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.