other preparation issues to help them succeed on your campus.
EAB’s Sian Blake and Val Fox offer growth strategies for institutions that have grown increasingly reliant on their graduate programs to compensate for shrinking undergraduate enrollment. Sian and Val review best practices from schools that are finding success in growing graduate programs and offer tips on the best lead-generation tools you should be using. The two also share advice on smarter ways to set goals that are ambitious but still achievable.
Art Coleman, one of the nation’s foremost legal experts on affirmative action in higher education, joins EAB’s Tom Cakuls to unpack the recent Supreme Court ruling. Art also examines the recent guidance offered by the US Departments of Education and Justice and stresses that it is still permissible to consider facets of students’ experience, background, interest, and other qualities expressly associated with their race. Finally, Art shares his thoughts on what university leaders might do within the limits of the law to minimize some of the adverse impacts of the Court’s opinion.
EAB’s Beth Donaldson is joined by her colleague, Todd Heilman, to review findings from a new EAB survey of nearly 4,000 adult learners. The two review what we learned about the motivations and preferences of adult learners, and about how they research programs and colleges they might attend. The survey findings offer a wealth of information for universities on how to find, engage, and enroll these students. Todd and Beth urge university leaders to make their school website more helpful to adult learners. They also advise leaders to ensure they offer adult students maximum flexibility in course modalities and to highlight scholarship and financial aid opportunities that will make returning to college more affordable.
EAB’s Kate Manning and Matt Sheldon welcome Chad Steinkamp from Wichita State University for a conversation about ways to make your institution a top transfer destination. The three offer tips on marketing your school to prospective transfer students and making their transition as seamless as possible. They also discuss the merits of the dual-advising approach and its impact on the transfer student community.
Lola Mauer from Ball State University and Daniel Burgner from George Washington University join EAB’s Mark Shreve to discuss why they’re glad that US News and World Report no longer includes the alumni giving metric in determining its college rankings. They also examine how their schools are adapting in response to the philanthropic behaviors of Gen Z and millennials. Lastly, they share top advice for other advancement professionals about adjustments they might consider to boost fundraising efforts today, and in the years ahead.
EAB’s Ed Venit is joined by University of Montana President Seth Bodnar who talks about his unorthodox journey to higher education leadership. A West Point graduate and former Green Beret, Seth shares strategies he has used to grow enrollment, improve student retention, and help UM achieve R1 classification as a research university. He and Ed also discuss why declining college-going rates place the US at a competitive disadvantage and threaten national security.
EAB’s Tara Zirkel is joined by Dr. Tiffany Ray-Patterson, VP of Student Services at Germanna Community College, to discuss her “One Front Door” approach to student onboarding that is breaking down institutional silos and connecting more students to the guidance they need. The two contrast the “One Front Door” method versus traditional bifurcated onboarding and share some of the tangible improvements the new approach is having on students. Dr. Ray also shares valuable insights for community college leaders nationwide who are looking to make similar changes to the way they onboard students.
EAB’s Vashae Dixon and Brett Schraeder discuss the ways in which financial aid professionals are adapting to the recent SCOTUS ruling barring consideration of race or ethnicity in university admissions. The two share best practices for institutions on how to navigate the intersection between financial aid optimization and diversity. They also talk about criticisms they are hearing from university leaders in response to guidance offered to date by the Department of Justice.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Autumn Baggett-Griggs explore findings from a recent poll that identifies the top concerns of enrollment leaders. The two discuss the growth of the non-consumption market, the challenges of recruiting Gen P students—those heavily impacted by the pandemic—as well as unexpected impacts from the recent Supreme Court ruling on ways that colleges engage with prospective students. They also share advice for admissions leaders on how to address these challenges.
EAB’s Paul Gunther is joined by Missouri State University Provost John Jasinski to talk through a highly successful transformation effort that resulted in more than $5 million in cost savings at MSU without cutting staff or programs. The two discuss how MSU leadership earned the cooperation and support from faculty and other university stakeholders. They also share advice for other institutional leaders on how to avoid common pitfalls and build flexibility into the strategic plan for any transformation project of this magnitude.
EAB’s Emily Mittermaier welcomes Long Beach City College Dean of Student Equity, Sonia De La Torre, and the Director of First-Year Experience at the school, Esteban Alfaro, to discuss the transformation of the school’s approach to student success. They examine the role of technology, goal setting, and how they collected data to measure the impact of their efforts on students and the institution. The three also share tips for other schools on how to gain buy-in from stakeholders, act on their feedback appropriately, and continue to make adjustments to ensure their processes and systems remain responsive to evolving student needs.
EAB’s Jonathan April is joined by Kimberly Williams from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan to talk about creative ways to attract out-of-state students from underserved populations. Their discussion is focused primarily on the school’s use of fly-in programs and all-access weekends in which prospective students and their parents are invited (all expenses paid) to travel to the campus to explore, meet staff and students, and participate in fun group activities. A current Michigan student joins the discussion toward the end to share his own journey as an aspiring first-generation college student and the impact that the fly-in weekend had on him.
EAB’s Ed Venit, Becky Carpenter, and Jessica King encourage colleges to treat belongingness as a key component of student mental health. The three share tips for identifying students who may feel like they’re not fitting in and offer outreach strategies to help them feel like they belong. They also discuss ways to differentiate between students who may be naturally introverted but feel just fine with their level of engagement, versus those who are feeling isolated and may be at risk of dropping out.
In this second of a three-part series focused on student mental health, EAB’s Ed Venit, Lindsay Schappell, and Matt Mustard share ways to encourage and support help-seeking behavior by students. The three touch on the role of technology, the importance of promoting self-service resources effectively, and how to follow up with students to see what additional help they might appreciate. They also offer tips to university leaders on how to engage students and support them along their journey to becoming more self-reliant.
EAB’s Lindsay Schappell, Matt Mustard, and Ed Venit explore the eight dimensions of wellness as they related to keeping students engaged, healthy, and on path academically. The three offer data that highlight the magnitude of the student mental health challenge and the extent of staffing challenges that are decimating college counseling centers. They also share tips for university leaders on better ways to identify students who may be struggling and support those students with a coordinated care network.
EAB’s Wenie Lado is joined by Dr. Brian Peterson from the University of Pennsylvania where he teaches, advises students, and serves as the Director of Penn’s Makuu Black Cultural Center. The two discuss Dr. Peterson’s work at Penn and what they’ve each learned through their respective research on ways race and ethnicity help shape everything about a student’s academic development. Recorded prior to the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action in admissions, the two also speculate on potential impacts from that ruling and offer advice to university leaders on how to better support students of color already on campus, as well as those just beginning their college search.
EAB’s Pam Royall and Camilla Arias unpack findings from a new survey conducted jointly by EAB and NAGAP to assess the current environment for those working in graduate enrollment. The two examine ways that schools are adjusting recruiting tactics and course modalities to meet evolving student preferences. They also offer tips on how to engage with senior leaders to ensure that graduate enrollment growth goals are supported by external market data and reflect internal staffing constraints.
EAB’s Paul Gunther hosts a conversation with Drexel University President John Fry and Saxbys founder and CEO Nick Bayer about the Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform–-a network of cafés entirely designed for and run by college students. The cafés provide undergraduates with real-world experience and tangible lessons in entrepreneurship that complement their classroom learning. Though still in its infancy, the project has employed 500 students and paid almost $2M in salaries to date, all while enabling students to acquire valuable job skills and course credits.
EAB’s Kathy Ruby and Madeleine Rhyneer explore changes to FAFSA forms themselves and to how the federal government calculates eligibility for student financial aid. They highlight winners and losers under the new federal formula and examine how the changes may impact different types of institutions. They also share advice for university leaders on how to communicate with students and parents who are struggling to understand what the coming changes may mean for them.
