Changing Higher Ed

Families are writing universities directly to ask if it’s safe to send their children to the United States. Institutions are also facing longer visa backlogs and growing competition from abroad. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Dr. Roger Douglas, Dean for International Programs and Development at St. Martin’s University, about how leaders can strengthen international enrollment pipelines, improve retention, and protect graduate research capacity. Topics Covered: The 23-touchpoint recruitment model that keeps students and families engaged until they commit How graduate applicants often choose the first institution to deliver admissions and aid Families’ growing concerns about campus safety and how institutions can respond Why outcome-driven marketing and peer-to-peer outreach build more trust than traditional tactics The effect of shrinking U.S. research funding on graduate student pipelines Retention strategies such as host family placements, faculty check-ins, and cultural immersion Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: Presidents and trustees should engage directly with international students to understand barriers and improve the climate. Retention investments—host families, advising, and cultural programming—are as critical as recruitment for revenue stability. Boards must integrate international enrollment into institutional strategy, requiring documented plans, outcome-based marketing, and active policy advocacy. Recommended For:  Presidents, trustees, enrollment leaders, and academic administrators responsible for sustaining institutional revenue, research, and reputation through international education. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/international-student-recruiting-in-higher-education/ #HigherEducation #InternationalStudentRecruiting  #HigherEducationPodcast   

This episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast focuses on enrollment management solutions presidents and boards can use to navigate the enrollment cliff. Bill Conley and Bob Massa of Enrollment Intelligence Now join Dr. Drumm McNaughton to share practical guidance on setting realistic enrollment goals, aligning enrollment with finance, and managing institutional risk. (Part one examined the challenges; this discussion turns to the solutions.) Topics Covered: Setting realistic enrollment goals using 3–5 years of funnel data Why inflated projections undermine trust with CFOs and boards Real-time dashboards and funnel monitoring for early intervention Mission-driven messaging and authentic student/alumni voices Balancing technology and AI with hospitality and personal interaction Enrollment management as part of long-term institutional risk planning Opportunities and risks of direct admission strategies Pipeline programs, community-based partnerships, and legal/political constraints Addressing the shrinking pipeline of experienced enrollment leaders Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: Monitor funnel data in real time and act on early warning signs. Integrate enrollment management with finance and governance. Invest in scenario planning, transparency, and leadership development. Read the transcript or the extended show summary: https://changinghighered.com/enrollment-management-solutions-for-higher-ed-leaders/ #EnrollmentManagement #HigherEdLeadership #HigherEducationPodcast

Institutions face converging pressures that are reshaping enrollment management. Declining participation rates, tuition discounting that erodes net revenue, international enrollment volatility, and political mandates are forcing colleges to rethink how they attract and retain students. Enrollment management is no longer just admissions and aid — it has become a strategic system linking recruitment promises to student success and institutional stability. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Bill Conley and Bob Massa, Co-Founders of Enrollment Intelligence Now. They share how enrollment management has evolved over the past fifty years and why it now sits at the center of higher education’s most pressing challenges. Topics Covered How shrinking pipelines and lower college-going rates are reshaping enrollment outcomes Why unsustainable discounting is undermining financial health The growing impact of alternative credentials and new competitors The ways international enrollment declines and political mandates compound the crisis Why enrollment management functions as an accountability system for institutions Real-World Insights The origins of enrollment management in the 1970s and how it spread Lessons from institutions that discounted themselves into financial instability How enrollment leaders balance institutional mission against market realities Key Takeaway Enrollment management has become higher education’s strategic fulcrum — the point where mission and market realities meet, determining whether commitments to students translate into institutional sustainability. Recommended For: Presidents, provosts, CFOs, board members, and enrollment leaders navigating today’s enrollment cliff era. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/reframing-the-enrollment-cliff-a-new-lens-on-enrollment-management/   #HigherEdLeadership #EnrollmentCliff #EnrollmentManagement #HigherEducationPodcast

