Enrollment Insights Podcast

This is a very different episode because it's just Will going over some of the insights from the 2022 Niche Senior Enrollment Survey. You can find the full survey results at niche.bz/2022seniorsurvey.

0:00 - Some background on the survey

1:28 - The flattening of the curve and changing student search timeline

4:37 - The changing attitudes and behaviors around visits

8:23 - What matters to students, what do they want from a college?

13:28 - Standardized testing

16:18 - The influencers in their decision making

19:21 - Affordability and price sensitivity

In this episode, you will hear from John McGreal, Dean of Enrollment Services at Waukesha County Technical College. John has been an enrollment professional for his entire career and has worked at large public universities, small private universities, and now is the Dean of Enrollment Services at Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee, WI. John has also been involved with NACAC and his state affiliate the Wisconsin ACAC, serving as a member of the Presidents cycle for WACAC and on the Affiliates Presidents Council for NACAC. During his free time, John spends time with his family, watching and reading science fiction, is an avid sports fan, running, and being a grill master.

1:44 - The unsuccessful application completion event and what John learned from it

4:53 - Brainstorming by starting with a forest and focusing down to the trees (plus Diet Dr. Pepper, Pringles, and Twizzlers)

7:00 - Whether at a 2-year or 4-year college students want to be excited about their education and future

9:26 - Comparing messaging and processes at 2-year and 4-year colleges

11:05 - A surprising transition - the roles are similar enough that there weren't many surprises!

12:04 - Your competitors aren't just other colleges, it's industry paying more and adding benefits. Can you pivot to professional development and career training?

15:10 - Relationship building, storytelling, and the ability to make data-driven decisions are essential skills regardless of instituton type

17:16 - The unsaid - Be student-centered first and foremost

19:44 - Skills to add and 4-year mindsets to unlearn

22:40 - Comm flow planning for rolling starts

26:08 - Incorporating outcomes and ROI into outreach while dispelling myths about 2-year education

30:05 - Engaging parents, advocates, and influencers in 2-year recruitment

33:14 - Celebrating moments with students and their community

36:18 - Final thoughts

Show notes are available on the Enrollment Insights Blog at niche.bz/podcast.

In the Enrollment Insights Podcast, you'll hear about novel solutions to problems, ways to make processes better for students, and the questions that spark internal reflection and end up changing entire processes.

In this episode, you will hear from Skyler Hefley. Skyler is an award-winning digital marketer, social media strategist, photo/videographer, copywriter, drone pilot, and graphic designer from Texas. He is now a name to follow in the online School PR community since joining Tyler ISD in 2020. Many know him by his TSPRA nickname 'Skyler from Tyler' and his goal is to bring all his private sector marketing experience and skills to the place that needs it most, education. In this episode, he discusses what he believes to be the biggest secret to marketing success—customer experience.

:30 - Meet Skyler

1:25 - Something Skyler tried that didn’t work and what he learned

3:50 - Make sure you know who owns your data

4:27 - How Skyler creates a stellar (and strategic) internal brainstorming experience

5:40 - “The secret to everything in marketing is customer experience”

9:53 - “If you’re not exciting during a brainstorm what makes you think you’re going to come up with an exciting idea?”

11:44 - How Skyler prioritizes new ideas for implementation

15:18 - “A lot of times we'll see ourselves reaching for the stars when we could just correct the trees that are being planted currently.”

16:35 - Marketing beyond the website - the importance of third-party reviews in the school search process

19:45 - “It’s much easier to convert 20 out of 1,000 than it is 20 out of 200.”

21:00 - Getting around internal red tape when it comes to implementing new ideas

23:40 - The power of partnering with other departments to pitch ideas to leadership

24:26 - Skyler’s tips for improving the digital experience for prospective employees

26:24 - Secret shopping your job application experience

33:19 - What brand signals do your job application/enrollment processes send to prospective employees and families?

34:37 - Blending new staff with old staff and change management in schools

39:35 - Where to connect with Skyler to learn more

Show notes are available on the Enrollment Insights Blog at niche.bz/podcast.

In the Enrollment Insights Podcast, you'll hear about novel solutions to problems, ways to make processes better for students, and the questions that spark internal reflection and end up changing entire processes.

