Each spring, EAB shares with partner institutions the company’s latest research on the most urgent threats and opportunities across the higher education marketplace. EAB’s Larisa Hussak and Brian Schueler share key takeaways from that research. Topics include strategies for attracting and retaining talent amidst the great resignation, tips on how to compete in the growing (but hyper-competitive) graduate degree market, and how to handle one of higher ed’s greatest competitive threats: the growing legions of high school graduates who decide they don’t want or need to attend college.

Top 5 Threats and Opportunities Facing Higher Ed Today

EAB’s Sally Amoruso hosts a wide-ranging discussion with influential Arizona State University President, Michael Crow. The two discuss the role of technology in helping institutions serve more students and the value of challenging the kind of antiquated thinking that pervades higher education. Dr. Crow also reminds university leaders that their institution should not be judged by how many students they exclude but by how many they accept and help to succeed.

ASU President Michael Crow Shares Strategies for Driving Institutional Change

Syracuse University’s Kal Srinivas joins EAB’s Andrina Musser to talk about how the technology, people, and processes changed at Syracuse to boost student retention efforts. The two discuss institutional barriers that had to be addressed, ways to get faculty on board, and the use of predictive analytics in facilitating proactive student outreach. Dr. Srinivas also shares lessons learned and top tips for others looking to undertake a similar transformation at their institution.

Lessons Learned from a Student Retention Revamp at Syracuse

EAB’s Wenie Lado is joined by Dr. Brian Peterson from the University of Pennsylvania where he teaches, advises students, and serves as the Director of Penn’s Makuu Black Cultural Center. The two discuss Dr. Peterson’s work at Penn and what they’ve each learned through their respective research on ways race and ethnicity help shape everything about a student’s academic development. Recorded prior to the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action in admissions, the two also speculate on potential impacts from that ruling and offer advice to university leaders on how to better support students of color already on campus, as well as those just beginning their college search.

How Racial and Ethnic Identity Influence the College Journey

EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Autumn Baggett-Griggs explore findings from a recent poll that identifies the top concerns of enrollment leaders. The two discuss the growth of the non-consumption market, the challenges of recruiting Gen P students—those heavily impacted by the pandemic—as well as unexpected impacts from the recent Supreme Court ruling on ways that colleges engage with prospective students. They also share advice for admissions leaders on how to address these challenges.

Poll Highlights Top Concerns of Enrollment Leaders

EAB’s Tom Sugar hosts a conversation with Carthage College President John Swallow. The two look back over their three-year (and counting) collaboration on EAB’s Moon Shot for Equity to share lessons learned in eliminating equity gaps that are having an enormously positive impact on students from more privileged backgrounds as well. They also offer advice to other institutions looking to apply proven strategies to improve graduation rates and close equity gaps despite potential pushback from those who may impede those efforts.

How Addressing Equity Gaps Helped Carthage Boost Overall Student Retention

EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Kathy Ruby pull back the curtain to reveal how admissions professionals sift through thousands of applications and decide who gets admitted. The two differentiate between the approach typically used at highly selective institutions versus those that admit most applicants. They also explore how financial aid optimization works and the ways that institutions apply FAO to help fill and shape their incoming classes.

How Admissions Offices Actually Work

EAB’s Michael Fischer and Afia Tasneem discuss ways that institutions are moving beyond their initial resistance to artificial intelligence and are now incorporating AI technologies within academia. They highlight some of the most promising opportunities for leveraging AI to reshape curricula, improve student support, and gain efficiencies across hundreds of administrative functions. Finally, the two offer tips to higher ed leaders on how to focus their energies and governance processes to gain the greatest institutional benefit from AI.

The Five Most Promising Uses for AI within Academia

EAB’s Paul-Anne Robb and Brian Schueler unpack the data from a new survey of college-aged non-consumers. One of the key findings is that while price matters, perceptions of high cost may be at odds with the actual cost of attendance once you factor in grants, scholarships, and other institutional “discounts.” Paul-Anne and Brian share tips on more effective ways to communicate with prospective students on price and other potential objections.

Why Students Are Opting Out of College

EAB’s Jennie Bailey hosts a discussion about performance-based admissions (PBA) with the Assistant Vice President, New Ventures & Business Operations at Northeastern University, Robert Towner. Rob recently helped Northeastern pilot the use of PBA to admit students to the school’s online MBA program. Jennie and Rob share their thoughts on the growing use of alternative admissions models at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. They also share tips for other university leaders who may be considering the use of PBA at their institution.

