Innovating Enrollment Success

First-Generation Voices of Success

Show Notes First-generation students bring determination, resilience, and ambition to higher education. Yet many also face challenges that institutions may not fully understand, including navigating unfamiliar systems, finding a sense of belonging, and learning how to advocate for themselves. In this episode, Julio Abreu, author of the new book First-Generation Voices of Success, discusses the experiences of first-generation students and what colleges and universities can do to better support them. Through stories of perseverance, achievement, and personal growth, Julio shares lessons that can help enrollment, marketing, and student success professionals create more welcoming and supportive environments for the students they serve. What You'll Learn * Why personal stories can help institutions better understand the first-generation student experience * Common challenges first-generation students face before and during college * How belonging influences student confidence, engagement, and success * Why self-advocacy is a critical skill for navigating higher education * Ways colleges can encourage students to seek help and access support services * Areas where institutions still have opportunities to improve support for first-generation students * Key lessons from First-Generation Voices of Success for enrollment, marketing, and student success leaders * What higher education professionals need to better understand first-generation students today

Expanding the Touchpoints: In-School Engagement and the 13th Year Plan

Digital recruitment dominates today’s enrollment landscape. But Weston Noyes of 13th Year believes institutions should not replace digital strategy. They should expand it. Through interactive kiosks placed inside high schools, 13th Year helps colleges create measurable, real-time engagement in the environments where students are already thinking about their future. In this conversation, Weston shares how 65-inch interactive kiosks create simple pathways to connection. Students can scan QR-enabled video content, explore institutional profile pages, or opt in for outreach through a $1,000 scholarship program. With nearly 70% of scholarship applicants requesting direct contact from partner institutions, one insight stands out. Students do not just want information. They want connection. What you will learn Presence builds trust. Consistent visibility inside a student’s school day creates familiarity that digital impressions alone cannot. Connection drives action. High opt-in rates signal a desire for genuine connction, not just brochures. Digital and physical work together. In school engagement can move students from awareness to action.

Campus Spirit: How Photography Can Capture Moments of Connection

Prospective students can decide quickly whether a campus feels right for them. Frank Delaney and Lien Do of Paskill join Douglas Benedict of Academic Image to explore how authentic, emotionally grounded photography shapes that first impression, builds trust, and helps institutions stand out in a crowded enrollment landscape. Together, they discuss what authenticity really means in enrollment marketing and how campuses can move beyond staged visuals to tell honest stories about place, people, and culture. From planning smarter photo shoots to understanding student visual literacy, this conversation breaks down what works now and what truly resonates with prospective students. What you’ll learn * Authenticity matters more than ever. Students can spot staged or misleading imagery instantly. * Sense of place drives connection. Campus photography should feel unmistakably unique to your institution. * Emotion builds belonging. Images that capture real moments help students see themselves on campus. * Plan with intention. Start with enrollment and program priorities before the camera ever comes out. * Quality over quantity. A focused set of meaningful images outperforms large libraries of generic shots. * Respect and consent are essential. Trust and comfort lead to more genuine student engagement. * Leave room for the unexpected. Some of the strongest images come from unplanned moments. * Minimal editing wins. Overuse of Photoshop or AI can erode credibility with today’s visually savvy students. * Collaboration fuels success. Enrollment teams, creatives, photographers, and students all shape the story.

Balancing Budgets and Growing Enrollment

When financial pressures and shifting demand collide, what actually moves the needle? Blending financial clarity with student-centered marketing helps institutions stabilize today and grow tomorrow.  Chester Moyer of RubinBrown and Dave Black of Paskill explore how smaller, enrollment-dependent institutions can face budget stress with clear-eyed strategies that connect finance and enrollment. From pausing capital projects and managing hiring to improving marketing yield and campus culture, they share what works now and what takes time.  What you’ll learn  * The financial reality. Tuition revenue alone isn’t covering costs for many smaller colleges. * Tough talks lead to change. Leaders need honest plans that reduce expenses or increase revenue. * Smart cost control. Pause big projects, review hiring, and consolidate where possible. * Quality over quantity. Focus marketing and admissions on fit and yield, not inflated applicant pools. * Holistic marketing. Align paid media, content, and CRM to generate strong leads and conversions. * Culture builds confidence. Every visit, message, and staff interaction shapes yield. * Collaboration wins. Finance, enrollment, and academics must share data and direction

From Campus to Community: Civic Engagement and the Future of Higher Ed

What happens when higher education reclaims its civic purpose at a time when the public questions its value? By engaging deeply with their communities, institutions can rebuild trust, demonstrate relevance, and strengthen student belonging in ways that go beyond enrollment numbers.  In this episode of Innovating Enrollment Success, Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda, a nonpartisan research and engagement organization focused on strengthening democracy and expanding opportunities for civic participation, shares how institutions can align civic purpose with student success.  From building community partnerships to modeling institutional values, Seligsohn shares what it takes to make engagement central to both learning and leadership.  What you’ll learn  ·       Civic engagement builds learning and belonging. When students connect coursework to real communities, they form deeper ties to their institution.  ·       Partnerships make institutions trusted and relevant. Collaborating locally shows your brand’s value beyond campus walls.  ·       Leaders must live their values. Authentic action from leadership reinforces mission and builds audience trust.  ·       Listening creates connection and understanding. Dialogue across differences strengthens both campus culture and brand perception.  ·       Every voice strengthens the institution. Inclusion fuels belonging, engagement, and advocacy among students and staff.  ·       Meaning drives student success and loyalty. When students see purpose in their education, they stay, succeed, and champion your story.