Generation Hope founder and CEO Nicole Lynn Lewis joins EAB’s Christina Hubbard to discuss the unique challenges and needs of students who are providing and caring for at least one child while they attempt to earn a degree. The two provide context around the relative size and educational outcomes of this vulnerable but highly motivated cohort. They also point to smart steps (some simple and some more complex) that forward-thinking universities are taking to value student-parents and the contribution they make to the wider campus community instead of treating them like liabilities.
EAB’s Tara Zirkel is joined by Center for Community College Student Engagement Executive Director Dr. Linda Garcia, as well as Associate Director of Publications, Dr. Courtney Adkins, to discuss new research on student engagement. The three unpack recent criticisms leveled at the community college sector and share new data that point to a number of bright spots. They also offer advice to community college leaders on ways to make measurable improvements in student retention and enrollment.
Drs. Raijanel Crockem and Naomi Lawrence-Lee from Texas Southern University join EAB’s Joanie Garcia to discuss their work to strengthen TSU’s approach to student success. The three share tips on collecting and using data to convince faculty and senior leaders to become enthusiastic partners in the effort. They also touch on the role of technology in identifying struggling students quickly and connecting those students with the right advisors and resources to get them back on track.
Reporter Jon Marcus joins EAB’s Tara Zirkel to explore the root causes behind steep enrollment declines and poor student outcomes at community colleges. Marcus points to deficiencies in the culture and processes at many two-year schools that make it harder than it has to be for students to earn their associate degree or transfer to a four-year institution. Zirkel and Marcus also discuss low-cost customer service best practices from the private sector that community colleges can implement to deliver a better educational experience for their students.
EAB’s Katie Herrmann is joined by Dr. Carl Dindo, the Director of Campus Health Services for Northern Arizona University, to discuss innovative approaches to meeting student mental health needs. Dindo and his team have focused on connecting students with the right information, counseling, and other mental health resources in places and ways that students find most helpful. Among the strategies they’ve implemented are getting counselors out of their office more often and “embedding” them in places where students congregate naturally. Dindo and Herrmann discuss the success of these efforts and offer advice to other campus leaders about meeting the mental health needs of a diverse student population.
EAB’s Michael Fischer and Maya Graham discuss findings from a new survey of higher education facilities leaders. The survey explores topics such as talent retention, carbon neutrality efforts, deferred maintenance, space utilization, and computerized maintenance management systems. Maya and Michael offer insights and advice for facilities managers on ways to prioritize and make meaningful progress on all these challenges.
EAB’s Carla Hickman joins David Kuehl to trace the evolution of online program managers and offer advice to today’s university leaders on how to partner with OPMs to boost online enrollment. Carla and David explore the current regulatory environment as well as different contract models that minimize upfront costs without sacrificing long-term revenue growth potential. The two also urge listeners to build accurate financial models to help you forecast when your OPM partnership should begin generating net profits.
EAB’s Michael Koppenheffer and Colin Koproske discuss ways that virtual reality is already transforming higher ed. Colin recently hosted a delegation of university presidents on a tour of the Dreamscape Learn offices in Los Angeles where they got to “kick the tires” on new virtual reality course content that Dreamscape developed in partnership with Arizona State University. Michael explains what separates an average virtual campus tour from a great one, and explains why they have become an indispensable recruiting tool for colleges.
EAB’s Beth Donaldson and Dave Kuehl discuss how to reach prospective graduate school students who are looking to switch careers and enroll in business programs that may be very different from their undergraduate field of study. They encourage institutions to develop a data-driven approach to identify this unique student population and craft messages that will resonate with that audience. Beth and Dave also offer tips on ways to eliminate administrative obstacles and on the importance of focusing your marketing messages around the expected return your students can expect to see on their education investment.
EAB’s Michelle DiMenna and Emily Upton discuss the growing “stealth shopping” phenomenon that is forcing colleges to change how they recruit and engage prospective students. Michelle and Emily identify the best ways to connect with stealth shoppers early in their college search by optimizing your website for recruitment, refining your social media strategy, and by enlisting faculty in the effort to make meaningful connections with potential applicants.
EAB’s Maggie Everett is joined by the University of New England Dean of Students and VP of Student Affairs, Jennifer DeBurro. The two discuss Jennifer's efforts to build a better student mental health counseling framework at UNE. That work began with an unflinching study of existing approaches, intensive data collection, and establishment of benchmarks to measure progress going forward. The initial impact report was then used as a mechanism to initiate critical conversations with faculty, staff, and parents that have led to important changes.
EAB’s Tara Zirkel and Mike Saxvick examine systemic weaknesses within the admissions practices at two-year institutions that allow far too many prospective students to fall through the cracks. They urge listeners to begin cataloging all the “side doors” through which prospective students inquire about your school and then capture those disparate data points into a unified CRM and student retention platform. Doing so helps short-staffed admissions team streamline subsequent communication efforts to convert more inquiries into applicants and more applicants into successful, engaged students.
EAB’s Angela Street is joined by DC-based PR professional Stacy Skelly from The Reis Group, for a conversation on managing PR during a crisis. The two discuss how to prepare a crisis communications plan before disaster strikes, how to communicate with key audiences, and pitfalls to avoid in the heat of the moment. They also discuss ways to overcome challenges common within the university setting, that can make it difficult to reach consensus when developing messages for public consumption.
EAB’s Jarrell Anderson and Alexa Silverman explore proactive steps that colleges can take to help Black and Latino men build a stronger sense of connection with their campus community. With Black and Latino men lagging nearly every other demographic in terms of college graduation rates, colleges are trying creative new approaches to drawing these students in and making them feel valued. Jarrell and Alexa share innovative programs that are working for partner institutions and identify four key moments in the student lifecycle when making a positive connection is especially critical.
Julie Scalf, part of the College Greenlight team at EAB, is joined by Jordan Wesley, Managing Director of Partnerships for a community-based organization called Let’s Get Ready. The two discuss ways to forge better partnerships with CBOs by understanding the role they play in helping students overcome obstacles when applying to colleges. Jordan also shares tips for admissions teams who want to communicate and work more effectively with CBOs to boost enrollment.
EAB’s Michael Fischer and Ron Yanosky discuss whether ChatGPT represents an existential threat to higher education. The two review the current state of play and examine ways that institutions are adapting to force students to complete assignments and demonstrate mastery of course material without the aid of artificial intelligence “shortcuts.” They also explore ways that institutions might evolve to incorporate the use of AI to complement but not replace a student’s own creative thought.
EAB experts Caylie Privitere and Matthew McAloon examine the benefits to students and institutions from the restoration of Pell Grant funding for incarcerated persons who want to pursue a college education. Caylie and Matthew explore the challenges and opportunities for institutions that are eager to tap into a new market of at least 700,000 potential students. The two also offer examples of schools that are doing a good job of managing logistics around delivering educational content as well as resources, from counseling to computers to things as basic as pencils and pens, to students behind bars.
EAB’s Beth Donaldson and Kevin Shriner share findings from a new survey of university Presidents, Provosts, and Vice Presidents of Enrollment Management to learn more about their strategy and goals for increasing graduate enrollments. Respondents made it clear this is a significant priority, but they may not have an effective strategy to accomplish their goals. Beth and Kevin examine the state of the market for graduate degrees and identify both best practices and common pitfalls leaders will need to manage in the months ahead.