This is a podcast version of a Niche webinar framing the enrollment and marketing flywheel and communications through the lens of growing, nurturing, and yielding a crop.

Show notes are available on the Enrollment Insights Blog at niche.bz/podcast.

In the Enrollment Insights Podcast, you'll hear about novel solutions to problems, ways to make processes better for students, and the questions that spark internal reflection and end up changing entire processes.

In this episode, you will hear from Diana Gleeson. Diana is the Assistant Head of School for External Affairs at Perkiomen School. In this role, she is responsible for implementing an enrollment management model to generate net tuition revenue to run a financially sustainable school. Her office has transformed from separate individuals working on admissions tasks into a collaborative, creative team that demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit and is empowered to have a voice in implementing new initiatives that support Perkiomen’s strategic plan. 

In collaboration with the Director of Marketing and Communications, Diana uses analytics and data to develop an intentional, targeted marketing plan. She has always maintained a strong, visible presence in her school community; advising students, cheering on student-athletes and artists, reading senior common application essays, and staying connected to both current students and alums.

0:32 - Meet Diana!

1:57 - Something Diana tried that didn't work and what she learned

3:20 - The importance of having the right partners when you're launching new initiatives

6:36 - How Diana brainstorms with her team and brings new ideas to their work

6:57 - Creating a team culture where everyone has a voice

7:25 - Using "I like, I wish, I wonder..." to reflect on admission tactics

8:42 - "No idea is too small or too big."

12:52 - Perkiomen's approach to recruitment planning

13:50 - "The admission season is continuous." - Your plans should evolve accordingly!

16:00 - Don't sleep on retention: "A decision they're not actually going to make until February or March is formed in September."

16:40 - The importance of having a culture of data analysis

17:35 - "Staying responsive to what's happening in the world is crucial."

21:20 - When you're tweaking your plans ask whether you have data to support a change or if there is fresh data to be gained from the change.

22:15 - How marcom and admissions report to the board at Perkiomen

27:00 - Using student stories to help faculty understand marketing

29:30 - The role data plays in recruitment planning at Perkiomen

30:42 - The importance of having great vendor partnerships in saving time — especially for small schools!

31:55 - Look at your full funnel, not just inquiry volume

37:04 - Benchmarking against yourself and the industry

38:50 - The marcom-admissions partnership at Perkiomen

45:20 - How to connect with Diana

Show notes are available on the Enrollment Insights Blog at niche.bz/podcast.

In the Enrollment Insights Podcast, you'll hear about novel solutions to problems, ways to make processes better for students, and the questions that spark internal reflection and end up changing entire processes.

In this episode, you will hear from Angie Cooksy, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management at Bradley University. Angie joined Bradley University in 2007 as an admission counselor directly following graduation. She has served at the University for the past fifteen years moving from admission counselor, to regional admission counselor, to director of admission to her current role. Angie received her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Bradley University, her Masters degree in Higher Education from Bay Path University and most recently her EdD in Higher Education Leadership and Organizational Studies from Bay Path University. She is a member of Chicago Area Regional Representatives (CARR), Illinois Association of College Admission Counseling (IACAC) and the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC). In addition to her professional roles, Angie is the mom of two boys and makes a pretty great charcuterie board!

0:00 - Meet Angie!

1:15 - Something Angie tried that didn't work (and how it empowers her)

2:51 - Giving permission to personalize, fail, and learn

4:31 - The new normal: Year-round hiring and onboarding

6:13 - Making space to brainstorm and bring new ideas into work

7:38 - Finding opportunities to help staff do what they love and the importance of communicating what you don't want to do

10:15 - Turnover will happen, and it can be ok - "While you're here let's give you the tools in your toolbox to be an awesome professional in our office and then be a rockstar wherever you land next." "We can't keep hiring expecting that people are going to stay forever and then not invest in people and be shocked when they leave."

12:02 - Treating admissions as an entry point to other roles on campus and valuable professional skills

13:06 - Engaging and retaining staff when salaries can't compete - and a reckoning for higher ed

20:15 - The evolution of Elevate

23:19 - Build your network based upon the work being done so you can care for yourself and your team.

26:21 - Cultivating opportunities and creating advancement space in the linear structure of admission offices

30:08 - Lifting up (others') work by giving up (your) work

33:30 - Are we making a mistake taking great recruiters and taking away recruiting to make them managers?

