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.

• 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

• 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

1. Think from the outside in. Understand student motivations and design enrollment to reflect their needs and expectations.
   
   
2. Use speed as strategy. Institutions that respond quickly improve yield, reduce melt, and gain a competitive edge.
   
   
3. 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

How Cross-Sector Partnerships Help Adult Learners Return, Persist, and Complete Degrees

With over 41 million adults in the U.S. holding some college credit but no degree, colleges and universities are under pressure to implement effective adult learner enrollment strategies. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Malik Brown, President and CEO of Graduate Philadelphia, about how institutions can re-engage students who have stopped out through cross-sector partnerships that support enrollment, retention, and degree completion.

Drawing on their real-world experience in higher education and workforce development, McNaughton and Brown discuss how adult learners face unique barriers—including affordability, caregiving responsibilities, and outdated enrollment systems—and how intermediaries like nonprofits and employers can play a crucial role in supporting their return to college. The episode outlines practical, replicable strategies that institutional leaders can adopt to build sustainable pipelines for adult learner success.

This conversation is especially valuable for higher ed presidents, provosts, and enrollment leaders tasked with addressing demographic shifts and declining enrollments while aligning with workforce and community needs.

Topics Covered:

• The economic and social reasons over 41 million Americans have stopped out

• Why adult learners need support from application through graduation

• How partnerships with nonprofits, employers, and funders extend institutional capacity

• The importance of stackable credentials aligned to labor market needs

• Why re-enrollment strategies must include systems changes and credit articulation

• Reducing friction in the application, financial aid, and credit transfer processes

Real-World Examples Discussed:

• Graduate Philadelphia’s intermediary role connecting students, colleges, and employers

• How employers can provide scheduling flexibility and tuition assistance

• Use of workforce credentials as an on-ramp to degrees

• Models for credit articulation and co-governed partnerships

• Community-based navigation support that increases persistence and completion

Three Key Takeaways for Leadership:

1. Build integrated partnerships that extend institutional reach. Nonprofits, workforce boards, and employers provide essential wraparound services that help adult learners succeed.

2. Design stackable pathways that start with workforce credentials. These programs allow adults to earn income and confidence while progressing toward a degree.

3. Fix enrollment systems that weren’t built for adults. From transcript access to unpaid balances, institutions must streamline re-entry to remove avoidable barriers.

This episode provides a framework for institutional leaders seeking actionable strategies to re-enroll adult learners and support them through to graduation.

Recommended For:
Presidents, provosts, chief enrollment officers, board members, continuing education leaders, and workforce development professionals focused on adult learners and institutional sustainability.

Read the transcript:
https://changinghighered.com/adult-learner-enrollment-completion-partnerships/

#AdultLearners #HigherEdEnrollment #WorkforcePartnerships #HigherEducationPodcast #DegreeCompletion #ChangingHigherEd