In this bonus episode recorded live at the Collegis Education DisruptED summit in Phoenix, we spoke with Nathan Grawe from Carleton College about the realities behind higher education’s enrollment decline and the looming demographic “cliff.” They explore how shifting birth rates and declining enrollment trends are creating real challenges—especially for tuition-dependent institutions—while also highlighting how retention, student experience, and institutional strategy play a critical role in long-term sustainability. 

The conversation emphasizes that there’s no single solution, but institutions that listen to students, adapt their culture, and stay aligned with their mission are better positioned to navigate change. Ultimately, it’s a call for leaders to approach this moment with urgency, empathy, and a renewed focus on serving students effectively.

Guest Name: Nathan Grawe - Professor of Economics at Carleton College

Guest Social: LinkedIn

Guest Bio: Nathan Grawe is a labor economist whose work studies connections between family background and education acquisition.  In addition to serving on Carleton's faculty since 1999, Nathan served as Associate Dean of the College from 2009 to 2012.  His recent book, Demographics and the Demand for Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press) explores the coming effects of recent demographic changes, adjusting headcount data for the probability of attending institutions of various types.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Dustin Ramsdell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.