EAB’s Nicole Council, Scott Baker, and Jonathan Barnhart discuss the explosive growth of TikTok as a student recruitment tool and why it may, nevertheless, disappear completely from college campuses. While TikTok has become the dominant social media platform used by Gen Z students, state-run colleges across America are banning access to the platform over a variety of concerns. Our guests share advice for admissions teams on how to adapt quickly as the situation evolves.
EAB’s Lauren Edmonds and Natalie Ken discuss the programs, course modalities, and other educational preferences of active-duty military and veterans. The two explore differences between those looking for credentials that will help them advance their military career versus those looking to build on their military experience to launch successful post-military careers. They also share advice for admissions teams on ways to signal to military students that your institution understands their challenges and will offer them maximum flexibility.
Syracuse University’s Kal Srinivas joins EAB’s Andrina Musser to talk about how the technology, people, and processes changed at Syracuse to boost student retention efforts. The two discuss institutional barriers that had to be addressed, ways to get faculty on board, and the use of predictive analytics in facilitating proactive student outreach. Dr. Srinivas also shares lessons learned and top tips for others looking to undertake a similar transformation at their institution.
EAB’s Jeff Schiffman is joined by enrollment consultant Errol Wint and Lindsey Hoyt from Reed College to talk about their respective career journeys in higher education. The three share advice on networking, on how to earn that coveted promotion, and on how to showcase your skills in ways that will resonate with prospective employers. They also urge listeners to listen to your gut and take that leap of faith when the right career opportunity presents itself.
EAB’s Abigail Zeiler is joined by Mary Lou Sole and Valerie Martinez from the University of Central Florida College of Nursing to talk about their work together on the Progresando initiative. Through the initiative, EAB is working with UCF to increase their capacity to recruit and educate students to meet soaring demand for skilled healthcare workers. The three discuss the biggest obstacles to expanding nursing programs in today’s tight labor market and share what they’ve learned about recruiting and engaging Hispanic adult learners in the greater Orlando area. They also offer advice to leaders at other institutions about ways to grow their own nursing programs and about how to get the most out of a public-private partnership.
EAB’s Jada Harris and Katie Herrmann discuss the key drivers leading to faculty burnout, all of which stem from a weak workplace culture, not employee shortcomings. The two offer strategies for training deans and department chairs to be more effective at managing the issue. They also share novel approaches being used by a couple of forward-thinking institutions to foster a more supportive working environment.
EAB’s Wenie Lado is joined by Tufts university professor and author, Natasha Warikoo. The two discuss Natasha’s new book, “Is Affirmative Action Fair? The Myth of Equity in College Admissions,” as well as the potential impacts of the upcoming Supreme Court decision on the legitimacy of race-conscious admissions. Natasha and Wenie examine the arguments for and against affirmative action and offer recommendations on what university leaders can and should be doing to diversify their enrollments regardless of how the Supreme Court rules.
EAB’s Michael Fischer and Jon Barnhart guide listeners through the process of evaluating, prioritizing, and gaining leadership buy in on making their institution into a carbon net zero enterprise. The two explain how to assess costs and ROI on energy efficiency investments and how to engage the broader campus community in these efforts. Finally, they offer tips on how to sustain and build on early momentum as institutional leaders and priorities shift over time.
EAB’s Kevin Shriner and Camilla Arias discuss the elements of an effective graduate enrollment plan. The discussion covers a range of issues including the importance of market research, setting appropriate goals, staffing, and securing buy in from campus stakeholders. Kevin and Camilla also explore strengths and weaknesses of different course modalities and offer tips on finding and engaging today’s adult learners.
EAB’s Tara Zirkel is joined by Pueblo Community College VP of Student Success, Dr. Heather Speed, to examine changes Pueblo made to boost enrollment heading into the fall semester. Leadership began by listening to staff to identify and resolve disconnects between departments, which had been limiting their ability to market and fill open courses. They also provided more hands-on training for faculty and students to spur wider adoption of the Navigate student success platform and improve communication during the registration process. In the end, the institution spurred enrollment growth by pairing the right technology with stronger collaboration and process improvements.
EAB’s Brooke Thayer joins Matt Mustard to talk about how schools are managing student mental health crises. The two urge university leaders to reexamine everything from student outreach to how counseling centers are staffed to whether campus security is using the right de-escalation techniques. Matt and Brooke also discuss the importance of developing differentiated response models to keep students safe and supported while leading with empathy.
Kent State University’s Ted McKown joins EAB’s Allison Akalonu and Matt Sheldon to explore better ways to engage, recruit, and support incoming transfer students. The three urge schools to invest in transfer advisors, website improvements, and auxiliary services designed to help transfer students build engagement with staff and other students even before they arrive on your campus. Finally, they identify ways to collaborate more effectively with influencers at other institutions in your area who can have an outsized impact on steering right-fit students to your school.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Ed Venit discuss the impact of the staffing crisis on student advising. The two urge student success leaders to use the current crisis as an impetus to adopt a more technology-forward approach to strengthen early warning systems and use time devoted to one-on-one student advising sessions to greater effect. Ed and Madeleine also offer a preview of CONNECTED22, the premier student success conference happening in Orlando this November.
University of Rochester Dean of Admissions, Robert Alexander, joins EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer to discuss the impact of staffing challenges on admissions teams. Madeleine and Rob point out the dangers to institutions that ignore staff demands for greater flexibility. They also share ways to balance upward pressure on compensation with the need to focus on the core functions your teams have the capacity to execute.
EAB recently acquired Concourse Global and announced an expansion of the Greenlight Match program the two companies have been collaborating on for the past year. Greenlight Match flips the script on the traditional college application process by enabling underserved students to connect with and receive offers of admission and financial aid from participating local colleges—without completing a formal application. This process typically provides these students multiple offers early in the college application process, which boosts their confidence and helps them plan their finances. Concourse founder Joe Morrison joins EAB’s Jonathan April to discuss this new phase of their work.
In an interview that originally aired in April 2022, Inside Higher Ed Editor Scott Jaschik highlights the news stories he believes will have an outsized impact on higher education in the months and years to come. Jaschik is joined on the podcast by Carla Hickman, whose take on these issues is informed by her role as head of EAB’s Research division. The two explore issues ranging from the massive challenges facing community colleges to the game-changing legal fight over affirmative action in admissions.
EAB’s Tara Zirkel, Kayla Laughton, and Joshua Ddamulira share findings from their listening tour of more than 20 community college presidents to uncover the best ways to help Black and Latino men persist and succeed at community colleges. The three review statistics that underscore the challenge and isolate five top strategies to help you make significant improvement. They also discuss ways to overcome funding challenges by partnering with community-based organizations that can help create onramps to professional careers for these students.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Michael Koppenheffer share findings from EAB’s newest survey of parents and guardians of prospective college applicants. The survey helps pinpoint parent preferences around the types and timing of communication they most appreciate from colleges, as well as the top concerns they have about the college search process. Michael and Madeleine share tips for institutions looking to make parent engagement a more central focus of their recruiting efforts. They also urge schools to lead with empathy and do everything in their power to educate parents about the challenges and opportunities that go along with sending one of their own off to college.
EAB’s Earl Sires and Mike Laracy examine the “digital sprawl” problem that plagues many college campuses and discuss tips and tools for cutting through all that complexity. Rather than relying on overworked programmers and statisticians, the two urge campus leaders to use an education data platform to tame the sprawl and facilitate direct access to the data by those tasked with making strategic decisions. They also demystify terms like predictive modeling and identify use cases that illustrate how critical advanced data analytics can be to establishing a more effective, data-informed culture at your school.
Joel Spiess explains how the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee uses retention grants to close equity gaps and offers tips on how other institutions can establish similar programs.