Caltech’s board once had nearly 80 members; too many for focused discussion or quick decisions. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton talks with Cathy Light, Caltech’s Secretary of the Board, about how the institution streamlined governance, strengthened committees, and made trustee reorientation mandatory. Light, who has held senior roles at Carnegie Mellon University and the Semester at Sea program, outlines how Caltech conducts trustee assessments, structures its executive committee, and uses an ongoing governance review to keep the board working at its best. Topics Covered: Governance changes prompted by the pandemic Defining trustee responsibilities in 2025 Using the executive committee for responsive decision-making The role of the governance and nominating committee Trustee assessments and renewal decisions Making orientation and reorientation standard practice Maintaining strategic oversight without micromanaging Involving alumni and students without adding voting seats Real-World Examples: Reducing the board from 80 members to a manageable size Giving young alumni trustees full voting rights Using retreats and campus visits to connect trustees with faculty research Three Takeaways for Leadership: Keep governance review continuous and adaptive. Use orientation and reorientation to maintain alignment. Structure boards for informed, timely decisions without overstepping into operations. For presidents, trustees, board chairs, board secretaries, and governance committees aiming to improve board effectiveness. Read the transcript:  https://changinghighered.com/caltech-private-higher-education-board-governance-model/ #HigherEdGovernance #BoardGovernance #HigherEducationPodcast #HigherEdGovernanceModel

40% of California’s licensed doctoral psychologists come from one university that nearly failed a decade ago. Their turnaround didn’t come from diversifying programs or chasing enrollment—it came from making the hardest decision in higher ed: cutting what wasn’t excellent. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Andy Vaughn, President and CEO of Alliant International University, about how institutional leaders can drive university transformation by making tough calls, realigning programs, and embedding scalable mental health support into their core operations. Drawing from Alliant’s strategic shift, Vaughn explains why program focus and transparent leadership are more effective than traditional diversification models. He shares how embedding mental health services into academic programs created both a market advantage and a support system for students, faculty, and staff. Topics Covered: Why eliminating underperforming programs can drive institutional transformation How program realignment strengthens financial stability and market positioning Embedding scalable mental health services into academic programs and operations The leadership imperative: transparency, inclusion, and decisive action Codifying organizational values to guide behavior and decision-making Managing faculty-administration relations with professionalism and respect Preparing for unprecedented policy and legislative changes impacting higher ed Real-World Examples Discussed: Alliant International University’s strategic focus on licensure-driven programs The integration of Alliant Clinics, providing community mental health services Leadership communication practices to maintain trust during operational changes Partnering with psychology schools for scalable mental health service delivery Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: Codify and normalize institutional values so that decision-making and behaviors align across all levels. Be transparent with stakeholders about challenges and solutions, fostering trust and shared ownership of outcomes. Involve the entire institution—including part-time staff—in transformation efforts to ensure unified execution during critical periods. This episode offers a practical framework for institutional leaders navigating transformation, operational challenges, and the rising demand for campus-wide mental health support. Recommended For: Presidents, trustees, provosts, CFOs, student affairs leaders, and higher education executives focused on institutional sustainability and student success. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/university-transformation-program-focus-scalable-mental-health/   #UniversityTransformation #HigherEdLeadership #MentalHealthSupport #ProgramRealignment #HigherEducationPodcast

