Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

How One Regional University Is Growing

Nov 19, 2024

Join Jonathan Koppell, President of Montclair State University and former dean at Arizona State University, as he shares insights on transforming regional colleges facing enrollment challenges. He discusses successful strategies for attracting underserved students and addresses the alarming trends in male enrollment among minorities. Koppell emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning, accountability in degree completion, and fostering a culture centered around the needs of students to enhance educational outcomes.

53:26

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Episode guests

Jonathan Koppell

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Montclair State University illustrates that embracing change and innovation in higher education can lead to successful enrollment growth despite demographic challenges.

The institution is actively addressing declining enrollment rates of underserved male students by implementing targeted strategies for recruitment and retention.

Deep dives

Embracing Change in Higher Education

Embracing change is essential in higher education, as institutions must adapt to the evolving landscape to avoid failure. Jonathan Caple from Montclair State University emphasizes that change should not be perceived as instability; instead, it is an opportunity to be responsive to societal needs. His time at Arizona State University taught him that universities can be more malleable than often recognized, thus promoting a culture where innovation is pursued actively. This perspective enables institutions to grow and adapt, as seen with Montclair's enrollment growth in a state experiencing demographic challenges.

Intro

3min

Transformative Leadership and Student Migration in Higher Education

4min

Navigating Enrollment Challenges in New Jersey Universities

20min

Navigating the Complexities of University Presidency

5min

Navigating Higher Education Challenges

16min

The Importance of Purpose and Culture in Educational Change

6min

Regional public universities have been hit harder than most colleges by recent enrollment decreases. On this episode, Michael and Jeff sit down with President Jonathan Koppell of Montclair State University, a regional that has bucked this trend, to learn more about their success. They dig in on lessons Koppell learned as a dean at ASU, the college’s programs for underserved students, and how the college is competing for students. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.

Links We Share

Beating the Odds, Bain & Co.

Chapters

00:00 - Intro
03:52 - Lessons Learned at ASU
06:52 - Attracting Students to Montclair
12:36 -Supporting Post-Secondary Attainment for Men
18:25 -How Colleges Can Win Back Engagement
24:33 -The Steps to Culture Change
27:40 - How to Fix the College President Job
32:06 - Addressing the Talk by Walking the Walk
33:58 - Aiming Above the Line
37:50 - Shifting Towards User-Centered Language
39:34 - Building Infrastructure around Differentiation
41:02 - Data and Innovation to Support Men in Higher Ed
45:49 - Providing Students with What They Need
48:53 - Coalescing Around the “Why”

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