EAB’s Lilia Shea and Lauren Edmonds examine factors limiting the growth of undergraduate and graduate-level nursing programs despite strong demand. The two urge leaders to build partnerships with regional healthcare providers as a way to supplement faculty ranks and help secure clinical placements for students. They also discuss the value of recruiting future instructors from among the student body and suggest creative ways to recruit, reward, and retain preceptors.
Allison Akalonu joins Matt Sheldon to discuss ways to fix the broken transfer system. The two point to data showing the precipitous decline in transfer enrollments and explore ways to identify and fix institutional barriers that frustrate students and cause them to look elsewhere for a more receptive landing spot. They also offer guidance on better ways to engage students at every stage of the transfer funnel by using technology and human touch points more effectively.
Dr. Brian Reed and Zach Rossmiller from the University of Montana join EAB’s Pavani Reddy to discuss a new initiative their institution has launched to help Native American students succeed. The three discuss initial learnings from the project, dubbed “Data for Student Equity,” which is funded in part by a grant from the Gates Foundation. The project enables university leaders to access and analyze data creatively to identify institutional and financial obstacles preventing Native American students from earning their degrees. While there is still much work to be done, new approaches are being developed at the university that could be replicated by other institutions to positively impact enrollment, retention, and career success for all students.
EAB’s Brooke Thayer is joined by Dr. Janet Greenwood who leads an executive search firm that works primarily with higher education institutions. The two discuss the talent management “whiplash” that higher education leaders experienced as they moved from a cost-containment mindset at the outset of the pandemic to today’s full-on battle to retain and attract employees. Dr. Greenwood touches on everything from leadership transition planning to the unique benefits that higher education institutions can leverage as they compete for talent against private sector enterprises.
The California-based organization, A2MEND, was recently awarded $1.1M to expand their student mentoring program across the state’s 116 community colleges. Dr. Edward Bush and Dr. Abdilmalik Buul, both representing A2MEND, talk to EAB’s Meacie Fairfax about how institutions can create the conditions where Black students, and Black male students in particular, are more likely to succeed both in and outside of the classroom.
EAB’s Sally Amoruso hosts a wide-ranging discussion with influential Arizona State University President, Michael Crow. The two discuss the role of technology in helping institutions serve more students and the value of challenging the kind of antiquated thinking that pervades higher education. Dr. Crow also reminds university leaders that their institution should not be judged by how many students they exclude but by how many they accept and help to succeed.
Keith Ransdell, VP of Enrollment Management and Marketing at Ashland University and a NAGAP Board member, joins EAB’s Pam Royall to discuss the findings of a new joint survey of graduate admissions leaders. The two highlight things that institutions should be doing differently to recruit students and staff, including giving staff greater flexibility and diversifying their graduate program portfolio to better align with workforce trends.
Northern Arizona University President José Luis Cruz Rivera talks to EAB’s Tom Sugar about creative approaches to narrowing the college access and affordability gap. Under Dr. Cruz Rivera’s leadership, NAU is redoubling its efforts to enroll students from historically underserved populations across the state. NAU also announced plans recently to offer a tuition-free college education for every Arizona resident with a household income of $65,000 or less.
Pam Royall joins Madeleine Rhyneer to examine findings from EAB’s most recent survey of first-year college students. The two discuss what the survey tells us about overall student satisfaction with the college experience and about the impacts of test-optional policies on application activity. They also highlight survey findings that show parents have greater influence over their children’s college search process than they did just a few years ago.
EAB’s Meacie Fairfax hosts a conversation with Melissa Burwell, Executive Director for Student Success at Carthage College, about the potential risks of using student alerts as a one-size-fits-all blunt instrument. The two discuss Carthage’s rollout of their early alert system to faculty, advisors, care units, and staff, and the adjustments they made based on analysis of data that showed significant variability in how those alerts were raised and resolved across different student populations. Meacie and Melissa also share recommendations on ways to customize your early alert system to close equity gaps and help more students graduate.
Graduate enrollments across 2020 and 2021 grew at the fastest rates in nearly a decade. However, roughly one-third of institutions experienced declines. EAB’s Will Lamb and Brian Schueler dig into the data to highlight the degree offerings, formats, and pricing models driving much of that growth. Will and Brian touch on the explosive enrollment growth among Black and minority graduate students, which helped to offset declining enrollment among foreign students during the pandemic. The two also offer tips for institutional leaders on how to launch new degree programs and get those offerings out to more students in more flexible formats.
EAB’s Hersh Steinberg welcomes two of the top recruiters in the nation who specialize in placing higher education leaders. Jay Lemons from Academic Search, Inc. and Kenneth Kring from Korn Ferry share their thoughts on ways to improve succession planning and on the pros and cons of bringing in a change agent from the outside. They also offer tips on ways to honor the shared governance model without sacrificing candidate confidentiality or overcomplicating the executive search process.
EAB’s Sally Amoruso hosts a conversation with James Kvaal, President Biden’s Under Secretary of Education. The two discuss the need for greater federal support of HBCUs, proposals for convincing more high school graduates to pursue higher education, and the impact of free community college programs. Mr. Kvaal also touches on a range of administration proposals for reducing student debt and making college more affordable to help more students from all backgrounds earn a college degree.
Each spring, EAB shares with partner institutions the company’s latest research on the most urgent threats and opportunities across the higher education marketplace. EAB’s Larisa Hussak and Brian Schueler share key takeaways from that research. Topics include strategies for attracting and retaining talent amidst the great resignation, tips on how to compete in the growing (but hyper-competitive) graduate degree market, and how to handle one of higher ed’s greatest competitive threats: the growing legions of high school graduates who decide they don’t want or need to attend college.
David Croom from Ascend at the Aspen Institute joins EAB’s Meacie Fairfax to dispel myths around today’s student-parents who comprise more than 20% of total undergraduate enrollment. Student-parents tend to have higher GPAs than their childless peers despite having 50% less time on average, to devote to their academics. David shares compelling success stories and recommendations on creative ways for institutions to partner with local businesses and community leaders to offer more support and wraparound services to help student-parents succeed.
Inside Higher Ed Editor Scott Jaschik highlights the news stories he believes will have an outsized impact on higher education in the months and years to come. Jaschik is joined on the podcast by Carla Hickman, whose take on these issues is informed by her role as head of EAB’s Research division. The two explore issues ranging from the massive challenges facing community colleges to the game-changing legal fight over affirmative action in admissions.
EAB’s Sally Amoruso hosts a conversation with outgoing UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski that traces his beginnings as an academic prodigy and participant in the 1963 “Children’s March” organized by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to his transformational leadership at UMBC. The two discuss UMBC’s well-earned reputation for producing more African-American undergraduates who go on to earn PhDs in science and engineering than almost any other institution. Finally, they discuss the mindset it takes to be an academically successful student of color, as well as Dr. Hrabowski’s future plans.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and the University of Rochester's Dr. Robert Alexander explore the challenges of managing a successful team and department during a tight labor market. The two discuss the importance of building trust and promoting effective collaboration. Robert and Madeleine also reveal strategies for assessing your team’s inclination (or resistance) to adapting and embracing change to overcome performance gaps.
EAB’s David Bevevino and Ed Venit share results of a new poll that shows surging interest among student success leaders in applying analytics to boost retention and graduation rates. David and Ed suggest that institutions may finally be moving out of pandemic crisis mode and turning their attention to improving how they identify and communicate with students who appear to be falling off track. The two offer advice on more effective ways to track performance around student alerts, outreach, and interventions.
