The Buzz

Thom and Brad take the show to our nation's capital for a conversation with Justin Draeger, President and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. In this episode, we discuss policy positions on a variety of topics including the Pell Grant, whether there's a student loan crisis, free college, and the similarities between The Weightlist and Good Morning America.

Brad's beer: Guinness Draught, Guinness Brewery, Dublin, Ireland https://untappd.com/b/guinness-guinness-draught/4473

Thom's beer: Vienna Lager, Devil's Backbone Brewing Company, Roseland, VA https://untappd.com/b/devils-backbone-brewing-company-vienna-lager/18974

Links:

Why Free College Tuition Is Spreading From Cities to States: https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2018/01/05/why-free-college-tuition-is-spreading-from-cities-to-states

Decoding the Cost of College: The Case for Transparent Financial Aid Award Letters https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/policy-papers/decoding-cost-college/

Hoxby, C. & Turner, S. The Right Way to Capture College "Opportunity". https://www.educationnext.org/right-way-capture-college-opportunity-popular-measures-can-paint-wrong-picture-low-income-student-enrollment/

The FRED Blog Are household debt and student debt exploding? https://fredblog.stlouisfed.org/2017/05/are-household-and-student-debt-exploding/

A crisis in student loans? How changes in the characteristics of borrowers and in the institutions, they attended contributed to rising loan defaults. https://www.brookings.edu/bpea-articles/a-crisis-in-student-loans-how-changes-in-the-characteristics-of-borrowers-and-in-the-institutions-they-attended-contributed-to-rising-loan-defaults/

Weightlist Podcast (yup, we cited ourselves!) Episode 16 – Reshaping Educational Accountability with Aimee Rogstad Guidera https://capturehighered.com/weightlist/episode-16-reshaping-educational-accountability-aimee-rogstad-guidera/

33% of public high schools in the United States employ guidance professionals devoted exclusively to post-secondary counseling. In this episode of The Weightlist, Thom and Brad discuss the art and science of modern school counseling with Ross Wolfson, School Counseling Department Chair at Westborough High School in Massachusetts. Topics covered range from the politics of the GPA, how to maintain school profiles, and a fascinating discussion using baseball and stats to help families understand college admissions.

Brad's beer: Mini Donut Cream Soda, Lift Bride Brewing Company, https://untappd.com/b/lift-bridge-brewing-co-mini-donut-cream-soda/2651425

Thom's beer: Bermuda Stone Ginger Beer, Grin and Barrits, https://untappd.com/b/grin-and-barrits-bermuda-stone-ginger-beer/2827418

Of the many hats that enrollment managers wear, the ever-gracious and energetic host to visiting students and families is among the most important. Campus visit programs are often the single biggest influence point for prospective students. What then can enrollment managers learn from research in the hospitality field that might inform how to wow campus visitors? In this episode, Thom and Brad chat with Dr. Edwin Torres, Associate Professor in the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida and cover topics ranging from the importance of understanding a prospects zone of tolerance and why customer delight is replacing customer satisfaction as the standard measure in the field.

Beers:

Thom: Cidergeist, Semi Dry Hard Cider., Rhinegeist Brewery, Cincinnati, OH. https://untappd.com/b/rhinegeist-brewery-cidergeist-semi-dry/1173527 

Brad: Unnamed Black IPA Homebrew. Weiner Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN. https://untappd.com/w/weiner-brewing-company/fake-url-black-ipa/404 

Music:

Dinner for One by Silent Partner available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPJ9o9rx0EQ 

Recorded LIVE at NACAC: In part two of the NACAC 2018 episodes, Thom and Brad host Jen Dewar, Head of Strategic Engagement for the Duolingo English Test. Throughout this episode the trio discuss their first NACAC conference, data, admissions and enrollment and more. Grab a beer and join the conversation! 

Music:

Artist: Jahzzar, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/

Track: Luxe, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Servants/Luxe

Used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/, No revisions made.

