Strategic Enrollment Management Pathway Sessions

Attendees of this pathway were encouraged to watch the Beyond Admission? Considering the Implications of Affirmative Action Cases for Financial Aid and Scholarships webinar prior to the conference.

If you have registered for this pathway, you may now access handouts provided by the speakers.

Sunday, February 5, 2023

2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Bus Tour (optional)

Departs from: Mayflower Hotel Desales Street entrance

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Opening Reception

Location: State Room

Monday, February 6, 2023

Prior to 8:30 a.m. - Breakfast on Your Own

8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. - Opening Session

Location: Grand Ballroom

Brad Barnett, NASFAA 2022-23 national chair, opens the conference and Justin Draeger, NASFAA president and CEO,  provides the Washington Update. 

9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Networking Break (Exhibits Open)

Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Idea Lab #1: Paradigm Shift? Potential Impacts of Supreme Court Cases on the Enrollment and Financial Aid Landscape

Location: State Room
Speaker: Justin Draeger, NASFAA president and CEO; and Chuck Knepfle, Portland State 

In fall 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases involving the use of race in admissions brought forward by Students for Fair Admissions Inc. against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. This session will explore the potential impacts of those cases on how colleges and universities admit and award financial aid to students.

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Idea Lab #2: Is the Minority Now the Majority? Recruitment and Financial Aid Strategy Differences for the Ever-changing Diversity of Learners

Location: State Room
Speakers: Brian Dixon, University of Texas at Austin and Janelle Kilgore, University of North Dakota 

Enrolling a diverse study body starts with recruiting one. The enrollment strategies that are used for adult and other non-traditional students will differ from those used at high school college fairs. Convincing a rural student to come to your school is a different process than if the student is in the suburbs.

12:00 p.m.  - 2:00 p.m. - Lunch on Your Own/Network With Exhibitors

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Idea Lab #3: Hot Off the Press! How to Build Your Toolkit for Working with Reporters, Bloggers, and Other Non-higher Ed Colleagues

Location: State Room
Speakers: Allie Arcese, NASFAA, and Brent Tener, Vanderbilt University 

It's often difficult to focus on how we as financial aid and enrollment professionals communicate with external constituents when we're overwhelmed with regulation changes, long student lines, and the struggle to hire staff. However, when we can work with them successfully, it helps the rest of our work in significant ways. Whether it's a call from a reporter, a prominent community partner, potential donors, or even officials helping to manage a campus crisis, effective communication to those outside of the financial aid office is critical.

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Idea Lab #4: Learning from our Admission Colleagues - Best Practices in Communicating with Students Through Digital Platforms

Location: State Room
Speakers: Tim Cerato, Southern New Hampshire University; Katie O'Brien, Seattle University; and Matthew Thornton, Southern New Hampshire University 

They didn't read the email I sent! It's becoming harder and harder to determine what is the best medium to communicate with our students. The admission offices on our campuses are often the ones who are most in tune with what works and what doesn't. There is a lot to learn from them as we look to better communicate with our students.

4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Networking Reception

Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer 

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Prior to 8:30 a.m. - Breakfast on Your Own

8:30 a.m.  - 9:30 a.m. - General Session: Department of Education Update on FAFSA Simplification 

Location: Grand Ballroom
Speaker: Melanie Storey, Federal Student Aid

A representative from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will discuss current happenings at ED with an emphasis on significant upcoming federal methodology and FAFSA changes.

9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Networking Break (Exhibits Open)

Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer 

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Idea Lab #5: Leading Up - the Art of Explanation

Location: State Room
Speakers: Marvin Smith, FAAC^®, University of California, Los Angeles; Dr. Christina Tangalakis, FAAC^®, Glendale Community College; and Sarah Everitt, Gonzaga University; and Angelika Williams, University of San Francisco

Enrollment management varies from institution to institution, but there are core components that any aspiring EM leader should know.  This session will provide you with insight on how the impact of your office influences enrollment management strategy, telling your story as a leader, and what is critical to your development as a leader in this ever-growing and ever-changing landscape.

11:30 a.m.  - 1:30 p.m. - Lunch on Your Own/Network With Exhibitors

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. -  Idea Lab #6: Let's Think Differently: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic's Influence on Strategic Enrollment Management

Location: State Room
Speakers: Katherine Cloud, George Washington University; Tracey Mingo, Georgia Southern University Statesboro Campus; and Kristin Uttech, Madison Area Technical College

The pandemic brought significant changes in the higher education industry causing enrollment management partners to think differently in how to recruit and retain students. This session will provide insight on (1) institutional pandemic influenced enrollment and retention strategies, (2) what students are looking for in institutions based on industry research, institutional observations, and student perspectives, and (3) changes in higher education policy that will impact student recruitment efforts.

2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Idea Lab #7: Open Forum

Location: State Room
Speakers: Billie Jo Hamilton, University of South Florida, and Chuck Knepfle, Portland State University  

A lot has been thrown at us over the last two days. This last session will rely on attendee feedback and participation to bring everything together and send us back to our campuses excited, educated, and rejuvenated. We also want to hear your thoughts on how relevant the sessions were for you, and what suggestions you have for next year's conference.

3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Final Networking Break

Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer 

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Advocacy and You/Preparing for Hill Visits

Location: Grand Ballroom

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Capitol Hill Visits

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Capitol Hill Visit Debrief

Location: Room 1539 of the Longworth House Office Building

If you have registered for this pathway, you may now access handouts provided by the speakers.