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.

How can institutions successfully turn admits into enrollees during yield season?

In this latest episode of Innovating Enrollment Success, we explore the most effective recruiting strategies and marketing tactics institutions are using to make meaningful connections with students and families.

Hillsdale College’s Assistant Director of Admissions Brennan Nokelby shares insights on personalizing outreach, addressing student concerns, and the strategies helping his team convert admits into enrolled students.

Paskill’s VP of Consulting and Research Dave Black provides a broader perspective on the trends and data institutions should be tracking to optimize yield strategies.

What you'll learn:

• The biggest surprises in yield season each year
• The top challenges private institutions face in converting admits
• How personalized outreach improves engagement
• The role of marketing in supporting admissions efforts
• Addressing student and family concerns before they derail decisions
• Creating a sense of belonging before students arrive on campus
• Real-time data tracking and last-minute strategies to increase enrollment

Learn more about Paskill's Admissions Workshops.

How does a student’s sense of belonging impact retention? And what can institutions do to foster it?

In the latest episode of the Innovating Enrollment Success Podcast, we dive into these questions with Katrina Noelle, president of KNow Research, who led a groundbreaking study with San Francisco State University. The research explores how Latinx students’ sense of belonging, engagement, and self-confidence influence retention efforts—offering valuable insights for institutions looking to improve student success.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why KNow Research partnered with SFSU on this project
• How the study captured the authentic experiences of Latinx students
• The methodologies used to explore belonging and engagement
• Key insights on self-confidence, student success, and retention
• What institutions can learn and apply from this research

Connect with Katrina on LinkedIn and ask for her ‘10 Ways to Build Belonging’ one-sheeter.

At Paskill, we know that first-gen students often face unique barriers to belonging—starting with the digital experience. Our First-Gen Student Web Audit helps institutions assess whether their website truly serves and supports first-gen students, ensuring they can find the information and resources they need.

Want to strengthen belonging at your institution? Let’s talk. Paskill is here to help higher ed institutions create meaningful connections and better outcomes.

Learn more about the First-Gen Student Web Audit.

How can campus events create powerful moments that connect, inspire, and reinforce your institution’s brand? Expectations for meaningful experiences have never been higher, and today’s audiences—from Gen Z students to alumni—demand events that feel personal, engaging, and transformative.

In our latest Innovating Enrollment Success episode, we explore how higher ed institutions can rise to the challenge by delivering brand experiences that matter.

Join seasoned events professionals Stevie Henderson and Jeffrey Haskett as they share:

• Ways to craft emotionally engaging experiences that resonate with audiences of all ages.
• The must-have elements of successful events, from open houses to commencement ceremonies.
• Innovative approaches to creating impactful events, even when working with limited budgets.

Stevie and Jeffrey bring decades of expertise from corporate, sports, and higher ed event planning, including projects for Gettysburg College’s Summit for the Future and dynamic new school year kickoffs. They offer actionable insights on what makes events memorable, how to deliver on rising expectations, and why experiences are crucial to building brand affinity.

The college search process can be overwhelming, with students facing thousands of options to find the right fit. Enter Loper—an innovative app reshaping how students, counselors, and colleges connect.

In this episode, Sam Bernstein, Loper’s co-founder, shares how the app is transforming the enrollment journey:

• Simplifying the search process to help students confidently discover their next educational step.
• Evolving the enrollment funnel and its impact on higher ed marketing.
• Empowering counselors with a free web portal to better guide their students.
• Supporting colleges and universities with data-driven tools to engage prospective students more effectively.
• The story behind the name Loper and its vision for higher education’s future.

Gen Z is drawn to destinations that offer adventure and exploration, making remote higher ed locations especially appealing to those seeking distinctive, rugged experiences. These environments foster connections with other outdoorsy students and unique communities.

In this episode, Rutgers Law alumnus and University of Alaska Fairbanks Assistant Cross-Country/Track Coach Conrad Haber shares his journey from Philadelphia to America’s Arctic and offers insights into recruiting athletes to this remote region.

Key topics include:

· The inspiration he finds in Alaska’s truly rugged culture and community

· How UAF markets its remote location as a distinctive draw for both academic and athletic recruitment

· Strategies to keep student-athletes engaged through community involvement, scholarships, and support systems designed to help them succeed