Recorded LIVE at NACAC - Thom and Brad host Heath Einstein, Dean of Admissions from Texas Christian University. Throughout this episode the trio discuss their first NACAC conference, data, admissions and enrollment and more. Grab a beer and join the conversation! 

Music:

Artist: Jahzzar, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/

Track: Luxe, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Servants/Luxe

Used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/, No revisions made.

Human beings, as Dan Ariely wrote, are predictably irrational - and yes, that includes enrollment managers. From recruitment event feedback forms (good to meet you sampling bias), to predictive models (hello false causality), and all those early deposit incentives that only seem to encourage enrollment melt (good day Cobra Effect). If you have ever said this of your favorite slumping athlete: "(s)he's due," then you might be human, and thus subject to data fallacies. In this episode of The Weightlist, Thom and Brad list the 4 biggest data fallacies in enrollment management and how to avoid them. Along the way of course is beer and all the reasons you'll ever need to eat that dessert first.

Beers:

Thom: Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma S.A. de C.V., Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, Carta Blanco, https://untappd.com/b/cerveceria-cuauhtemoc-moctezuma-heineken-carta-blanca/3561 

Brad: Utepils Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN, utepilsbrewing.com, Copacetic Kölsch, https://untappd.com/b/utepils-brewing-co-copacetic/1896248 

References:

Stanford marshmallow experiment; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_marshmallow_experiment 

Softening Claims of the Marshmallow Test, Inside Higher Ed; https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/06/06/new-findings-cast-doubt-marshmallow-test-success-claims 

Data Fallacies the Avoid; https://www.geckoboard.com/assets/data-fallacies-to-avoid.pdf 

Haifa Israel Daycare Study: What Makes People Do What They Do?; http://freakonomics.com/2013/10/23/what-makes-people-do-what-they-do/ 

Regression Fallacy; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regression_fallacy 

McNamara Fallacy; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McNamara_fallacy 

https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/tools/lp/Bo/LogicalFallacies/237/McNamara-Fallacy 

Music:

Artist: Revolution Void, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Revolution_Void/

Track: Effects of Elevation, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Revolution_Void/Increase_the_Dosage/revolution_void_-_04_-_effects_of_elevation

Used under Creative Commons Attribution License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/, No revisions made.

While return on investment remains a key consideration for directing prospective student recruitment dollars, a standard definition has been missing in the enrollment management space.  How do you track what is spent to recruit your class, and how do attribute success to various initiatives, and how do you know what was yielded from your investment?  Thom and Brad walk through how Capture Higher Ed tackled ROI and how we approached this measurement problem that lives at the intersection of economics and marketing attribution.  It is hoped that presenting the Capture method of recruitment ROI sets a new industry standard for calculating a simpler and fairer measure of recruitment return on investment.  EM data nerds, come grab a beer and a barstool.

Beers:

Thom: Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma S.A. de C.V., Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, Cerveza Clara, https://untappd.com/b/cerveceria-cuauhtemoc-moctezuma-s-a-de-c-v-bohemia-clasica/7005

Brad: Samuel Adams Brewing Company, Boston, MA, www.samueladams.com, Sam 76, https://untappd.com/b/boston-beer-company-sam-76/2325896

References:

Rare Baseball Feats:  https://imgur.com/gallery/FNojw

Return on Investment: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/returnoninvestment.asp

The 2017 Survey of College and University Admissions Directors: Pressure all around.  https://www.insidehighered.com/news/survey/2017-survey-admissions-directors-pressure-all-around

Show Your Work: CBE Return on Investment – Results and Explainer: https://capturehighered.com/enrollment-services/cbe-return-on-investment-results-and-explainer/

Music:

Artist: Jahzzar, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/

Track: Siesta, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Travellers_Guide/Siesta

Used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. License, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, No revisions made.