Seramount President Subha Berry hosts a discussion on DEI and the evolving role of the Chief Diversity Officer. Subha’s guest on the program, Microsoft Chief Diversity Officer Lindsay-Rae McIntyre, shares her perspective on the renewed urgency on DEI efforts in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the ensuing racial justice protests. Both Subha and Lindsay-Rae also offer advice to DEI leaders at all kinds of institutions on ways to set goals and prioritize their efforts.
EAB’s Brooke Thayer and Michael Fischer examine best practices emerging from the pandemic in terms of space utilization and integration of technologies that give students and campus employees the flexibility they want. Brook and Michael touch on innovations in classroom design, clever integration of new wellness spaces on campus, and the cultural change that has to happen to make campus office spaces function better. They also identify impediments, including cost as well as labor and materials shortages, that institutional leaders will need to work around in order to achieve the multi-modal campus they need to attract students and retain staff.
EAB’s Sally Amoruso is joined by Lisa Gevelber who leads Grow with Google, a $1-billion enterprise that has helped more than 70,000 students strengthen their earning potential by completing Google Career Certificates. Lisa was a featured speaker at EAB’s recent Presidential Experience Lab, an event that attracted more than 100 college and university presidents who gathered to discuss the rise of alternative credentials. Sally and Lisa examine opportunities available to higher education leaders who are interested in bundling skills training courses with current degree programs to better meet student and employer demand.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Dr. Angel Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, discuss recommended changes to admissions policies designed to improve college access. Dr. Pérez talks about his own educational journey that began in Puerto Rico and continued in one of the roughest neighborhoods in the South Bronx before a chance encounter with a high school guidance counselor helped set him on his present course. The two also discuss Dr. Pérez’s recent Forbes op-ed as well as concrete next steps from the new NACAC/NASFAA report (Toward a More Equitable Future for Postsecondary Access) that higher ed leaders should consider.
EAB experts Alexa Silverman and Meacie Fairfax examine why traditional student-advising approaches and early alert systems may be perceived negatively by students of color. Meacie and Alexa offer suggestions on ways to build trust and engagement with these students early on, so they are more receptive to offers of support. The two also discuss the importance of enlisting multicultural student groups as advocates in helping to normalize conversations with university officials about academic, financial, or emotional hurdles that students may need help to overcome.
EAB experts Meredith McNeill and Ben Court examine recent data on K-12 learning disruptions and their impact on college readiness. The two share tips on how to prepare to serve students who may present a broader range of needs and abilities than those from years past. Meredith and Ben also discuss the data on adolescent mental health and the kinds of support today’s students will need when they arrive on campus.
EAB experts Kate Cudé and Dr. Jenna Dell discuss the recent rise and long history of student activism. They explore the power of social media to amplify student demands and offer reasons why this technology presents both challenges and opportunities for university leaders. Kate and Jenna also share strategies for advancement teams on how to approach difficult conversations with major donors when their convictions do not align with institutional values.
EAB Experts Brett Schraeder and Sarah Le Duc provide insight into how financial aid optimization (FAO) works and how universities leverage FAO strategy to balance institutional goals. The two separate fact from fiction and explain how schools use FAO to optimize revenue from wealthier families so they can afford to be more generous in awarding financial aid to students from historically underserved populations. Finally, Brett and Sarah share advice for the 99% of institutions that depend on FAO to diversify their incoming class, improve student retention, and generate enough revenue to fulfill their mission.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Lex Ruby-Howe share strategies to help admissions teams boost yield by identifying students within their admit pool who are highly likely or highly unlikely to enroll, versus those who are genuinely undecided. By leveraging simple surveys and more advanced analytics, schools can focus their resources and tailor their outreach efforts to greater effect. Madeleine and Lex also touch on the importance of being nimble in adjusting financial aid strategy as another critical lever for converting the undecided. Finally, the two discuss the value of virtual tours and other digital platforms your institution should be using to help applicants make authentic connections with other admits, current students, and faculty before they ever set foot on campus.
EAB’s Meacie Fairfax and Ed Venit explore pandemic ripple effects that will continue to impact student persistence at colleges and universities for the foreseeable future. They cite studies showing that student feelings of isolation, disengagement, depression, and other mental health challenges—a growing concern for years—have all worsened during the pandemic. They also point to learning challenges that have plagued K-12 students during the pandemic, as well as the recent plunge in community college enrollments as additional headwinds that four-year institutions will be dealing with for years to come. On the positive side, Meacie and Ed highlight the opportunity facing higher ed leaders who have little choice but to modernize their approach to student retention and success.
IUPUI Chief Enrollment Officer Dr. Boyd Bradshaw joins EAB’s Owen Crean to talk about the importance of strategic enrollment management and the challenges of getting everyone on the same page within a distributed leadership structure. Dr. Bradshaw outlines the structure of a modern enrollment management program and talks about how to break down silos that can hamper recruiting efforts. Finally, he and Owen share tips for engaging campus stakeholders to fix data inconsistencies, set realistic goals, and apply a consistent framework that guides all recruiting efforts.
Rowan University has emerged as one of the fastest-growing research universities in the country with two medical schools and nearly double the total enrollment they had in 2012 when Dr. Ali Houshmand became its president. Dr. Houshmand talks with EAB’s Hersh Steinberg about the power of partnering with businesses and other institutions in ways that keep them invested in the success of your school. The two also discuss Rowan University's support of 3+1 programs and how the launch of their own hot sauce enterprise offers hands-on business experience and helps reduce college costs for Rowan students.
EAB’s Brittany Motley and Meacie Fairfax share what they’ve learned from working with the ten schools (so far) that have signed on to EAB's Moon Shot for Equity and dedicated themselves to eliminating equity gaps by the end of this decade. We also hear from front-line staff at those institutions about how they’re integrating Moon Shot initiatives into their workflow, about challenges and unexpected blessings they have encountered along the way, and about how they are engaging other campus leaders to join the effort.
President Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon of Carleton University and Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Carol Henderson of Emory University discuss how universities across Canada and the United States are reckoning with their historical ties to slavery, indigenous dispossession, and racial oppression. This discussion was excerpted from a November 2021 EAB webinar moderated by EAB’s Kurubel Belay. The webinar was the first in a series of engagements EAB is leading as part of a new research effort exploring authentic and productive ways for institutions to address and heal from their legacies of racism.
Dr. Roderick Heath explains how his own experience and his study of noncognitive behaviors inform his work as Director of the African American Male Initiative at North Carolina Central University. In a conversation with EAB’s Michael Schwengel, Dr. Heath discusses how he combines data, technology, and a range of motivational tactics to engage these students and foster a sense of belonging he says is crucial to their academic and personal development.
EAB’s Sally Amoruso talks with Colorado State University President Joyce McConnell about ways to drive greater diversity in higher education leadership. McConnell traces her own journey to becoming the first woman President at CSU and shares her thoughts on effective ways of recruiting and cultivating diverse talent. Amoruso and McConnell also touch on the importance of building a culture of trust that empowers staff at all levels and from all backgrounds to speak openly, to listen, and to collaborate in ways that encourage the best ideas to rise based on merit.
The typical university campus has tens or even hundreds of thousands of square feet of office space begging for a makeover. With so many campus employees working remotely, schools have a golden opportunity to transform that space with less disruption. EAB’s Elizabeth Denny and Michael Fischer offer advice to help university leaders think through their options whether they’re looking to pilot a few modest changes or completely reimagine the way that people study, live, work, and interact on their campuses.
Tom Sugar is joined by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone, for a look back on lessons learned during year one of EAB’s “Moon Shot for Equity.” Tom and Dr. Mone discuss the importance of going beyond articulation agreements to make it easier for students—and the credits they have earned—to transfer between schools. They also point to two important reasons so many colleges fail to make progress on improving graduation rates: Working in isolation rather than partnering with other schools in their region, and failing to address institutional shortcomings that make the educational journey more complicated than it has to be.
