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.