35:11 - Don't forget the non-counselor staff as well!

37:56 - Micro professional development, internal and external, is critical to continual development

41:09 - Don't forget to prepare staff to get the most out of professional development opportunities

43:21 - How leaders can find their cohort of peers for support (and how to support yourself)

46:54 - "If your team is burned out, you have to look at yourself as a leader"

48:24 - How to continue the conversation with Angie

Show notes are available on the Enrollment Insights Blog at niche.bz/podcast.

In the Enrollment Insights Podcast, you'll hear about novel solutions to problems, ways to make processes better for students, and the questions that spark internal reflection and end up changing entire processes.

This is a podcast version of a Niche webinar discussing the results of the 2022 Niche Grad Searcher Survey and answering audience questions.

Show notes are available on the Enrollment Insights Blog at niche.bz/podcast.

In the Enrollment Insights Podcast, you'll hear about novel solutions to problems, ways to make processes better for students, and the questions that spark internal reflection and end up changing entire processes.

In this episode, you will hear from Jill Goodman, founder of Jill Goodman Consulting.

Jill is a consultant for independent and private schools with over 20 years of experience working with organizational leaders. She specializes in helping schools advance their mission through qualitative research, strategic visioning, leadership mentoring, and small shop development capacity-building.

Jill is well known for her presentations on educational advancement, leadership, and constituency relations, which have been well received by audiences across the country. She is a frequent podcast guest, blogger, and author.  She can be reached at jillgoodmanconsulting.com.

:35 - Meet Jill

1:23 - What Jill has tried that didn't work, and what she learned

4:00 - How Jill brainstorms and brings new ideas into her work

5:27 - Jill's podcast and book recommendations

7:35 - Jill's recent retention observations

11:35 - Faculty impact on attrition

12:55 - Bringing leadership attention to retention issues

14:05 - The significance of a new family's first 90 days

17:05 - Ways faculty can support a new family's transition

19:15 - The brand promise-communications feedback loop

25:25 - Data points for the brand promise-communications feedback loop

26:50 - How schools are gathering feedback from families at this stage of the pandemic

28:22 - Helping families to feel connected during the ongoing pandemic

29:58 - The swift and effective resolution of conflict

34:14 - Where to connect with Jill online

Show notes are available on the Enrollment Insights Blog at niche.bz/podcast.

In the Enrollment Insights Podcast, you'll hear about novel solutions to problems, ways to make processes better for students, and the questions that spark internal reflection and end up changing entire processes.

This is a podcast version of a Niche presentation on the Slate Stage. Using student data, we talk about how to keep a brand consistent and relevant while building awareness throughout the recruitment cycle. Thank you to Technolutions for hosting this great event!

Show notes are available on the Enrollment Insights Blog at niche.bz/podcast.

In the Enrollment Insights Podcast, you'll hear about novel solutions to problems, ways to make processes better for students, and the questions that spark internal reflection and end up changing entire processes.

In this episode, you will hear from Ryan Taughrin, Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management at the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education. Ryan started out with a couple of years on the undergrad side of the house before moving over to graduate recruitment. In a national light, Ryan is also on the board of NAGAP, the leading organization for graduate enrollment management professionals.

00:54 - What Ryan has tried that didn't work, and what he learned

3:38 - The flexibility and adaptability of grad staff

6:44 - How Ryan brainstorms and brings new ideas into his work

11:35 - Changing interests in grad programs

14:17 - Translating the language for students and ensuring understanding

16:12 - Changing student behaviors to inquire and ask questions

18:44 - "The first question a student asks is usually not the one they want to ask."

20:37 - Adapting to meet students rather than assuming they know our processes and making outreach open, vulnerable, and honest

25:29 - Managing the long search cycle for grad programs

27:24 - Earning attention and generating inquiries

34:06 - Serving career changers and transitional students

39:43 - Promoting what matters when students care more about the program than the institution

45:03 - Big takeaways and trends from the NAGAP Conference

Show notes are available on the Enrollment Insights Blog at niche.bz/podcast.

In the Enrollment Insights Podcast, you'll hear about novel solutions to problems, ways to make processes better for students, and the questions that spark internal reflection and end up changing entire processes.