2021 saw an infusion of much-needed federal stimulus dollars as well as record-setting endowment growth. Unfortunately, a fall enrollment dip and other cost pressures have kept most university leaders scrambling to achieve financial sustainability. EAB’s Jeff Martin and Scott Winslow review fall 2021 enrollment figures, possible opportunities for cost-cutting, as well as potential sources of revenue growth. They also explore the gap between hype and reality in terms of the impact of endowment growth on operating budgets.
Many institutions adopted test-optional admissions policies out of necessity in the early days of the pandemic. EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer, an expert with more than 25 years of experience leading university admissions teams, says those hastily constructed policies are well-intentioned, but many are poorly defined. She and fellow EAB enrollment guru Michael Koppenheffer discuss different sides of the debate over the value of standardized test scores as well as the challenge of comparing apples to apples when evaluating the academic performance of students across different counties or states. They also share their top recommendations for enrollment leaders on how to codify and articulate their test-optional policies, so they are more easily understood by prospective students and their families.
University CIOs are on the front lines of a battle to liberate and leverage data trapped in siloed IT systems that have grown like weeds across college campuses over the past 30 years. Susquehanna University CIO Jennifer Servedio talks to EAB’s Danielle Yardy about how to bring order to this chaos through a more enlightened technology strategy, and how to gain buy-in among key campus stakeholders to approve the associated costs. Ms. Servedio also shares her top pieces of advice on how to prioritize and wring the greatest value out of every IT investment.
EAB’s Amy Luitjens and Will Lamb dig into our latest survey of adult learners to find out how their plans were impacted by the pandemic and to understand their current preferences and motivations. The survey findings suggest that schools will need to hone their recruitment and retention strategies to make any headway in a graduate education market that appears to be losing steam. Amy and Will offer a number of recommendations including beefing up online support services and clearly articulating the “return on education” behind your graduate programs to counteract increased price sensitivity.
Southern New Hampshire University President Dr. Paul LeBlanc has written a new book, “Students First,” centered on the idea that time is the ultimate scarcity, the lack of which prevents far too many students from achieving their educational goals. Going further, Dr. LeBlanc explains why the credit hour concept may have outlived its usefulness and why competency-based educational curricula deserve a fresh look. Dr. LeBlanc also shares with EAB’s Sally Amoruso, reasons why the growth of short-form, alternative credentials and hybrid instructional models are good for higher education.
EAB’s Hersh Steinberg sits down for a wide-ranging conversation with Saint Leo President Dr. Jeffrey Senese. The two discuss Saint Leo’s pending acquisition of Marymount California University, currently awaiting regulatory approval, and explore why Dr. Senese’s business acumen and growth mindset perfectly fit Saint Leo’s mission. They also review key moments in Dr. Senese’s journey to higher ed leadership, particularly the influence of a former boss and mentor whose training as a business PhD informed the way she led her institution as its president.
EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Michael Koppenheffer discuss findings from a new EAB research effort and a related paper titled, “Recruiting in an Era of Channel Overload: How to Optimize Your Audience Strategy to Achieve Enrollment Success.” They highlight valuable but lesser-known sources of data on prospective students, as well as ways that virtual tours and other online recruiting tools are creating new opportunities to engage and build affinity with those students. Michael and Madeleine also explain why helping students and their families become more sophisticated and more thoughtful about their college search will ultimately help you enroll more right-fit students that persist and thrive at your institution.
EAB’s Amy Luitjens is joined by Brian Gallini, Dean of the Willamette University College of Law, for a discussion on the state of U.S. law schools and attorney licensing. The two touch on everything from the lack of transparency in law school admissions, to pandemic impacts on legal education, to the perennial question of how to standardize and update licensure across the U.S. legal profession.
EAB’s Jackson Nell is joined by LSU Vice President of Online & Continuing Education, Sasha Thackaberry, to discuss the rapid growth of alternative online providers. These for-profit entities, including Coursera, Guild, Udacity, even Google, offer everything from certificates to micro-credentials to full degrees, either in partnership with or independently from colleges and universities. Thackaberry explains why collaboration between these online upstarts and traditional higher education institutions is blurring the lines and creating both risk and opportunity.
Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (or HEERF) appropriated through three separate laws by the federal government over the past year and a half represent the largest combined federal investment in higher education in our nation’s history. Schools have been slow to distribute more recent allocations (HEERF II and III) for a number of reasons. EAB’s Danielle Yardy and Jackson Nell explore some of the obstacles and share advice for university leaders on ways to prioritize spending to build a more student-centric, digital, and fiscally-resilient campus.
EAB’s Larisa Hussak and Brian Schueler urge university leaders to parse the data to better understand local market trends impacting your recruiting efforts. The chances are you are losing far more prospective students to other institutions in your state and region than you are to demographic shifts. Larissa and Brian suggest re-focusing your recruiting strategy around highlighting the quality of the student experience and the value of your institution to in-state applicants. Remember, it is nearly 10 times more cost-effective to target students within 25 miles of your school than it is to recruit out-of-state students.
EAB’s Anna Masica is joined by Wellesley College Dean of Admission Jessica Ricker to discuss a growing challenge for enrollment professionals everywhere, how to boost yield in a digital-first world. The two explore ways to blend the best of traditional, face-to-face recruiting events with newer alternatives like virtual tours and digital welcome centers that enable many more applicants to have authentic and meaningful exchanges with university leaders and current students. Finally, they urge admissions teams to shed old-school recruiting tactics that have outlived their usefulness.
EAB’s Kaitlyn Maloney and Jackson Nell examine the higher education market to determine whether there is an oversupply of providers relative to the number of consumers who want a college degree. Their team has examined decades’ worth of M&A deals to highlight trends in consolidation activity, motivations among buyers and those being acquired, and types of partnerships that offer advantages over outright mergers. They also offer tips for institutions looking for partners to stave off closure or merely to fill gaps in their program portfolios.
EAB’s Kathy Ruby and Sarah Le Duc review the basics of financial aid optimization and explain why FAO is more important than ever to helping colleges meet enrollment targets. The two examine the real-world impacts schools should prepare for when the FAFSA Simplification Act is enacted in 2024. They also offer tips to help financial aid offices work with campus leaders to begin preparing now and to communicate with families of prospective applicants who are already asking questions about what the new legislation means for them.
EAB experts Amy Luitjens and Ed Venit examine how colleges and universities are working to better support and guide graduate students toward achieving their educational goals. They point out that today’s graduate students are more diverse, taking on more debt, and have higher expectations for how they want institutions to serve them. Given current market trends, Amy and Ed suggest it is in a university’s financial self-interest to change and do more to help these students succeed.
EAB’s Michael Fischer and Michael Varda examine key takeaways from a survey of HR Officers from colleges and universities across the US, Canada, and the UK. Among the biggest concerns expressed by survey respondents was how to develop remote work policies that are equitable, and how to guide managers in monitoring the performance of remote workers. They note that nearly half of HR leaders appear willing to take on additional tax and regulatory complications in order to recruit from a broader talent pool of potential candidates who live in other states or even countries.
Summer melt is a challenge that every admissions team understands and works hard to address, even during the best of times. With in-person orientation and other large gatherings still limited at many colleges, this summer will prove exceptionally challenging. Enrollment leaders from Robert Morris University and the University of Louisville join EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer to talk about what they learned during last summer’s campus closures. They also share strategies for engaging students and families this summer, and for mixing on-campus events with virtual meet-ups to boost yield.
