How to Get the Most Out of College

Instead of silos and separations, we need colleges and universities where all students feel a sense of belonging, courses lead to rewarding careers, students have the support to succeed, and everyone works together to make this happen, To learn how, listen to the introduction to The Connected College in this free preview of the audiobook. It's an encouraging, evidenced-based playbook for busting silos so that students succeed.

What are the big ideas in The Connected College? What are the barriers to collaboration for student success and how do you get over or around them? I recently had the chance to give a keynote talk at the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities where I answered these questions and more. I talked about strategy, structure, and culture as barriers and went through case studies on how to address each while responding to trends reshaping higher ed.

How can you bring people from different countries and cultures together to create a better world? What are the evidence-based practices to promote interaction, strengthen communities, and take risks? How can you improve empathy, understanding, and communication? We dive into these questions with Shaun Carver, Executive Director of International House at the University of California Berkeley.

How do you define student success? What role can technology play in student success? What data do you need to understand the student journey and make better decisions? What can colleges and universities learn from other industries? We discuss these questions and more with Joe Sallustio, VP of Industry Engagement at Ellucian and Host of the EdUp Experience podcast.

Who are your students, what are their needs, and how are they changing? How can you redesign your policies and processes to increase students success at scale? We dive into these questions with Terry Brown, VP of Academic Innovation at AASCU, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

How can you capture students' voices? What are the success stories that spark change? How can you act on this information and inspiration? We discuss these questions with Melissa Ezarik, Editor at Inside Higher Ed leading their Student Voice surveys and Student Success News Hub.

What are the forces changing how college and university boards work? What does good governance in higher education look like? How can boards effectively balance oversight, insight, and foresight? We dive into these questions with board governance consultant and host of the Changing Higher Ed Podcast, Drumm McNaughton, sharing insights and examples.

What are the forces reshaping college athletics? How can institutions respond? How can they better support student athletes to enable their success? We discuss these questions and more with professor and podcast host Karen Weaver from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and the "Trustees and Presidents: A Podcast for University Leaders On College Athletics."

How can you build a culture the that thrives on feedback? What advisory boards should you consider to regularly hear from students, parents, counselors, and employers? How can you move beyond listening to co-creating that builds ownership? We dive into these questions with Tom Ellett, Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at Quinnipiac University.

How can design inspire change? What are the tools and techiques of design that college and university leaders can use to increase student success? How can this help instiutions shift from an access mindset to a success mindset? We dive into these questions with Sukhwant Jhaj, VP of Academic Innovation and Dean, University, at Arizona State University.

How can advancement combine "high tech" and "high touch" to identify, engage, and partner with supporters? How can you create a culture of giving and what facilitates or inhibits that? We discuss these questions with Nancy Felix, Associate Dean for Advancement & Strategic Initiatives at Carnegie Mellon University's Mellon College of Science.

How is generative AI transforming admissions, curriculum-development, and feedback and evaluation in higher education? How is it enhancing accessibility and inclusivity? What are the emerging AI skills and fluencies for students and faculty to learn? We delve into these questions and inspiring examples with Julia Lang, Professor of Practice at Tulane University.

What are the forces transforming advancement in higher education? How can colleges and universities adapt? Who can they partner with? How can they cultivate the next generation of donors as well as the next generation of advancement professionals? We dive into these questions with Bob Lasher, Senior Vice President of Advancement at Dartmouth College.

How are changes like NIL, student-athlete employment status and unionization, the transfer portal, and conference realignment/collapse transforming college athletics? How can institutions adapt? How can they equip student athletes with the skills and tools to change the world? We dive into these questions with Mary Ellen Gillespie, Deputy Director at the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

How do create the culture, processes, and shared data you need to build a culture of continuous improvement? How can institutional research, assessment, and accreditation professionals lead the way in this? We discuss these questions with Will Miller, VP of Continuous Improvement and Institutional Performance at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

What role does wellbeing play in student success? How can libraries improve student, faculty, and staff wellbeing in a time of polycrisis? How can you achieve not only institutional goals but broader societal ones too? We discuss these questions with Kelly Miller, Associate Dean for Learning and Research Services at University of Miami.

