Higher Ed Pulse Mallory Willsea and Seth Odell

In this episode of The Pulse, Mallory and Seth dive into the controversial topic of cutting degree programs to address budget shortfalls and declining enrollments. They explore the recent example of St. Cloud State University, which is planning to cut 46 degree programs and reduce faculty by 13%. Seth offers a contrarian view, suggesting that strategic program cuts can actually drive growth by reallocating resources to high-demand areas. They discuss the importance of aligning educational offerings with market and employer demands, and emphasize the crucial role marketers can play in these decisions.

In this final part of our Pulse Check series on Leadership in Higher Ed, listeners can get a sense of why collaboration matters in marketing and strategies to help build collaboration with their own teams. Additionally, listeners will learn where are smart places to begin collaboration and how to approach that with intentionality. Finally, leaders will learn strategies for managing critics and how to make structural changes to support collaboration.

Hosts Mallory and Seth dive into the complexities surrounding the 2024 FAFSA fiasco and its impact on enrollment. They discuss how institutions can adapt their strategies to support students during this chaotic time and share practical tips for enrollment marketing professionals. Tune in for insights on personalizing communication, extending deadlines, and leveraging marketing techniques to navigate these unprecedented challenges.

In this episode, listeners will learn more about managing the MarComm budget. From building partnerships to taking advantage of one-time monies, Kate Ledger shares how to maximize the budget for MarComm efforts. Finally, she’ll debunk the notion that creatives can’t do budgets and share strategies to help learn this important part of the CMO role.