The Buzz

Dan Jarratt, Data Scientist with Infinite Campus discusses how his background in admissions lead him on a journey to push the education space to ask better questions and collectively sharpen its skills to find better answers.  How can a commitment to data science help enrollment managers build better relationships with those they serve?  How could we create a Netflix-style recommender that would use big data to help prospective students discover more best-fit colleges to consider? In part one of our interview with Dan, we walk through how a data scientist orders the world and how serious problems can be solved using data science.

Beers:

Thom: Arrogant Brewing, Escondido, CA, www.arrogantbrewing.com, Arrogant Bastard Ale, https://untappd.com/b/arrogant-brewing-arrogant-bastard-ale/18099

Brad: HammerHeart Brewery, Lino Lakes. MN, Thor's Fury Smoked Hot Pepper Imperial Porter, https://untappd.com/b/hammerheart-brewing-company-thor-s-imperial-porter/402876

References:

Music Timeline Visualization:  https://research.google.com/bigpicture/music

Infinite Campus:  https://www.infinitecampus.com

College Navigator:  https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

Hobsons CollegeView: http://www.collegeview.com/collegesearch/index.jsp

Movie Lens:  https://movielens.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.

The inaugural Resolve Enrollment Technology Conference was the setting for a live session of The Weightlist Podcast. During the episode, hosts Thom Golden and Brad Weiner fielded questions from conference attendees, like, will AI replace EM professionals? How can technology lower higher education costs? And what would data science and enrollment management be if they were a beer? Ever been to an enrollment management conference session where the presenters distributed beer? Well, this episode of The Weightlist will let you listen to one.

Beers:

Thom: Goodwood Brewing, Louisville, KY, goodwood.beer, Lager Aged on White Ash, https://untappd.com/b/goodwood-brewing-louisville-lager/1077793

Brad: West Sixth Brewing, IPA, Lexington, KY, westsixth.com, https://untappd.com/b/west-sixth-brewing-west-sixth-ipa/131260

References:

Google AutoML:  https://cloud.google.com/automl

Google just made email a heckuva lot easier to deal with, https://www.wired.com/2017/05/google-just-made-email-heckuva-lot-easier-deal

Les Brown:  https://lesbrown.com

Implications of the Null Environment Hypothesis for Women's Career Development and for Counseling Psychology, Nancy Betz, http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0011000089171008

The Sustainable University, Bain and Company, http://www.thesustainableuniversity.com

From customer satisfaction to customer delight: Creating a new standard of service for the hotel industry, http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/IJCHM-Dec-2011-0228

The Power of Handwritten Notes in Marketing, https://www.tmrdirect.com/the-power-of-handwritten-notes-in-marketing

1984 Apple's Macintosh Commercial (HD), Apple, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtvjbmoDx-I

Music:

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

Track: Polariod, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/The_Crowd_excerpt/Polaroid

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

Take a look at an application from your institution from 10 years ago. How different is it from your current app? In many ways, the application and the processes around it have change dramatically over the past decades, but the centrality and importance of the application itself has changed very little. Why is that? Why is the application really so important in a world that is constantly looking for ways to simplify like processes? Is it simply there to gather information, or is it a kind of filter for less interested students. And what would it look like to blow the whole scheme up? Ken Anselment, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Lawrence University grabs a beer with Thom and Brad to discuss. Apologies for some of the feedback echoes in the audio, trust us, we tried everything!

Beers:

Thom: Country Boy Brewing, Lexington, KY, countryboybrewing.com, Cliff Jumper IPA, https://untappd.com/b/country-boy-brewing-cliff-jumper-ipa/138997

Brad: Left Hand Brewing, Longmont, CO, lefthandbrewing.com, Milk Stout Nitro, https://untappd.com/b/left-hand-brewing-company-milk-stout-nitro/82680

Ken: Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, WI, www.lakefrontbrewery.com, Centennial IPA, https://untappd.com/b/lakefront-brewery-shop-series-centennial/2218856

References:

EMChat, https://twitter.com/hashtag/EMChat?src=hash

Dan Ariely, http://danariely.com

UCAS: https://www.ucas.com

National Resident Matching Program: http://www.nrmp.org

What if Google ran the college application process? by Jon Boeckenstedt, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/02/20/what-if-google-ran-the-college-application-process/?utm_term=.9e187e502fc5

Music:

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

Track: Backed Vibes Clean, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/Jazz_Sampler/Backed_Vibes_Clean_1973

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

More than half of American workers do not take all of their yearly allotted vacation time. The work of an enrollment manager is rewarding, but indeed exhausting and the end of the year (which is really the half-way point of the academic calendar) is a great time to reconnect with your passion for this great work you do. Thom and Brad offer up a toast to you this Holiday season and chat about how to get the most out of your time off.