With first-generation and low SES students facing steep barriers to completion and career entry, Great Jobs KC has built a replicable model that starts in high school, continues through college, and delivers real workforce outcomes. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Great Jobs KC CEO Earl Martin Phalen about how regional collaboration, wraparound services, and employer partnerships are helping underserved students succeed beyond graduation. Phalen outlines how Great Jobs KC collaborates with 24 higher education institutions, over 150 employer partners, and K–12 feeder systems to support students from high school through college graduation and into strong first jobs. Through initiatives like KC Scholars and the Great Jobs KC scholarship, the organization provides $50,000 per student for tuition, transportation, and wraparound support—including case managers, success coaches, and career placement services. This episode offers practical, data-backed insights for institutional leaders working to improve retention, increase degree completion, and strengthen job placement results for underserved students through strategic regional partnerships. Topics Covered: The unique needs of first-generation and low SES students Designing holistic support systems that extend beyond financial aid How to build college-employer partnerships that deliver job outcomes Regional collaboration between 24 colleges and over 150 employers The role of scholar advocates and success coaches in student persistence How investing $50,000 per student can produce high ROI Measuring impact: retention, completion, and employment rates Real-World Examples Discussed: Great Jobs KC’s partnership with regional colleges, including UMKC, Avila, William Jewell, and Donnelly College How the KC Scholars program helps high school students complete FAFSA, ACT prep, and college planning Employer partnership models, including apprenticeships, internships, and work-based learning The importance of wraparound services like transportation and mental health support in student success Scholar experiences navigating college with the help of long-term coaching Three Key Takeaways for Higher Ed Leadership: Institutions that want to serve first-gen and low-income students need more than scholarships—they need scalable systems of support. Long-term coaching and employer-aligned programs can dramatically improve retention, completion, and career outcomes. Regional collaboration between colleges, K–12 schools, and employers isn’t just ideal—it’s necessary to build equitable education-to-career pipelines. Recommended For: Presidents, provosts, trustees, enrollment and student success leaders, and system executives seeking replicable strategies to improve access, retention, completion, and career outcomes for first-generation and low SES students. Read the transcript on our website: https://changinghighered.com/first-gen-and-low-ses-student-success-strategies/ #HigherEdLeadership #StudentSuccess #FirstGenStudents #LowSESStudentSuccess #RegionalCollaboration #HigherEducationPodcast  

Tom Netting, President of TEN Government Strategies and a seasoned advocate in higher education policy, joins the conversation to dissect the transformative July 2025 reconciliation bill. He reveals how this legislation flips the script on student loans and Pell Grants with new accountability measures tied to earnings. Netting highlights the implications of short-term Pell programs and discusses rising changes in accreditation, shedding light on a new accreditor in Florida that could reshape federal oversight. An essential listen for education leaders!

Most colleges rely on more than 20 disconnected systems to support students, creating confusion, reducing engagement, and lowering graduation rates. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Elliot Felix is the founder of brightspot Strategy (acquired by Buro Happold in 2020) and the author of The Connected College: Leadership Strategies for Student Success about how building integrated systems where strategy, services, and technology work together can improve student outcomes without increasing institutional complexity or cost. Felix, who has worked with more than 100 institutions including MIT, NYU, and the University of Virginia, draws on his background in architecture and design thinking to offer practical solutions for breaking down silos and creating seamless student experiences. This conversation provides actionable strategies for institutional leaders seeking to move from fragmentation to alignment while managing limited resources. This episode is particularly valuable for presidents, trustees, and senior administrators looking to redesign operations and improve student success through systemic coordination rather than adding more programs and services. Topics Covered: Why the "additive culture" in higher education creates operational sprawl and student confusion How design thinking can transform institutional strategy and student experience Practical approaches to breaking down silos without major reorganizations Using RACI models and governance structures to enable faster, smarter decisions The critical importance of aligning strategic planning with budget decisions Reframing risk as a condition for progress through prototyping and piloting Strategic partnerships as tools for expanding capacity without internal complexity Real-World Examples Discussed: NYU's transformation of computer labs into "connect and create" collaborative spaces UVA's co-location of different advising functions for seamless student support Purdue University's Communicators Council as a model for decentralized coordination Colorado State's IT governance process for strategic technology investments The pitfall of institutions with both writing centers and writing labs in the same building Quinnipiac's healthcare partnership providing both services and talent pipeline Amarillo College's community partnerships that increased graduation rates from 14% to 65-80% Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: Create a focused strategy that prioritizes where to invest, makes hard tradeoffs, and aligns budget with institutional goals Break the cycle of fragmentation by consolidating services and systems to improve access, reduce duplication, and enhance outcomes Reframe risk as progress by encouraging piloting and iteration to unlock innovation without waiting for consensus or perfection This episode offers institutional leaders a clear, actionable framework for moving from fragmentation to alignment while improving student outcomes through strategic execution rather than adding complexity. Recommended For: Presidents, trustees, chief academic officers, student affairs leaders, and institutional planning teams focused on improving student success through systemic coordination. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/connected-college-strategy-to-improve-student-success/   #HigherEdLeadership #StudentSuccess #InstitutionalStrategy #HigherEducationPodcast