Will Performance-Based Admissions Boost Graduate Enrollments?

EAB’s Val Fox and Jennie Bailey take a fresh look at the relationship between universities and OPMs, companies that partner with schools to help them develop and market online programs. The two offer tips on how to exit a relationship with an OPM that is no longer generating sufficient value. They also outline steps schools should follow to help them transition to a more effective growth strategy.

How to Exit an OPM Relationship

EAB’s Linda Marchlewski is joined by Todd McLees, an internationally recognized strategist and thought leader on the future of work and learning. The two share why it’s so critical for colleges to teach students how to use AI to make them better architects, actors, or anything else they want to be. They also share tips for higher ed leaders on how to develop private-sector partnerships that will help them strengthen the AI literacy of their institution.

How to Prepare for the AI Economy

EAB’s Sean Tivnan and JP LaFors discuss how new college search behaviors are forcing university websites to evolve. The two share tips for connecting and engaging with Gen Z “stealth shoppers” who are heavily influenced by your institution’s digital presence. Tips include quick fixes and more comprehensive strategies to improve your site’s navigation and information architecture.

How to Turn Your Website into an Enrollment Engine

EAB’s Erin Preston hosts a discussion with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Jonathan Wexler about his study of university consolidation and closures. The two discuss the types of institutions at greatest risk and options available to those facing declining enrollments and revenues. They also offer insight into current trends in M&A activity versus outright closures.

Is Your University Headed for a Merger (or Worse)?

EAB’s Carla Hickman joins Seramount President Subha Barry to review the findings of a new paper that explores the rapid decline in student readiness. That decline is causing unprecedented numbers of young adults to either forgo college completely or enter college without the skills needed to be successful. Carla and Subha share advice for leaders working in higher education and corporate America on how to adapt to this new reality.

How the Student Readiness Gap Is Impacting Colleges and Employers

EAB’s Michael Koppenheffer and Pam Kiecker Royall discuss a new survey that shows most prospective college students want colleges to send them more personalized recruiting messages that incorporate what institutions know about their academic and non-academic interests. Students say this kind of hyper-personalized messaging saves them time and makes them feel the university values them as individuals. Pam and Michael discuss what’s possible and advisable in creating bespoke recruiting packets for thousands of students.

Can Hyper-Personalization Work in University Recruiting?

EAB’s Val Fox and Todd Heilman unpack data from a new survey that examines the mindset and preferences of today’s adult learners. Val and Todd highlight important changes in current and prospective students’ search behavior, expectations, and application preferences. They also offer enrollment leaders tips to engage and enroll prospective students more effectively.

New Survey Reveals What Today’s Adult Learners Really Want

EAB’s Rebecca Kelley interviews Chris Goodbourn from GEMS Education, one of the largest private K-12 education providers in the world. Rebecca and Chris discuss the challenges US colleges face in attracting international students. They also share tips—including leveraging EAB’s Global Match platform—to connect with and enroll more overseas students more cost-effectively. 

How to Enroll More International Students

EAB’s Chrysanthi Violaris and Ally Stanton explore best practices for benchmarking in advancement, helping teams assess their fundraising productivity compared to peer institutions and past performance. They discuss how to interpret key metrics, avoid common pitfalls, and use data strategically to strengthen decision-making. The episode also offers practical tips on leveraging benchmarking insights to guide budget discussions with university leaders and demonstrate the impact of financial investments on fundraising success.

Why Advancement Benchmarking is More Critical Than Ever

AI is reshaping how we search for and discover information online—so what does that mean for university websites? In this episode, EAB’s Emily Upton and Philip Walton break down the profound impact of AI on search and share practical strategies for staying ahead. They also offer the latest SEO tips to boost traffic and engage site visitors more effectively.

Is Your Website Optimized for AI-Powered Search?

EAB’s Carla Hickman and Kate Brown discuss the practical effects of the “Dear Colleague” letter and offer insights into how higher education institutions might respond to increasingly aggressive federal attacks on DEI. They urge listeners to prepare for all contingencies while avoiding the risks of proactive compliance. Carla and Kate also share resources available to help education leaders make informed decisions as they navigate the political landscape.

Is This the End of DEI?

EAB’s Tara Zirkel hosts a conversation with Dr. Jessica Gerrity, a grant expert from McAllister & Quinn, a federal grant consulting and government relations firm in Washington, DC. The two discuss what changes at the Department of Education could mean for grant funding. They also share tips on how university leaders might adapt grant strategies in the months ahead.

