Grounded in the ⁠⁠Powers Index of College & University Performance⁠™⁠, this series examines the dynamic signals shaping institutional performance before they appear in the numbers. Supported by the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Institute for Effectiveness in Higher Education®⁠⁠⁠⁠ and hosted by ⁠⁠Kristina 'KP' Powers, PhD⁠⁠.

In this conversation, Process Improvement Strategist, Alex Aljets of Aljets Consulting, explores how institutional performance is often determined by something leaders rarely examine directly: operational processes.

Drawing on her experience in advising, student affairs, and institutional consulting, Alex explains how everyday administrative workflows, from change-of-major approvals to new student onboarding, quietly shape the student experience. When processes are unclear or outdated, they create friction that slows progress for both students and staff. She shares a practical framework for improving processes in higher education: map the current process, analyze where breakdowns occur, and redesign the workflow.

The conversation also challenges a common misconception about operational work. Improving processes doesn’t remove the human side of education, it removes unnecessary administrative barriers so faculty and staff can focus on guiding students and solving problems. From advising workflows to cross-campus collaboration, the episode highlights why operational quality is a core driver of institutional effectiveness.

This series is designed for leaders, practitioners, and institutional partners committed to building learning systems that translate expertise into opportunity.

KEY INSIGHTS

• Institutional transformation requires cross-functional change teams with executive sponsorship, not isolated innovators.
• Operational processes quietly shape the student experience; when workflows are broken, students feel the friction immediately.
• Process improvement begins with three steps: mapping the current process, analyzing where breakdowns occur, and redesigning workflows.
• Repeated questions, workarounds, and escalations are signals that an institutional process is failing.
• Cross-functional collaboration during process mapping often reveals redundant steps and unnecessary work across departments.
• Improving operational processes frees faculty and staff to focus on human connection rather than administrative workarounds.

⁠Powers Index™⁠⁠ Signals in Focus

• Signal #5: Operational Quality - Institutional performance depends on reliable, well-designed processes that allow students, faculty, and staff to move through the institution effectively.

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• ⁠⁠Powers Index of College & University Performance⁠⁠⁠™