EAB’s Ann Lippens and Kaitlyn Maloney discuss the steps that colleges and universities are taking now to welcome students and faculty back to campus this fall. While higher ed leaders are still working out the details of a safe return, including vaccination requirements, they are also thinking about how to use campus facilities in different ways to accommodate safety protocols as well as other considerations. Ann and Kaitlyn say this isn’t just an exercise in space planning though. Schools are looking to apply lessons learned during the pandemic and expand the use of technology to improve a range of student services.
Thanks to the pandemic, most universities are preparing to welcome two years’ worth of campus newcomers this fall. Add to that the stressors resulting from months of political and social unrest as well as elevated health and financial concerns that threaten to leave schools facing a perfect storm of mental health challenges when campuses reopen. EAB’s Hailey Badger and Kate Cudé share findings from their research into how colleges and universities are preparing. They point to the surprising success of virtual counseling as at least one silver lining that emerged from the pandemic. They also urge higher ed leaders to shift more of their focus to preventative care and promoting mental health wellness as a way to get ahead of the problem.
Wisr co-founder and CEO Kate Volzer is joined by Dr. Angela Clark-Taylor, Director of the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women at Case Western Reserve University. The two talk about their chance meeting in 2019 and the work they’ve done together since to support and empower women working in higher ed. Dr. Clark-Taylor shares actionable advice derived from her research on gender equity. Both offer insights they’ve collected through their work leading professional development conferences and webinars designed to help women push through career barriers and pull other women up along the way.
EAB’s Chief Partner Officer, Sally Amoruso, is joined by Brian Elliot, the head of the Future Forum, a consortium launched by Slack to help companies reimagine work in the new digital-first world. The two discuss key takeaways from a recent virtual gathering of more than 125 university leaders EAB hosted to explore the future of work on college campuses. They share tips on ways to offer campus workers greater flexibility, a change that will be critical to schools looking to attract and retain talent in a tight labor market. Sally and Brian also urge managers to shift away from being attendance monitors and spend more of their energy inspiring employees to stay connected, build camaraderie, and bring their best selves to work each day, regardless of whether they are working remotely or onsite.
EAB’s Kathy Dawley and Brett Schraeder discuss the significance of National College Decision Day and share initial thoughts on successful strategies colleges are using to meet enrollment targets during one of the most challenging recruiting cycles of all time. They stress the importance of virtual engagement with admits as a means of reducing summer melt. Kathy and Brett also share findings from EAB’s most recent survey of more than 15,000 high school students and break down the implications of those findings on everything from the design of your school’s website to how and when to engage parents in the recruiting process.
Enrollment at for-profit colleges has increased or remained flat, while enrollment at community colleges is down nearly 10 percent since the onset of the pandemic. EAB’s Christina Hubbard and Larisa Hussak share key takeaways from a recent “secret shopping” experience with for-profit institutions and explain their applicability to community colleges. They talk about the dos and don’ts of onboarding, a perennial pain point at two-year schools, and urge community college leaders to assume greater responsibility for guiding students through the application process, registration, and beyond as a way of boosting yield and building student engagement. Christina and Larisa also stress the importance of adapting to meet growing student demand for greater flexibility in everything from course modalities to term lengths.
EAB’s Danielle Yardy and Anushka Mehta unpack the meaning of “digital transformation” and its relevance for higher education. They argue that the key drivers of digital transformation should be to streamline operations and improve the student experience. They also offer tips to generate the biggest bang for your IT bucks and spur wider and quicker adoption of new technologies across campus.
EAB’s Kaitlyn Maloney returns to the podcast to moderate a discussion with her colleagues Jackson Nell and Kathy Ruby on what the American Rescue Plan means for higher education. The three talk about what we’ve learned from previous federal stimulus bills that might help schools begin to chart a path forward, even as we wait for much-needed guidance from the Department of Education. They urge university leaders to view this as their last and best opportunity to put their financial houses in order. They also share tips for communicating with students and families about the distribution of financial aid.
EAB’s Meacie Fairfax returns to the podcast for a conversation with College Possible CEO Craig Robinson. The two discuss the power of community partnerships in giving underserved students greater access to higher education and stronger pathways to successful careers. Mr. Robinson suggests that colleges must be willing to change their mindset in order to serve their students and their communities more effectively. Embracing the challenge of joining with community partners who offer complementary skills and assets is an important step along that journey.
EAB’s Carla Hickman and Colin Koproske have been working together and studying the phenomenon of massive open online courses, or MOOCs, since 2012. On today’s episode, the two discuss Coursera’s recent IPO-related financial filings. Carla and Colin also examine the extent to which MOOCs and the companies that provide them represent a threat to higher ed, or whether more colleges should be looking to partner with companies like Coursera to expand their online course offerings.
College enrollment dipped this past fall as most people expected. However, the decline was not equally distributed across all demographic cohorts or types of institutions. Journalist Jon Marcus joins EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer to examine the data which show surprising enrollment trends that have not received the media attention they deserve. The two discuss ways that college recruiting has changed forever as a result of the pandemic, and they explain why doing “more of the same” isn’t going to work this time.
EAB’s Kaitlyn Maloney and Ron Yanosky discuss what we’ve learned over the past year through our collective experiment in mass teleworking. They then dig into some of the unique challenges colleges and universities face as they explore more flexible approaches to space utilization, hiring, and HR policies. While a few best practices emerging from the private sector can easily be replicated across higher education, universities will need to get creative in order to adapt without losing the sense of place that makes campus life special.
EAB’s Jeff Martin is joined by Penn State University Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Richard Bundy. The two talk about the state of university fundraising and key takeaways from EAB’s latest survey of college fundraising professionals. Mr. Bundy provides insight into how his team shifted strategy and tactics to adapt to an entirely virtual fundraising environment. Finally, the two share tips for managing fundraising teams and gift proposals both today and in the months ahead as we emerge from the pandemic.
EAB’s Tom Sugar talks to Paula Short from the University of Houston about lessons they learned launching Houston GPS, the nation’s first regional consortium of two- and four-year schools working together to improve transfer pathways and college completion rates. They also talk about how they are applying those lessons to EAB’s new Moon Shot for Equity.
EAB’s Kathy Dawley and Al Newell discuss the role that parents play in the college recruiting process and share findings from a recent EAB survey about their communication preferences. They talk about how different types of information become more or less important to parents as they get closer to the application deadline. Kathy and Al also urge colleges to focus on communicating how they support and guide students along their educational journey. They also recommend that colleges take a hard look at their websites since the quality of the design and content on your website is viewed by many parents as a proxy for the quality of your institution.
Noted author Nathan D. Grawe talks about his new book that explores how college recruitment and retention efforts are evolving to meet demographic and other challenges.
EAB’s Megan Adams and Will Lamb discuss growth opportunities and the competitive landscape in the master’s and graduate degree markets.
Two emerging stars of academia--Dr. Lila McDowell Carlsen from Pepperdine University and Dr. Rénard Harris from College of Charleston--share what they’ve learned by participating in EAB’s new Rising Higher Education Leaders Fellowship.
EAB’s Sally Amoruso is joined by Dr. William Tierney, University Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California. The two discuss a range of topics addressed in Dr. Tierney’s new book, “Get Real: 49 Challenges Confronting Higher Education," including Dr. Tierney’s contention that universities have become too focused on preparing students for careers at the expense of teaching them to be intellectually curious and engaged citizens and how academic tenure and joint governance may change in the months and years ahead.
EAB’s federal policy experts outline the major components of the latest federal relief package and offer guidance to university leaders still struggling to determine what it means for their institutions and students.