AI can change how colleges and universities approach enrollment, making it faster, fairer, and more aligned with student success. In this episode of Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton talks with Ashish Fernando, founder and CEO of EDMO and iSchoolConnect, about how institutions can use artificial intelligence to improve admissions, automate routine tasks, and personalize support without losing the human touch. Drawing on real-world implementations at Western Governors University, Franklin University, and others, Fernando outlines how AI enables institutions to make faster admissions decisions, better assess student fit, and improve long-term outcomes. He also explains where human judgment still matters and why redesigning broken enrollment processes is critical before adding automation. This episode offers practical insights for presidents, provosts, enrollment leaders, and trustees seeking to modernize recruitment, increase yield, and align institutional capacity with student expectations. Topics Covered Why enrollment strategy must prioritize student fit, not just volume How AI improves speed to decision and impacts yield What admissions tasks are appropriate for automation The strategic value of chatbots and real-time decision systems How to avoid automating broken or biased processes Balancing technology with human counseling in admissions Real-world examples of AI implementation in higher education Real-World Examples Discussed Western Governors University’s scalable, self-paced enrollment model Franklin University’s five-minute transfer evaluation and admissions decision NYU’s BobChat and chatbot-supported student services National University’s approach to AI infrastructure Three Key Takeaways Think from the outside in. Understand student motivations and design enrollment to reflect their needs and expectations. Use speed as strategy. Institutions that respond quickly improve yield, reduce melt, and gain a competitive edge. Embed AI in operations. Treat AI as infrastructure built to support staff, not replace them. Read the transcript:  https://changinghighered.com/how-to-use-ai-to-improve-enrollment-and-admissions/ #HigherEdEnrollment #AIinHigherEd #AdmissionsStrategy #HigherEducationPodcast #InstitutionalEffectiveness  

Digital transformation in higher education often focuses on technology. But for Utah State University, the transformation has been about outcomes: improving retention, strengthening equity, and building scalable systems of support without overhauling infrastructure. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Rene Eborn, Associate Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Deputy of Digital Transformation at Utah State University, about how the institution designed and implemented a connected campus strategy that integrates advising, communications, and academic support into a single mobile-first platform. Drawing on her decades of experience in higher ed and edtech leadership, Eborn shares how USU replaced nine siloed tools with five integrated platforms, enabling early alerts, AI-powered nudges, and real-time visibility across departments. She explains how this model supports faculty, staff, and especially underserved student populations—including first-generation, commuter, and online learners—by surfacing what students need, when they need it. This conversation is especially relevant for institutional leaders looking to align digital infrastructure with student success goals, without ballooning their tech stack or losing sight of their mission. Topics Covered: Why USU’s connected campus approach focuses on student equity and support How the university integrated CRM, LMS, advising, and communications systems The role of AI nudges and early alerts in preventing student disengagement How faculty and staff use the system to support students in real time What the rollout process looked like—and why stakeholder involvement was key What’s next: building toward a full 360-degree student lifecycle view Real-World Examples Discussed: A first-generation student juggling three jobs flagged by the early alert system and connected to scholarship resources in time Student dashboards that surface personalized academic, advising, and financial steps A platform expansion that now includes parents, alumni, and prospective students High adoption rates driven by student feedback and design input Three Key Takeaways for Leadership: Technology should be integrated, not layered—start with user needs and existing infrastructure. Faculty and staff buy-in depends on systems that make their work easier, not more complicated. Student success improves when support is timely, personalized, and accessible—especially for those who need it most. This episode offers a practical look at what’s possible when digital transformation is driven by strategy, not software—and why connected campuses may be one of the most effective ways to support today’s diverse student population. Recommended For: Presidents, provosts, CIOs, trustees, enrollment managers, and student success leaders building or scaling student-centered infrastructure. Read the transcript: https://changinghighered.com/creating-a-connected-campus-strategy-for-student-success/   #ConnectedCampus #StudentSuccess #HigherEdTechnology #HigherEducationPodcast #DigitalTransformation