According to the 2018 e-Expectations report, cost/tuition information and scholarship opportunities are the two primary reasons prospective college students visit your website. And yet, across higher education, financial aid pages are littered with insider language, fine print, and confusing instructions. But Calvin College has taken a different approach. 

In this episode of the Hashtag Higher Ed Podcast, Nate Hibma, Assistant Director of Web Services at Calvin College, shares the story behind Calvin's take on college affordability, “Cutting the Price Tag.” We discuss the casual voice and tone of the content, how Hibma and his team structured the page for scannability, and why talking talking to students (and parents) about financial aid in a style they understand is more important now than ever.  

See the Page: https://calvin.edu/offices-services/financial-aid/affordability/

Ep34. Getting Transparent about the Cost of Attendance - Nate Hibma - Calvin College

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

Host Kevin Tyler welcomes Eddie Francis, principal and brand consultant with Edify Ventures, to discuss the importance of employer branding in higher education. Colleges and universities must focus on talent attraction, talent experience and talent retention while emphasizing the role of leadership in creating a positive workplace culture and the impact of psychological safety on employee satisfaction.

Want High Student Satisfaction? Well, Who's Going to Deliver It? - Eddie Francis

Host Kevin Tyler interviews branding expert Allen Adamson to discuss the importance of focusing on a clear and distinct mission, rather than diluting the institutional identity with multiple conflicting messages.

In a Word-of-Mouth Business, No One Shares Average - Allen Adamson

Kevin Tyler welcomes Catherine Friday, Ernst & Young Oceania’s managing partner for government and health sciences, as they delve into EY’s global findings of student dissatisfaction and how universities must deliver on the value proposition to remain competitive.

No One Asks What Students Actually Want - Catherine Friday

Higher Voltage’s Kevin Tyler welcomes Jenny Li Fowler, MIT's director of social media strategy and recently published author, to discuss her book, “Organic Social Media: How to Build Flourishing Online Communities.” Fowler emphasizes the importance of elevating the role of social media managers and treating social media as a sophisticated industry.

It’s Time to Treat Social Media as an Adult - Jenny Li Fowler

In the first episode of 2024, host Kevin Tyler sits down with Bennie F. Johnson, the CEO of the American Marketing Association (AMA). As a self-proclaimed "marketing kid," Bennie understands the vulnerability of the marketing industry, especially in higher education. During the discussion, Kevin and Bennie address common misconceptions and emphasize the crucial role of expertise in the field.

Ep34. Getting Transparent about the Cost of Attendance - Nate Hibma - Calvin College

Download our free app to listen on your phone