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Improving a student’s sense of belonging and connectedness is a powerful force for good—and measurably improves enrollment, inclusion, and retention. A higher sense of belonging improves students’ excitement, confidence, and commitment related to college.  The first year experience begins with the admissions and application process, before the first year even truly begins. Many of us will soon be facing early and priority admissions deadlines for next fall. Now is the perfect time to take a strategic approach to student success through creating a space for building intentional connections. This episode explores the creative ways CSUN is working towards increasing student yield and ultimately student success through community building. Listen to a case-study of how to build a student-driven sense of belonging using the Near Peer peer-to-peer engagement platform. Near Pear is a virtual peer network that reinforces a sense of belonging and community throughout the student lifecycle, resulting in increased yield, reduced melt, and improved persistence. Host: Stephanie Krusemark, Vice President of Enrollment Management Illif School of Theology Guests: Dustin Manocha, Founder and CEO Near Peer Aaron Lindberg, Director of AdmissionsCalifornia State University-Northridge

This is the second episode of a two part series on Legacy Admissions. Host, Dr. Stephanie Krusemark sits down with Janelle Holmboe, Executive Vice President of Constituent Engagement at McDaniel College and talk about the unique way that they are building legacy through scholarships. McDaniel has several legacy scholarship programs, the most recent of which is the Alumni Legacy Scholarship. These scholarship programs have created a clear pipeline of students - 20% of McDaniel students move through one of these scholarship programs. And the yield is 10-15% higher than other admitted students. In addition to the pragmatic enrollment successes of these programs, they allow McDaniel an opportunity to align funds with institutional history and mission.Listen now to learn more about this engaging and informative continuation of the conversation on Legacy Admissions. HostDr. Stephanie Krusemark, Vice President of Enrollment ManagementIllif School of Theology Guest: Janelle Holmboe, Executive Vice President of Constituent EngagementMcDaniel College 

On February 7, 2022, a new bill, the Fair College Admissions for Students Act, was introduced in the U. S. Senate and the House of Representatives. The bill would ban any college that participates in federal student aid programs from offering admissions preferences to children of alumni or donors. While there is still no update on the approval of this bill, to add some perspective, I sit down with Barb Roberts, Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Services, for the University of Nevada - Las Vegas. According to the U. S. News and World Report rankings, the University of Nevada - Las Vegas is noted as one of the most diverse institutions in the country and does not offer legacy admissions to increase access, equity, and diversity within its student body. In this episode, I ask Barb to discuss her perspectives on this new potential legislation and its impact on the future of college admissions and enrollment.Host Stephanie Krusemark, Vice President of Enrollment Management Iliff School of TheologyGuest Barb Roberts, Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Services University of Nevada - Las Vegas 

Admit It sits down with Jackson Boyar, Co-Founder and CEO of Mentor Collective and Stephen Ostendorff, Dean of Admissions of Molloy University and new Mentor Collective partner, to discuss how peer mentorship programs can increase admitted student yield and overall student success.Resources:Programs and/or Mentors for Newly Admitted Students: January 2022 | 60-Second Survey

On this Juneteenth Weekend, Dr. Stephanie Krusemark, co-host of the AdmitIt podcast, sits down with Dr. Marybeth Gasman to discuss the history of race and culture embedded within the minority serving institutions in the United States. We discuss the positive impact these institutions have on student success, the realistic challenges of their survival and ability to thrive, and why it’s important to advocate for their sustainability within the larger higher education ecosystem of colleges and universities in the United States and globally. Dr. Marybeth Gasman is the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education, the Executive Director of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity & Justice, and the Executive Director of the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions at Rutgers University. RESOURCESPublications by Dr. Gasman Doing the Right Thing: How Colleges and Universities Can Undo Systemic Racism in Faculty Hiring (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2022). Educating a Diverse Nation: Lessons from Minority Serving Institutions. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2015).  Relevant Context Material Consider a College With a Focus on Minority Students, U. S. News and World Report  Minority Serving Institutions, American Council on Education  Education Dept. Delivers $1.4 Billion in Stimulus Funds to Minority-Serving Institutions, AACRAO Biden Unveils FY 2023 Budget Blueprint, AACRAO

Admit It explores the early career paths of admissions and enrollment professionals with four guests: Krystin Woodell (UNC Pembroke - Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions), Anthony Olaiya Wright (NC State University - Assistant Director of the Goodnight Scholars Program), Jacqueline López (NC State University - Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions), and  David Stevenson (Appalachian State University - Assistant Director of Admissions for International Admissions).  Each guests elaborates on their experiences navigating the early admissions and enrollment professional career path and provides insights for listeners on how to develop themselves to get to that next level in their career.

 In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Krusemark, explores the impact of the stress and pressure of continuing to recruit and retain students in the midst of a global crisis on the mental health of admissions, enrollment management professionals, and faculty.Learn how to maintain good mental health through creativity and collaboration. Host:Dr. Stephanie KrusemarkVice President of Enrollment ManagementIliff School of TheologyGuests:Dr.  Terry M DavisAssociate Professor and Director, PsyD ProgramUniversity of DenverJulie SchellmanDirector of Admissions, Graduate School of Professional PsychologyUniversity of Denver

Season 3 kicks off with a mini episode welcoming back our host -- James Miller -- and introducing Drs. Angela Brokelsby and Stephanie Krusemark.

