What makes an admitted student portal more than a checklist? How can it guide students from intent to enrollment? And what does it take to build a portal that actually works, for students and institutions?

In this episode of Innovating Enrollment Success, we explore how admitted student portals can either support or sabotage enrollment goals. As institutions face rising melt rates, especially among first-gen and low-income students, these digital spaces must do more than display deadlines. They must foster connection, clarity, and confidence.

Paskill Senior Account Manager Angela Wenner and Interactive Developer Suri Sahay break down what makes a portal effective and where most fall short. From personalized content and accessibility to backend strategy and tech limitations, this episode covers the collaboration and innovation required to keep students on the path to enrollment.

Together, they examine how smart strategy and responsive tech turn static portals into dynamic recruitment tools that resonate with today’s students.

What you’ll learn:

• Why portals are a make-or-break moment for enrollment, especially during melt season
• The tech essentials behind a modern, mobile-friendly, accessible portal
• How to personalize the portal experience with dynamic data and relevant content
• Where institutions often miss the mark, and how to fix it
• How collaboration between strategy and development leads to stronger outcomes
• The power of community features, gamification, and AI chatbots in future-ready portals
• Why portal planning should start early, and what to prioritize right now

When a portal is done right, it doesn’t just inform students, it engages them.
And in today’s competitive landscape, that connection can make all the difference.

What makes a college logo not only inspire but last? How do you engage your campus community around it? And how do you know it’s time for a change?

In this episode of the Campus Spirit series, we explore how logos evolve from simple sketches into lasting symbols of pride and identity. A great college logo doesn’t just look good across multiple platforms, it sparks emotion, reflects culture, and stands up to decades of student experiences and institutional change.

Agency Marketing Director Cathy Donovan is joined by Paskill Founder and President Jim Paskill, Associate Creative Director Frank Delaney, and written reflections from Senior Graphic Designer and lllustrator Nick DiNucci, whose logos have shaped dozens of institutions across the country.

Together, they unpack what makes a logo resonate, and how the strongest ones are shaped by design, collaboration, strategy, and story.

What you’ll learn:

• What makes a college logo inspiring, and how that inspiration is designed
• How identity design adapts to campus culture and student expectations
• Why community engagement matters in logo creation and evolution
• How to balance legacy and freshness in a redesign
• Where logo redesigns can go off track, and how to recover
• The role of logos across recruitment and brand touchpoints
• Stories behind logos that stuck, and what made them work

When a logo is done right, it doesn’t just represent a school, it reflects a shared experience. The most powerful marks are built with purpose, shaped by community, and designed to last.

Check out the full Q&A with Nick DeNucci.

How can colleges create emotional connections that last well beyond graduation?

In this latest episode of Innovating Enrollment Success, we kick off our special Campus Spirit series by exploring how brand experience shapes student engagement, loyalty, and long-term institutional success.

Paskill’s Associate Creative Director Frank Delaney joins Agency Marketing Director Cathy Donovan to discuss what higher ed can learn from one of the world’s most iconic consumer brands—Disney. From hospitality to apparel to campus life, this conversation reveals how consistency, storytelling, and intentional design can deepen student connection and enhance recruitment outcomes.

What you'll learn:

• The key elements that successful brands—across industries—have in common
• How to create anticipation and brand loyalty from the first admissions interaction
• Why identity and self-expression matter in student and alumni engagement
• What colleges can learn from hospitality in delivering personalized experiences
• How to ensure consistency across all brand touchpoints, from website to walk-on
• The role of storytelling in building emotional ties with prospective students
• A simple, high-impact way to elevate brand experience today

Learn more about Paskill’s approach to brand, creative, and messaging.