How Will Federal Cuts Impact Grant Strategies?

EAB’s Madeleine Rhyneer and Michael Koppenheffer review new analysis of over 80 school characteristics to uncover what draws students to U.S. campuses today. Spoiler alert: the number of majors offered, availability of student organizations, campus safety, and favorable weather all outweigh affordability in influencing students’ college decisions. Learn how to leverage your true strengths and opportunities to stand out in a crowded market.

Decision Day: Top Factors That Sway College Applicants

EAB’s Ellyn Artis and Ed Venit examine the new Student Access and Earnings Classification system—set to launch this spring—that could turn traditional college rankings on their head. Unlike rankings that prioritize prestige and exclusivity, this new framework was designed by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education to put student access and career outcomes front and center. Ellyn and Ed explore how this shift could become a powerful catalyst for change, pushing institutions to redefine institutional excellence. They also offer practical guidance for higher ed leaders on how to make the necessary institutional improvements.

New College Rankings Focus on Student Success

EAB’s Ed Venit hosts a conversation with Knack CEO and co-founder Samyr Qureshi, who shares how institutions can build a peer tutoring strategy to fill gaps in academic support services. The two discuss how Knack’s approach helps institutions recruit, train, and compensate student tutors. They also explain how a student-led tutoring model can help scale up support infrastructure and reach more at-risk students with after-hours and virtual tutoring sessions.

How to Empower Student Success Through Peer Tutoring

EAB’s Beth Donaldson and Val Fox unpack findings from our latest benchmarking survey of graduate enrollment leaders. The findings highlight a significant disconnect between the graduate enrollment goals being set by university leaders and the market realities confronting those charged with recruiting adult learners. Val and Beth offer advice to admissions teams on how to invest limited marketing dollars to generate the maximum number of leads, applications, and matriculants.

How Graduate Enrollment Teams Are Adapting

EAB’s Camilla Arias and Pam Royall sit down with global higher education consultant Donald Resnik to unpack key findings from the latest EAB-NAGAP survey of nearly 600 graduate enrollment professionals. Their conversation examines the widening gap between enrollment expectations and the staffing and budget resources available to meet them. The three also touch on areas that GEM professionals consider positive trends, including the growth of corporate partnerships. 

Under Pressure: Grad Enrollment Pros Sound Off

EAB’s Jennifer Lerner sits down with the authors of “The Chief Online Learning Officers’ Guidebook” to explore the evolving and increasingly strategic role of the Chief Online Learning Officer (COLO). The conversation delves into the key competencies that define effective digital leadership in today’s academic landscape. Our guests, Thomas Cavanagh and Jocelyn Widmer, also unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of online learning. 

The Rise of the Chief Online Learning Officer

Student expectations keep rising, yet too many recruitment marketing campaigns still read like mass emails. In this episode, EAB’s Michael Koppenheffer and Ryan Gardner-Cook outline a four-stage roadmap for hyper-personalizing the recruitment journey. and identify the student data required to power each step. You’ll hear where to start, the kinds of student data needed, how to design meaningful tests, and the pitfalls to avoid so you can replace “spray-and-pray” blasts with personalized recruitment experiences that scale.

Is Hyper-Personalization the Key to Enrollment Marketing?

EAB financial aid experts, Brett Schraeder and Kathy Ruby explore what’s ahead as FAFSA 2026 updates roll out alongside sweeping changes from the Big Beautiful Bill. Their conversation covers the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, new limits on Parent PLUS, the introduction of Workforce Pell Grants, and a revamped repayment plan. They also share insights on how institutions can adapt their aid strategies and strengthen communication with students and families.

Will the BBB Put the Big Chill on Student Borrowing?

EAB’s Christine Doci and Lars Waldo discuss ways that AI is helping universities manage and access fragmented IT systems. The two discuss the shortcomings of early data warehousing efforts and offer tips on how to use AI to organize and accelerate access to data without compromising privacy or governance constraints. 

Is Your Campus Data AI-Ready?

Noted author Nathan D. Grawe talks about his new book that explores how college recruitment and retention efforts are evolving to meet demographic and other challenges.

Nathan Grawe Shares Insights from His New Book, “The Agile College”

A new podcast from EAB experts to share ideas, insight, and inspiration with higher ed leaders

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