What happens when a 180-year-old institution decides to rethink the way it serves transfer students? You get strategy, simplicity, and one seriously powerful process.

In this episode, Ben Parsons, Senior Associate Director of Enrollment Operations at the College of the Holy Cross, shares how he transformed a fragmented, manual transfer admissions process into a cohesive, collaborative workflow. With a background in financial aid and a knack for woodworking, Ben approaches system building with both precision and heart.

You'll hear how he:

* Designed a 15-tab staff portal that became a one-stop shop for admissions, financial aid, housing, and more

* Leveraged Slate workflows and portals to eliminate spreadsheets, simplify communication, and foster interdepartmental trust

* Built tools that empower staff without overwhelming them while leaving room for iterative improvement

* Opened lines of collaboration with unlikely partners and created momentum for change across campus

Plus, in our “Crafting Change” segment, Ben shares how to break down silos and build buy-in, even when the tools are complex and the traditions are old.

And don’t miss The Smith's Signature, where Ben reveals his favorite project tool, his take on AI in admissions, and the type of books he'd recommend to future-focused educators.

Reach Ben at

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-p-3966959/

Slate Community: https://community.technolutions.net/member/zr96bZOYIo

And as always, subscribe to the podcast and get your copy of The Innovation Forge in ebook or print - https://tinyurl.com/TheInnovationForgePaperback

Music:

"Cold Sober" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

"Wholesome" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

"Teller of the Tales" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

"Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

"Galway" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

“Goblin_Tinker_Soldier_Spy” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

“Southern Gothic” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

"Village Consort" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

"Club Seamus" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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