Ep. 16: How Waukesha County Tech Simplified Student Registration to Boost Enrollment

09/09/24 • 27 min

In this episode of The Hidden Gem, host Maya Demishkevich speaks with Kaylan Gaines, Director of Recruitment and Engagement at Waukesha County Technical College, about the college's innovative approach to in-person registration events. Kaylan shares the story behind the creation of the "Admission Accomplished" event—a one-stop enrollment experience designed to simplify the registration process for students, streamline their journey, and ensure they receive the necessary support to start their college education confidently.

Key Takeaways:

Addressing Challenges in Registration: Hear about how Waukesha County Technical College created a one-stop registration event to simplify the enrollment process and address common student challenges.
Design and Execution of the Event: Learn how the event involves collaboration across departments, offering students comprehensive support from application to enrollment, all in one day.
Significant Impact on Enrollment: Discover the impact of the "Admission Accomplished" event, which boosted attendance and now contributes to 25% of fall enrollments.
Effective Marketing Strategies: Find out about the targeted marketing strategies—like email and text messaging—that successfully attract students to the event.
Advice for Other Institutions: Get insights on how other colleges can streamline their registration process, reduce barriers, and create a more student-friendly experience.

Access the Admission Accomplished Checklist: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v3Y-2ZXHyWXEh5ePFSuQS1_eQAvaidM6/view?usp=sharing

Guest Name: Kaylan Gaines, Director of Recruitment and Engagement, Waukesha County Technical College.

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylan-gaines/

Guest Bio: Kaylan Gaines is a higher education professional with a decade of experience specializing in admissions & student recruitment. He currently is the Director of Recruitment & Engagement at Waukesha County Technical College located in southeastern Wisconsin where he develops and implements the recruitment strategy of the college's Enrollment Services unit and oversees recruitment operations and initiatives.

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Connect With Our Host:
Maya Demishkevich
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayademishkevich/

Key Takeaways:

Addressing Challenges in Registration: Hear about how Waukesha County Technical College created a one-stop registration event to simplify the enrollment process and address common student challenges.
Design and Execution of the Event: Learn how the event involves collaboration across departments, offering students comprehensive support from application to enrollment, all in one day.
Significant Impact on Enrollment: Discover the impact of the "Admission Accomplished" event, which boosted attendance and now contributes to 25% of fall enrollments.
Effective Marketing Strategies: Find out about the targeted marketing strategies—like email and text messaging—that successfully attract students to the event.
Advice for Other Institutions: Get insights on how other colleges can streamline their registration process, reduce barriers, and create a more student-friendly experience.

Access the Admission Accomplished Checklist: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v3Y-2ZXHyWXEh5ePFSuQS1_eQAvaidM6/view?usp=sharing

Guest Name: Kaylan Gaines, Director of Recruitment and Engagement, Waukesha County Technical College.

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylan-gaines/

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Connect With Our Host:
Maya Demishkevich
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayademishkevich/

Previous Episode

Ep. 15: Crafting Meaningful and Memorable Experiences for Community College Constituents

In this enlightening episode, we welcome Rob Zinkan, Vice President for Marketing Leadership at RHB, to discuss the pivotal role of constituent experiences in higher education marketing. Rob provides an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities facing community colleges as they strive to enhance their impact on students and communities. From understanding RHB’s 4Es model to creating meaningful and memorable student journeys, this episode sheds light on how colleges can effectively differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape.

Key Takeaways:

Strategies for Creating Meaningful Experiences: Learn practical steps to start creating impactful constituent experiences, from conducting experience inventories to journey mapping, ensuring these experiences align with institutional mission and values.
Insights into the 4Es Model: Discover RHB’s model of coherence, focusing on the four key areas—experience, expression, expectation, and effectiveness—that marketing departments need to master for greater institutional impact.
Real-World Examples of Signature Experiences: Hear about successful initiatives, like the Summit at Agnes Scott College, that have significantly improved engagement and contributed to institutional success.
Measuring the Impact of Experiences: Understand how to assess and measure the effectiveness of constituent experiences using various metrics and indicators, ensuring these experiences drive desired outcomes such as admissions, retention, and alumni engagement.
Future Trends in Higher Education Marketing: Gain insights into upcoming trends and how colleges can prepare to stay ahead, focusing on digital transformation and integrating human-centered design to enhance overall constituent experiences.

How to Structure Your Higher Ed Marketing Department for the Future: An RHB Guidebook.

Guest Name: Rob Zinkan, Vice President for Marketing Leadership, RHB

Guest Bio: Rob brings 25 years of experience in higher education leadership focused on reputation and resource development and intra-organizational alignment. He joined RHB in 2019 after nearly two decades at Indiana University in a variety of senior roles from campus-level vice chancellor to system-wide associate vice president. Rob holds a doctorate from Creighton University (his dissertation topic was higher education brand coherence), a master’s from Xavier University and a bachelor’s from Wabash College. A popular speaker, writer and advisor on higher education marketing and organization design, Rob is a former CASE commissioner (Commission on Communications and Marketing) and AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education committee member. He is co-author of the 2021 book What Makes a Strategic Plan ‘Strategic’? and is co-editor and contributor to Inside Higher Ed’s “Call to Action” blog. Rob also teaches graduate courses in both strategic communication and higher education leadership.

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Connect With Our Host:
Maya Demishkevich
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayademishkevich/

Next Episode

Ep. 17: Streamlining Internal Communications to Improve Engagement and Efficiency

In this episode of The Hidden Gem, Maya Demishkevich talks with Carrie Pitts-Densmore, VP of Enrollment and Marketing at Johnson Community College about transforming internal communications. Carrie shares her experience over the last three years in centralizing communication efforts, enhancing transparency, and building trust across departments. Discover how these initiatives have shaped a more informed and engaged campus community.

Key Takeaways:

Learn how Carrie tackled decentralized communicatios by conducting audits and centralizing efforts, leading to a more streamlined and efficient communication process across campus.
Hear about the introduction of a weekly president's newsletter and a new faculty newsletter, which have significantly reduced redundant emails and improved overall communication flow.
Discover the tools and systems used to manage internal communications, such as ticketing systems, digital monitors, and a consistent branding approach through Canva.
Find out how creating a culture of trust, rather than just seeking "buy-in," has allowed the college to implement new processes and systems effectively.
Get insights on breaking down communication silos with cross-departmental committees, open-door policies, and new initiatives like the "Johnson Community College 101" guide.

Guest Name: Carrie Pitts-Densmore, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing, Johnston Community College

Guest Bio: Carrie Pitts-Densmore serves as the Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Johnston Community College. With 25 years of experience in communications, including 13 years focused on integrated marketing and public relations, Carrie has built a diverse and impactful career. She began as a television news journalist, earning a national award for a documentary on domestic violence and covering significant news events in Myrtle Beach, Buffalo, and Raleigh. Transitioning from news, she became a consultant, advising organizations on video production, media relations, strategic communications, and marketing. Carrie also excelled as a real estate agent for a few years, where she developed her customer relations and technology skills, winning multiple awards. Today, she thrives in higher education, embracing the dynamic intersection of technology and storytelling. Carrie holds an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and a Master of Science in Communications from Purdue University. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, the ocean, watching documentaries, and spending time with her family, including her son Archer and her husband Shawn.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pittscarrie?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

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Connect With Our Host:
Maya Demishkevich
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayademishkevich/