Pulse Check: Personalizing Prospective Student Journeys - Part 3

Welcome to our latest Pulse Check - Personalizing Prospective Student Journeys, hosted by Mallory Willsea

In Part 3 of this series, Setting Students Up for Success, Dustin Ramsdell, Community Engagement Lead at Pathify, joins Mallory Willsea to discuss strategies for setting students up for success after they have committed to enroll. They delve into the responsibilities of institutions in preparing students, the significance of effective orientation programs, and the use of digital platforms to streamline the post-admission process. The conversation highlights the importance of personalized, high-tech support to ensure a seamless transition for students, especially those from first-generation backgrounds.

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The Murky Middle for Institutions

Mallory and Dustin discuss the often-overlooked period between a student's acceptance and their orientation or first day of class. This time, dubbed by Dustin as the "murky middle for institutions," is pivotal.

Institutions must engage with incoming students through meaningful preparation, guiding them through necessary steps such as funding, form submissions, and familiarization with campus resources. The conversation highlights the necessity for institutions to keep everything organized and accessible for students, ensuring they feel confident and ready for their new chapter.

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Beyond the Post-Application Checklist

The dialogue shifts to concrete strategies schools can implement to combat summer melt and keep students engaged. Dustin emphasizes the shift from traditional paper-based welcome packets to digital platforms that organize tasks, provide reminders, and offer support channels like chatbots or human assistance.

This digital transformation aims to streamline processes, making the post-admission phase less daunting for students and reducing administrative burdens on staff.

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Technology's Role in Enhancing the Student Experience

Mallory and Dustin explore how technology can play a crucial role in not only easing administrative tasks but also in fostering a sense of community and belonging among new students.

They advocate for a front-end digital experience platform that complements the back-end student information systems (SIS), creating a more user-friendly and engaging interface for students. This approach can significantly improve orientation experiences, making them more interactive and personal.

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Orientation as a Continuum

The conversation underscores that orientation is not just an event but a comprehensive process spanning from the moment of deposit to the first day of class.

This extended orientation phase is critical for instilling a sense of belonging and excitement in new students, ensuring they feel part of the community even before stepping foot on campus. The hosts suggest innovative ways to use technology to maintain and amplify this excitement, from digital ID cards to interactive platforms for meeting fellow students.

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Addressing Silos in Higher Education

A notable part of the discussion is the acknowledgment of existing silos within higher education institutions and the introduction of the "Breaking Silos" podcast.

This segment of the conversation highlights efforts to foster collaboration across departments, aiming to create a more cohesive and supportive environment for students.

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Key Takeaways:

• Importance of orientation and post-admission support for new students.
• Role of digital platforms in simplifying post-enrollment procedures.
• Strategies for engaging and preparing students for their college journey.
• Emphasizing the need for personalized support for first-generation students.
• Discussion on the role of institutions in breaking down silos to foster better student experiences.

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This Pulse Check miniseries has been brought to you by Pathify. Gone are the days of clunky interfaces, disjointed systems, and massive (unhelpful) link farms. Centralize all your systems with Pathify so that students see the information that matters to them in a digital experience that actually makes sense. From prospective students through alumni, it’s about time the student experience started looking and acting like a consumer app from this century. Visit Pathify.com for more.

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About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

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Connect with Us at the Engage Summit: Exciting news — Mallory and Dustin will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.

Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $99! This early bird pricing lasts until March 31.

Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!

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