The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: Enrollment Funnels Are Bloated. Here’s How Wayne State Keeps It Personal, with VP of Enrollment Management Kevin Halle

   What if the secret to enrollment success isn’t about bigger funnels, but about smaller friction? In this episode of the Vine Down, I chat with Kevin Halle, VP of Enrollment Management at Wayne State College: a public institution serving a student body that’s nearly 50% first-gen. Kevin breaks down how Wayne State has not only grown enrollment significantly over the past decade but maintained a uniquely personal touch while doing it. We dive into the common “scary friction” points first-gen students face, like hesitating to speak with professors about grades, feeling intimidated when dropping classes, and navigating unfamiliar college systems. Kevin shares how Wayne State proactively addresses these anxieties by intentionally creating a culture where students feel known, heard, and supported. You’ll hear: How Wayne State balances rapid enrollment growth with highly personal student experiences. Specific ways their staff identifies and eliminates friction that can block student success. Why the concept of “Nebraska Nice” actually powers a cohesive, cross-departmental support network. Kevin’s insights are not only thoughtful, but refreshingly actionable: If students repeatedly struggle, he says, it’s not the students who need to change. It’s us. Listen in for powerful, practical ways your institution can get proactive about student support, and keep enrollment growth both meaningful and sustainable. Available wherever you get your podcasts!

   July 22, 2025·36min
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   Number 2: Why Your AI Strategy Matters More Than Ever – Dan Garcia @ UNM on Staying Ahead in Enrollment

   In this episode, Emily Smith sits down with Dan Garcia, VP of Enrollment Management at the University of New Mexico, to unpack the realities and anxieties around adopting AI in enrollment and retention strategies. Dan gets candid about shifting from if to how to use AI, the outdated tactics to abandon, and the core enrollment fundamentals he’ll never give up. He shares practical strategies for addressing your team’s fears about new tech, increasing cross-campus buy-in, and why human connection remains irreplaceable in admissions. Key Highlights: Which enrollment processes AI truly transforms (and which ones it doesn’t).How Dan increased housing applications by 72% with one simple tweak.Tackling hidden anxieties within your team about AI adoption.Why curiosity and questioning are essential leadership tools at any career stage.If you’re navigating innovation fatigue or wrestling with how to effectively roll out AI at your institution, this episode offers clarity, actionable advice, and reassurance that you’re not alone. Watch now to transform how you think about AI, retention, and leading change in higher ed. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

   July 08, 2025·44min
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   Number 3: The Hidden Cost of AI Ambiguity: How Colleges are Failing Students, with Emily Pacheco, Associate Director @ Case Western Reserve University

   Colleges are stuck sending mixed messages about AI—and students are paying the price. Emily Pacheco, Associate Director at Case Western Reserve and founder of the AI in College Admissions (AICA) group, joins Emily Smith on The Vinedown to break down how the absence of clear AI policies in college admissions is quietly damaging student belonging, creativity, and authenticity. In this conversation, you’ll discover: Why unclear AI guidelines fuel anxiety, shame, and uncertainty in students.How outdated AI detection fears inhibit genuine student creativity.Practical frameworks to help colleges establish transparent AI admissions policies.Why normalizing open conversations about AI use is critical to student success.Emily offers candid insights and actionable advice to help institutions bridge the AI clarity gap—before more students are left behind. Watch now to learn how colleges can embrace AI openly, ethically, and effectively. Subscribe for more deep dives on higher ed’s biggest challenges.

   April 29, 2025·41min
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   Number 4: Enrollment’s Data Reckoning: Why Most Colleges Are Unprepared (And How to Fix It) with David Burge

   Enrollment leaders, listen up—it’s time to confront an uncomfortable truth: colleges stuck in old models of recruitment and data management risk falling dangerously behind. In this eye-opening episode, Emily Smith sits down with David Burge, VP of Enrollment Management at George Mason University, to unpack the critical issues facing higher education enrollment today. From the limitations of traditional selectivity metrics, to the hidden potential of transfer and community college populations, David argues it’s time for a fundamental rethink of how enrollment offices use data to shape their futures. They discuss: - Why colleges overly dependent on freshman admissions alone are facing a difficult decade ahead - How widening the funnel to embrace transfer students and non-traditional populations can unlock entirely new enrollment pathways - The critical difference between having data and effectively using it to drive decision-making - The dangers posed by a potential dismantling of the Department of Education’s data infrastructure, and how institutions might cope - Actionable advice to embed genuine data fluency across your team—regardless of your current resources or skill level If you’re serious about future-proofing your enrollment strategy, building a truly data-informed culture, and identifying overlooked talent pools, this conversation is your essential guide. Ready to adapt? Dive in and start the transformation.

   April 15, 2025·52min
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   Number 5: The Art and Science of Swag in Enrollment Marketing, with PJ Woolston

   Enrollment marketing may not seem like the most glamorous aspect of higher education, but for PJ Woolston, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at IU Indianapolis, it’s an art form. During our recent conversation on The Vinedown, PJ shared insights into the role of swag (yes, swag!) in creating memorable and lasting connections with prospective students. From thoughtful giveaways to bridging guidance gaps, PJ’s approach goes beyond the surface, delivering practical strategies with a human touch.

   January 20, 2025·32min
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