The higher education enrollment management nerd-o-sphere needs more people in the conversation. Specifically, it needs you. If you have ever thought about organizing and publishing a podcast, then this episode is for you. Brad and Thom celebrate The Weightlist's 25th "silver anniversary" episode by walking step-by-step through how they make and distribute The Weightlist Podcast so hopefully, you can create your own show and add your voice to the enrollment management conversation. We want to hear from you, so pull up a barstool, grab your microphone and join us.

Beers:

Thom: Oskar Blues Brewery, Longmont, CO, www.oskarblues.com, Pinner Throwback IPA, https://untappd.com/b/oskar-blues-brewery-pinner-throwback-ipa/912790

Brad: Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins, CO, www.odellbrewing.com, Cutthroat Porter, https://untappd.com/b/odell-brewing-co-cutthroat-porter/30

References:

Loyola-Chicago's $8.5 Million Final Four Run Lifts 10 Schools; https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-29/loyola-chicago-s-8-5-million-final-four-run-lifts-10-schools

Equipment:

Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone, https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100-USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B004QJOZS4

Neewer NW(B-3) 6 inch Studio Microphone Mic Round Shape Wind Pop Filter Mask Shield with Stand Clip (Black Filter), https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Studio-Microphone-Filter-Shield/dp/B00ACFAULC/ref=pd_sim_267_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00ACFAULC&pd_rd_r=KC5279F5TTNGWPQR1AMF&pd_rd_w=OnV2g&pd_rd_wg=XMX4b&psc=1&refRID=KC5279F5TTNGWPQR1AMF

Software:

Video Conferencing: Appear.in

Audio Hijack by Rogue Amoeba:  https://rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack

Libsyn Podcast Syndication/Distribution Platform:  www.libsyn.com

Scrivener Writing Software:  https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview

Music:

Artist: Jahzzar, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/

Track: Fastest Man on Earth, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Blinded_by_dust/Fastest_Man_on_Earth

Used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. License, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, No revisions made.

What does it mean to be "current" in the field of enrollment management on issues of data and technology? How does a leader foster a strategic data-driven culture in the enrollment suite and specifically how do you mentor young professionals to level up their data skills and stay in the field? Jennielle Strother is the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services at Concordia University Texas, an Adjunct Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word, and co-founder of #emchat community. Jennielle joins Brad and Thom to explore how modern data leadership looks from the AVP seat.

Beers:

Thom: Hoppin' Frog Brewery, Akron, OH, www.hoppinfrog.com, Gangster Frog IPA, https://untappd.com/b/hoppin-frog-brewery-gangster-frog-i-p-a/335672

Brad: Toppling Goliath Brewery, Decorah, IA, Pseudo Sue Pale Ale, https://untappd.com/b/toppling-goliath-brewing-co-pseudo-sue/65644

References:

Excel on the way out?, https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/cfos-no-longer-see-excel-skills-as-vital-for-new-hires

Music:

Artist: Waylon Thorton, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Waylon_Thornton/

Track: Favorite Secrets, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Waylon_Thornton/Mystery_Club/Waylon_Thornton_-_Favorite_Secrets

Used under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US) License, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/, No revisions made

In part two of Brad and Thom's conversation with Dan Jarratt, Data Scientist at Infinite Campus, we learn more about how secondary school learning management system data can be leveraged to create a drop out early warning system.  Dan walks us through the process they used to find a data signal in a dataset of 8 million students using machine learning and discusses what they learned about secondary school drop out.  But the technical details are only part of the story.  Dan explains how a commitment to understanding people and relationship building are the real key ingredient to the effectiveness of any data project. Oh, and how can data science help you optimize your cocktails?  Yeah, we went there too. 

References:  Infinite Campus:  https://www.infinitecampus.com  Pygmalion Effect:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmalion_effect  The 12 Bottle Bar: http://12bottlebar.com  Wikidata:  http://www.Wikidata.org

Music:

Artist: Kevin MacLeod, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/

Track: AcidJazz, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/Jazz_Sampler/AcidJazz_1430

Used under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) License, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/, No revisions made.