Dr. Rufus Glasper, president and CEO of the League for Innovation in the Community College, joins Dr. Christine Hubbard, EAB’s leading expert on community colleges. The two talk about the extent to which future enrollment trends will be influenced by external factors, like the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and the economy, versus the need to innovate and deliver a more flexible and engaging educational experience (online or otherwise) that attracts new students.
Dr. Richard Irwin from the University of Memphis talks to EAB’s Max Milder about the school’s unique collaborations with FedEx and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. These partnerships offer employees, even those without a high school diploma, a guided pathway to earn a college degree.
Rob Sentz, Chief Innovation Officer at labor market data giant, Emsi, shares strategies for preparing college students to find their niche in an unsettled economy.
Student success guru Tim Renick discusses GSU’s journey to eliminating equity gaps and shares scalable, replicable best practices other institutions can follow to do the same.
EAB experts explain how to integrate financial aid services into the broader student support network to help more students graduate with less debt.
Representatives from The Urban Alliance and Streetwise Partners join the podcast to discuss how the pandemic and recent civil unrest have impacted volunteerism. They also share tips for institutions looking to motivate more employees to participate in community services activities—and why volunteers from the ranks of higher education can have an outsized impact on the lives of young adults.
Michael Koppenheffer joins the podcast to discuss ways employers are virtualizing campus recruiting to overcome social distancing restrictions. He also offers tips to universities on how to partner with employers who may be looking to broaden their campus recruiting footprint.
EAB experts examine the good, the bad, and the ugly from campus repopulation efforts this fall and suggest changes university leaders may need to make before the spring semester.
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education Executive Editor David Pluviose joins EAB’s Rachel Tanner to offer concrete steps university leaders can take to recruit and retain diverse faculty. David also shares how to ensure the current hiring freezes are not an impediment to progress.
Milwaukee Area Technical College President Dr. Vicki Martin joins EAB Vice President of Partnerships, Tom Sugar, to talk about three lessons learned from Georgia State University's success in erasing equity gaps--and how MATC is working with EAB to make similar systemic changes.
Denison University President Adam Weinberg shares how liberal arts colleges must evolve to survive in an environment where COVID has exacerbated existing trends. Students and their families are more focused on value and outcomes—and traditional colleges face greater competition from alternative, online providers.
Student success leaders discuss why virtual advising, the only option available during campus shutdowns, may become the norm even when campuses fully reopen.
EAB’s Meacie Fairfax and Dr. Ed Venit discuss ways the pandemic is forcing colleges to change for the better in terms of how they keep students engaged, informed, and on track academically.
EAB’s John Workman and Michael Fischer examine similarities and important differences in how the pandemic is impacting U.S. colleges vs. those in Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Broward College President Gregory Hail talks about his journey from childhood poverty to successful corporate litigator to college president. He also urges university leaders to think beyond the “campus-bound” college model.
A senior representative from Quest Diagnostics discusses the current state of COVID-19 testing on college campuses, explains why testing protocols vary so widely between states and even between schools within the same state, and offers a glimpse of new and better tests schools could be using soon.
University of Kentucky officials discuss the return of college athletics and share what the new normal looks like on the UK campus.
Described as one of America’s most effective advocates for higher education, Terry Hartle from ACE talks with EAB about how the upcoming presidential and congressional elections may influence higher education policy.
As a land grant university and economic center of the state, West Virginia University has taken a leading role in helping state agencies combat the pandemic. Listen to WVU's Dr. Gee and Vice President & Executive Dean for Health Sciences (and West Virginia Coronavirus Czar) Dr. Clay Marsh discuss ways that dealing with the opioid crisis informed their efforts to tackle the coronavirus. They also share why they think all institutions should play a central role promoting the welfare of their communities.
Alumni relations and fundraising have been turned upside down by the pandemic. Alumni are looking for career networks and informal and virtual opportunities to connect with old friends, not nostalgic on-campus experiences. Hear innovative strategies to stay relevant to alumni from Longwood University AVP, Alumni & Career Services--and host of the Advancement Legends podcast--Ryan Catherwood.
Guests discuss findings from a survey of more than 1,000 potential “degree completers”—adults who completed some college, but didn’t earn a degree or certificate—and share how colleges can help them overcome their fears and return to higher education.
EAB experts discuss the pitfalls of “pandemic pricing,” the best way for schools to distribute financial relief to families, and the importance of communicating the rationale behind tuition prices.
Melissa Korn from The Wall Street Journal talks about her new book, “Unacceptable,” an in-depth examination of last year’s “Varsity Blues” bribery and admissions scandal.
BONUS CONTENT: Dr. Christine Riordan, president of Adelphi University, shares what she’s learned from a unique collaboration of more than 100 independent colleges and universities across New York State to help each prepare for the fall term.
EAB’s Sally Amoruso is joined by the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold, who is a leading expert on containing the spread of viruses and other dangerous pathogens. The two discuss how university leaders can access and interpret data on the community spread of the coronavirus to help shape their plans to welcome students, faculty, and staff back to campus.
EAB’s Sally Amoruso and Hersh Steinberg share takeaways from their recent discussions with more than 100 senior university leaders. Hear, for example, how progressive presidents are making deep cuts but also investing in a few key areas that will position their institutions to emerge from the current crisis stronger than ever.
EAB’s Kaitlyn Maloney and Ann Forman Lippens talk about campus plans to “de-densify” classrooms, dorms, and dining halls so students can social distance this fall, as well as how COVID-19 will impact recent progress on sustainability.
EAB’s Melanie Ho and Carla Hickman identify the five biggest mistakes higher ed leaders must avoid with their COVID-19 strategies.
EAB’s Meacie Fairfax and Ed Venit discuss equity gaps in higher education and ways the pandemic and recent social unrest threaten to widen those gaps unless universities take swift action.
Dr. Fayneese Miller, president of Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, joins EAB’s Sally Amoruso to discuss how her experience growing up as an African American woman in a segregated city informed her response to recent protests in her community.
AASCU President Dr. Mildred García talks to EAB’s Dr. David Attis about how to address the equity gaps made worse by the pandemic and about her own experiences as a first-generation college student.
Paul Fain, news editor at Inside Higher Ed, joins EAB’s Carla Hickman to share the COVID-19 stories that have gotten the most attention, what that says about college and university leaders’ greatest concerns, and the stories we should expect to see soon.
Dr. Ann McElaney-Johnson, president of Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles, talks about how a recent crisis prepared her team to handle the current coronavirus pandemic and shares tips to change your mindset and meet students' needs.
Madeleine Rhyneer joins Carla Hickman to discuss challenges colleges face in meeting fall enrollment targets and offer strategies to yield your class during a time of uncertainty.
Carla Hickman and David Attis discuss why schools are communicating their intent to welcome students back to campus this fall and about the scenario planning work they’re doing to prepare for any eventuality.
EAB’s Chief Information Security Officer Brian Markham covers everything from technical challenges posed by campus closures to “Zoombombing” to the latest phishing scams.
EAB’s Kaitlyn Maloney and Michael Fischer discuss how colleges and universities have handled crisis communications during the early days of the pandemic.
EAB experts Melanie Ho and Michael Fischer continue their discussion on the unique leadership challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
In part one of this two-part discussion, EAB experts share four reasons why the coronavirus pandemic is a different type of crisis than any faced by higher ed before—and discuss effective leadership in an extended crisis.
EAB’s Kaitlyn Maloney and Michael Fischer talk about why the CARES Act really isn’t a stimulus package for higher ed at all, but a stop-gap measure that may not keep at-risk colleges and universities afloat long enough to survive the current crisis.
Carla Hickman and Dr. David Attis discuss the immediate effects of COVID-19 on higher ed, as well as long-term impacts on enrollment and multi-modal learning.