Beers:

Thom: New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, CO, www.newbelgium.com, Accumulation, White India Pale Ale, https://untappd.com/b/new-belgium-brewing-company-accumulation/280679

Brad: West 6th Brewing Company, Lexington, KY, www.westsixth.com, Pennyrile Pale Ale, https://untappd.com/b/west-sixth-brewing-pennyrile-pale-ale/1646198

References:

State of American Vacation 2016, https://www.projecttimeoff.com/research/state-american-vacation-2016

This Is What Makes A Vacation Restorative, https://www.fastcompany.com/40422080/what-makes-a-vacation-restorative

Happy, healthy, and productive: the role of detachment from work during nonwork time, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20836591

Music:

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

Track: Take Me Higher, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Tumbling_Dishes_Like_Old-Mans_Wishes/Take_Me_Higher_1626

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

Recruitment campaigns in a university enrollment management shop tend to be large comprehensive endeavors. What if we told you that $7 worth of text messages could make the difference for your institution hitting its enrollment goals? Thom and Brad discuss how Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler's work on nudge theory could be the simple difference maker for you this year.

Beers:

Thom: Sun King Brewing Company, Indianapolis, IN, www.sunkingbrewing.com, Osiris Pale Ale, https://untappd.com/b/sun-king-brewing-company-osiris-pale-ale/9688 

Brad: Mr. Galaxy Fresh Hopped IPA, Home Brew with Garden Fresh Hops. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0249/7934/files/Mr._Galaxy_IPA_Instructions_86ea73fa-a2bc-48a1-87b4-d6c6ea66f9ec.pdf?  10089067254854309460  @brewandgrow 

References:

Nudges Made British Life Better, https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-10-26/nudges-made-british-life-better 

Why 'Nudges' to Help Students Succeed Are Catching On, http://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-Nudges-to-Help/235101 

What is Nudge Theory, http://study.com/academy/lesson/nudge-theory-definition-influence-on-consumer-behavior.html 

Text Messages Can Increase Enrollment of Low-Income Students, http://www.chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/text-messages-can-increase-enrollment-of-low-income-students/34411 

'Nudging' encourages students to apply to leading universities: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/nudging-encourages-students-to-apply-to-leading-universities 

Helping the Poor in Education: The Power of a Simple Nudge https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/upshot/helping-the-poor-in-higher-education-the-power-of-a-simple-nudge.html 

Music:

Artist: Doctor Turtle; http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/ 

Track: Database of Problems, Rolodex of Lies; http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/Jonahs_Message_for_New_York/Database_of_Problems_Rolodex_of_Lies 

Used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC by 4.0) License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, No revisions made.

Enrollment at America's community colleges has been in steady decline since 2011 and although there is national attention garnered from some tuition-free programs, a new way of thinking about enrollment at 2-year colleges is desperately needed. Brad and Thom welcome Julie Marlatt, Dean of Enrollment Management at Parkland College in Illinois and Andre Richburg, executive director of enrollment management at Northampton Community College to assess the state and future of EM at community colleges.

Beers:

Thom: West Sixth Brewing Company, Lexington, KY, www.westsixth.com, Dankechain Oktoberfest, https://untappd.com/b/west-sixth-brewing-dankechain-oktoberfest/241467 

Brad: Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN, surlybrewing.com, Wet IPA, https://untappd.com/b/surly-brewing-company-wet/7502 

References:

Trends in Community College Enrollment and Completion Data, March 2016; http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Publications/Reports/Documents/Trends_CC_Enrollment_Final2016.pdf 

The Shapeless River: Does a Lack of Structure Inhibit Students' Progress at Community Colleges?; https://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/media/k2/attachments/shapeless-river.pdf 

Music:

Artist: Doctor Turtle, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle 

Track: Stuff Will Never Love You Back, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/~/Stuff_Will_Never_Love_You_Back_1032 

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

There are data silos and then there are education data fortresses, each separate from each other as students traverse the P-20 pipeline. But the Data Quality Campaign and it's President & CEO Aimee Rogstad Guidera are breaking down decades of barriers and facilitating access to key decision data for educational leaders, students, and parents. Imagine higher education leaders having better student learning information from Pre-K through high school, or parents knowing how students from their local schools were performing in college. These are just a few of the possibilities facilitated by Statewide Longitudinal Education Data Systems (SLEDS). In this episode, Brad and Thom explore how to use data "like a flashlight and not a hammer" and get to the heart of how lasting educational reform is happening today.

Beers:

Thom: Sweetwater Brewing Company, Atlanta, GA, sweetwaterbrew.com, Goin' Coastal IPA, https://untappd.com/b/sweetwater-brewing-company-goin-coastal/1424308  

Brad: Brau Brothers Brewing Company, Marshall, MN, http://braubeer.com, Moo Joos Oatmeal Milk Stout, https://untappd.com/b/brau-brothers-brewing-company-moo-joos/21482 

References:

Second Thoughts About College, American Association of Community Colleges, July, 2017, http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Publications/datapoints/Documents/DataPoints_July25.pdf 

Why Aren't Paychecks Growing? A Burger-Joint Clause Offers a Clue, New York Times, Sept. 27, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/business/pay-growth-fast-food-hiring.html?mcubz=0 

The Data Quality Campaign, https://dataqualitycampaign.org 

Music:

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

Track: Shake It, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/Super_1222/01_Shake_It 

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

Do you know how many students would apply to your institution if you did NOT recruit them? Does the "Fast App" approach work? By popular request, Brad and Thom welcome Eric Maguire, Vice President & Dean of Admission & Financial Aid at Franklin and Marshall College, back to The Weightlist to report results from enrollment experiments he and his team ran this past admissions cycle. In one of the most fascinating discussions yet on the podcast we explore return on investment, recruitment truth over mythology, why the feedback from failure is a gift, and of course, cold beer.