Admit It sits down with Mark Kopenski, experienced enrollment management professional and principle for Global Student Recruitment Advisors Inc. to discuss a brief history of international student enrollment in the U.S., the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on international students, the deleterious effects of the current political climate, and reasons to be optimistic about the future of globalizing higher education.  Global Student Recruitment Advisors: https://gsra.org.uk/ Writing by Mark: https://gsra.org.uk/author/mark/ AACRAO's Statement on the ICE ruling on international students learning onlineCoverage of the fallout from the ICE ruling on international students learning online: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/10/student-visas-ice-international-students/

Our host, James Miller, continues exploring the controversially titled "Noncognitive Assessment" with its creator Dr. William "Bill" Sedlacek. By using these non-traditional measures that have typically not been used to assess human abilities, particularly to predict success in higher education, admissions offices move away from solely defining "best students" by known scales such as gpa, test scores, leadership, involvement, and accomplishments and instead measure more deeply who the people are. Resources:A List of Non-Cognitive Assessment InstrumentsCommunity College Research Center Measuring Noncognitive Variables: Improving Admissions, Success and Retention for Underrepresented Studentsby William Selacek Racism in American Education: A Model for Changeby Glenwood C. Sedlacek, William E.; Brooks

Who are the "best students"?Our host, James Miller, is back and exploring the controversially titled "Noncognitive Assessment" with its creator Dr. William "Bill" Sedlacek. By using these non-traditional measures that have typically not been used to assess human abilities, particularly to predict success in higher education, admissions offices move away from solely defining "best students" by known scales such as gpa, test scores, leadership, involvement, and accomplishments and instead measure more deeply who the people are.

James Miller chats with Christopher Tremblay, Director of External Relations for the Michigan College Access Network about the admissions based card game, Getting In. In addition to learning about the development of Getting In, Dr. Tremblay discusses the ins and outs of creating a card game, running a Kickstarter, how a card game can make college admissions less stressful, and the history of Walt Disney.  Related links: School counselors empirical research School Counselor Ratio Report  Getting In Kickstarter AACRAO SEM Endorsement Essentials of SEM Bob Bontrager  Nirvana was a Tacoma Band

James Miller sits down to chat with Jeff Kallay, Principal and Cofounder of Render Experiences. Jeff has dedicated his life and career to helping colleges better make their campus visits and events tell the authentic story of the experiences students will have on campus. This conversation spans everything from Jeff’s journey to a career in campus visits, the experience economy, the big mistakes colleges make when hosting students and families, how generational differences impact the campus visit, and Jeff’s favorite Pittsburgh Steelers of all time.  Lee University: http://www.leeuniversity.edu/ Pine and Gilmore's Experience Economy: https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9781422161975 Pine and Gilmore's Strategic Horizons Group: https://strategichorizons.com/Pew's Generations Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/topics/generations-and-age/A less than definitive list of the greatest Steelers of all time: https://www.ranker.com/list/best-pittsburgh-steelers-of-all-time/ranker-nfl My favorite Manhattan: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018340-manhattan Thrice All American by Neko Case: https://open.spotify.com/album/5UiyS9gHzIJ0kiI0E0kEpR

James Miller interviews University of Puget Sound Chief Diversity Officer and nationally recognized diversity and inclusion expert, Michael Benitez on how admissions offices and diversity offices on college campuses can work more closely and effectively together.Michael Benitez website: https://www.speakoutnow.org/speaker/michael-benitez-jrHistory of colonization of Puerto Rico: https://gsp.yale.edu/case-studies/colonial-genocides-project/puerto-ricoWorkforce Diversity Network Chief Diversity Officer article: https://workforcediversitynetwork.com/docs/Article_goldemwilliams_WhatisaChief%20DiversityOfficer.pdfWe’ve Got Minorities, Yes We Do study by Dr. Timothy Pippert (requires university library access): https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1026275Notorious B.I.G. Playlist (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO39qAJG?si=U3-2vmzlTEKYOKZzcid5_QNas Playlist (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWUuiucxQQIC1?si=ipTMtDhsQ9CYaCVpdaez9wJay Z Playlist (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO1XGbvi?si=jevSJKxuS2ie19j1PhOnzgKendrick Lamar Playlist (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX5EkyRFIV92g?si=eKaO0gpaTHKKH3Bi8_9vrA

Dr. Genny Beemyn, Director of the Stonewall Center at the University of Massachusetts, sits down with James Miller to talk about the needs of Trans students on college campus and in the admissions process. The conversation covers a wide range of topics from the progression of LBG students in college vs. the progress of Trans students in college to best practices for inclusive recruitment and admissions practices.

Admit It sits down with Scott Jaschik (like classic) to discuss the Inside Higher Ed 2018 Survey of Admissions Directors. In this wide ranging conversation, we cover how the current political climate impacts college admissions, the Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard affirmative action court case, the state of the test optional movement, the increasing struggle to meet enrollment targets by May 1, and so much more.