How can colleges and universities see student success as part of broader community success? What structures and processes can you use to accelerate innovation? Who can you learn from and partner with at other institutions and other industries? We discuss these questions with Sanjit Sethi, President of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD).

How can career development be better integrated with academics? How can employers better engage students instead of boring info sessions and career fairs? How can institutions and employers make recruitment equitable? We discuss these great questions with Maggie Tomas, who leads the Career Center at University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.

How can you make a big place feel small? How can academic affairs and student affairs collaborate on student success? How can you make decisions with "gut plus data"? We discuss these questions and more with Dan Maxwell from the University of Houston system and downtown campus.

How can academic programs evolve and innovate to meet student and employer needs? How can they build intellectual, human, and social capital? What can higher ed learn from other industries? We discuss these important questions with Liesl Riddle, Dean of George Washington University's College of Professional Studies.

The Connected College Podcast provides leadership strategies for student success drawn from host Elliot Felix's experience working with 100+ colleges and universities and interviews with higher ed innovators. Let's create better connected colleges and universities where students find belonging, feel supported, and connect their courses to rewarding careers.

Why change from How to Get the Most Out of College Podcast to The Connected College Podcast? What is a Connected College? What can listeners expect from the pod going forward? I answer these questions on the transition in this short interview with producer and podcaster Mike Palmer. Don't worry. New name, but same awesome.

How can libraries transform their spaces, service offerings, and staffing to become hubs for student success – on campus and online? Listen to Elliot's keynote presentation the Council of Academic Library Directors to answer these questions along with a "From _____ to _____ by _____." roadmapping exercise.

How can colleges and universities partner with industry for mutual benefit on learning, research, and recruiting? Listen to Elliot's talk at the Discovery Partners Institute on the Why, What, and How of University – Industry Partnerships to answer these questions which guidance on identifying and optimizing partnerships.

How do high impact practices contribute to student success? Listen to Elliot's talk providing an overview of AAC&U/NSSE high-impact practices, the research behind them, and examples of innovative ways colleges and universities are putting these into practice.

What role does ed tech play in student success? What's working and what isn't? How is it changing? What can institutions and ed tech companies do to respond? Listen to Elliot's interview by "Higher Ed Geek" Dustin Ramsdell to answer these questions and connect the physical with the digital.

How can you assess and improve your student experience to create a culture of continuous improvement? Elliot answered this question during a workshop at Embry-Riddle's "Innovation at Altitude" Continuous Improvement Summit. Listen to his talk to learn trends, tools, and tips for student experience innovation.

What's the value of an internship? How can institutions and employers get together to maximize the benefits of these for all involved? Elliot digs into this with Josh Kahn, Associate Director of Research and Public Policy for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) to hear about their programs, advocacy, and assessments. 

How can you find a college or university that's a financial fit for you and your family? What are the common misconceptions and barriers to finding fit? Elliot and Liane dive into this topic to go through the process, identify practical suggestions around setting a budget, broadening or focusing your search, and how this might change in the future.

What will you do when you face a crisis in college or in your career? Elliot and Rachel discuss this topic, drawing from her unique work on the student experience in higher ed and the employee experience in the workforce. They talk about getting perspective, finding support, making a plan, making progress, and more.

How can you tell compelling stories with data in college and your career? Elliot and data analytics expert Valerie Kroll dive into this topic. They follow Val's path from college to market research to optimization and go through concrete suggestions on knowing your audience and what to do before, during, and after a big presentation.

How can international students learn and adapt to new settings, cultures, norms, and rules to thrive in college? Elliot and Debrup go through the nuts and bolts of housing, jobs, internships and more and give practical suggestions for international students based on his own experience and all the students he's helped over the years.

How can students develop skills, build a network, and explore careers? Elliot and guest co-host Steve Ehrmann discuss this with award-winning faculty member and experiential learning expert Melonie Sexton. They discuss research projects, capstone projects, and internships along with how to best support students along the way.

What are the unspoken rules and the obscure terms that trip students up in college? How can they learn these to think critically in their classes and careers? Elliot and author Louis Newman dig into this based on his decades of experience as a professor and advisor and his recent book Thinking Critically in College. 