Beers:

Thom: Collaboration Sweetwater Brewing Company & Telluride Brewing Company, Atlanta, GA & Telluride, CO, sweetwaterbrew.com & www.telluridebrewingco.com, Torikumi Wasabi Infused Blonde Ale, https://untappd.com/b/sweetwater-brewing-company-torikumi-dank-tank/2134472 

Brad: Sociable Cider Werks, Minneapolis, MN, sociablecider.com, Freewheeler Dry Apple Cider, https://untappd.com/b/sociable-cider-werks-freewheeler-dry/522697 

References:

2014-2015 State of CRM Use in Higher Education Report, AACRAO, 2014-2105, http://www.aacrao.org/docs/default-source/PDF-Files/state-of-crm-use-in-higher-education-report_bw.pdf?sfvrsn=2

Steve Jobs quote, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF-tKLISfPE (quote is at 4:00 minute mark, but the whole video is worth the time)

Music:

Artist: Jason Shaw, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw 

Track: WHEELS, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/Audionautix_Acoustic/WHEELS_________________3-30 

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

If artificial intelligence and smart automation can change the way dairy farmers approach their work, why can it not do the same for enrollment managers? Many industries have embraced the power of AI to promote growth and dramatically improve efficiencies, and in so doing continue to challenge what is possible. Even so, there is tremendous angst in the public domain about artificial intelligence as illustrated by a recent untrue story about Facebook shutting down two AI bots because they presumably learned too much. How can Enrollment Managers cut through the noise and analyze AI and automation options that are available now, not in some distant future? Thom and Brad invite you in to grab a cold one and join the debate in this latest episode of The Weightlist.

Beers:

Thom: Wiseacre Brewing Company, Memphis, TN, wiseacrebrew.com, Ananda IPA, https://untappd.com/b/wiseacre-brewing-company-ananda/440283 

Brad: Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN, surlybrewing.com, Hell Lager, https://untappd.com/b/surly-brewing-company-hell/17643  References:

"No, Facebook Did Not Panic and Shut Down an AI Program That Was Getting Dangerously Smart," Gizmodo, https://gizmodo.com/no-facebook-did-not-panic-and-shut-down-an-ai-program-1797414922 

"JPMorgan Chase uses tech to save 360,000 hours of annual work by lawyers and loan officers," ABA Journal, http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/jpmorgan_chase_uses_tech_to_save_360000_hours_of_annual_work_by_lawyers_and 

"The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail--but Some Don't," Nate Silver, https://www.amazon.com/Signal-Noise-Many-Predictions-Fail-but/dp/0143125087 

"The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 technological forcers that will shape our future," Kevin Kelly, http://kk.org/books/the-inevitable 

Chaney's Dairy Barn, Bowling Green, KY, http://chaneysdairybarn.com 

Music:

Artist: Immortal Beats, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Immortal_Beats 

Track: Oh Wee, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Immortal_Beats/FrostWire_Creative_Commons_Mixtape_2_Side_B/Immortal_Beats___Oh_Wee__Sample_Your_Mind_EP__FrostClick_FrostWire_Mixtape_Vol_2 

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

Another Fall brings another set of enrollment goals to relentlessly pursue for many admissions teams across the nation. But how can data help delineate a stretch goal from a NBA half-court heave? In this episode of The Weightlist, Thom and Brad walk through a deep dive of five years of Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data to find out what happens when enrollment goals start canceling each other out. Want to nail your enrollment goals in May? This episode can help you set better goals in August.

Beers:

Thom: Schlafly The Saint Louis Brewery, St. Louis, MO, schlafly.com, Kölsch, https://untappd.com/b/schlafly-the-saint-louis-brewery-kolsch/1590 

Brad: Grain Belt Brewery , New Ulm, MN, grainnbelt.com, Grain Belt Premium, https://untappd.com/b/august-schell-brewing-company-grain-belt-premium/14011  References:

Moody's Investor Services Special Comment Report, Rising Student Applications Complicate College Enrollment Projections and Budgeting, October 2, 2014, http://45tkhs2ch4042kf51f1akcju.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Rising-Student-Applications-Complicate-College-Enrollment-Projections-Budgeting.pdf 

Music:

Artist: Jason Shaw, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw 

Track: Words, http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/Audionautix_Acoustic/WORDS______________________________2-35 

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