How can you cope with less control in college – and in your life and career? How can you manage perfectionism for your health and success? Elliot and Vanessa Bush, author of Embracing Your Perfectionist Self, discuss these topics and cover understanding who you are, getting involved, finding acceptance not fitting in, and more.

How can you find a college that's the right size, setting, and focus for you? How do you know when you've found the right fit? Elliot digs into this with Nancy Hubbard, Dean of the College of Business at University of Lynchburg. They get into the quality of relationships, the amount of flexibility, what you get exposed to, and more.

How can you build your network to set yourself up for sucess in college and your career? Elliot digs into this critical topic with career development professional and Positive Philter podcast host Philip Wilkerson. Don't miss the 5 "Fs" of networking, plus two bonus "Fs"!

How many colleges and universities are there in the US? What are the demographic, financial, and social trends that are changing higher education? Elliot gives an overview of the higher education sector that answers these questions and can help students, families, and folks in higher ed understand the big picture.

What common misconceptions get in the way of how students succeed in college? How does college actually work? In this bonus episode, Elliot and college success coach Mya Andersen debunk misconceptions about orientation, terminology, technology, support services, career exploration. and more.

Elliot opened the pre-conference workshop at the Designing Libraries Conference with an overview of trends changing higher education and libraries. In this ~10min talk he provides an overview of key trends including students' sense of belonging, working on real-world projects, building valuable skills, next generation libraries, and getting advice and support.  https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/management/How-Academic-Libraries-Can-Help-Students-Get-the-Most-Out-of-College-Peer-to-Peer-Review

Elliot joined a College Spy Webinar hosted by Michelle McAnaney where he shared the insights from How to Get the Most Out of College. In this ~20 minute talk, he summarizes what students can do to increase their chances of success in college and get the best return on their investment of time and money – and how to find colleges/universities that offer these opportunities to inform their college search. https://thecollegespy.com/blog/how-youll-go-to-college-helps-decide-where-to-go-to-college

How can students spot problems and create solutions as entrepreneurs? How can they take full advantage of all the clubs, centers, support, technology, and mentors their college and university offers to entrepreneurs? How can tackling big problems generate hope? We dig into this with Alicia, Host of the College Life Podcast and professor in Social Innovation.

What can the process of searching for and applying to college teach you about yourself? Given so many colleges and universities admit students directly to specific schools and major, how can the process help you uncover your strengths, interests, and focus? Lisa shares her experience with these questions in career planning and college counseling.

Why and how can you make things – digitally and physically – as a way of thinking? How is making and prototype a way of being? We discuss these questions and follow Scott's path from engineering to product design to education at Stanford's d.school and UT Austin. He shares insights from the book he co-authored Make Space and his latest book, This is a Prototype.

What do students want to get out of college – discovering identity, belonging to a community, building skills, learning about an interest or passion? What does why you want to go to college tell you about where to go to college and how to go to college? We discuss this with college counselor Michelle McAnaney, “The College Spy”.

What are the outdated policies and processes that students and families will confront in higher education? How can colleges and universities change these to work for today's students? How can students and families cope with them in the meantime? How can they advocate for change? We discuss this with higher education change consultant Drumm McNaughton.

What is design thinking and how can students use it to design their lives? What will that tell them about possible career paths, courses to take, projects to work on, and mentors to find? We discuss these great questions with Julia Lang, Professor of Practice and Associate Director of Career Education and Life Design at Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking at Tulane University.

How can you get oriented, get involved, and belong as a transfer student? How do you balance spending time with other transfers versus connecting with other students who've had a different experience? We discuss this with higher education's first Chief Experience Officer (CXO) and two-time transfer student, Tom Ellett from Quinnipiac University.

How do you work up the courage to take risks, put yourself out there, and try new things? How can you rest, recover, and reflect while you're making the most of your time in College? How does all this help you grow, personally and professionally? We discuss all this and more with former brightspot intern and current Harvard first year Grace Bida.

What is the price you'll pay for college? How does that compare to other students and other schools? How did the price of college get so complicated and mysterious? What can you do solve this mystery? We discuss these important questions with Mark Salisbury, Founder and CEO TuitionFit.org, the college price transparency platform.