Get Down to College Business

In this thought-provoking episode, Sarah Holtan, PhD, sits down with Gill Hunter, PhD,  the Assistant Vice-President for Retention and Graduation at Eastern Kentucky University. They delve into the intricacies of student retention and graduation. Discover how using data and interventions reshapes the academic landscape at EKU. Listen as they discuss the initiatives EKU has put in place t...

Join Sarah Holtan, PhD and Tammy Ferry, PhD, the Retired Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness of Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, in an enlightening exploration of higher ed mergers. From the airport conversation that initiated the merger of two Concordia colleges to the five-year journey that followed, discover the key elements that shaped their success. Delve into the r...

Join Sarah Holtan, PhD, as she has a dynamic conversation on the future of academia with Patrick Jones, PhD, Chancellor at Penn State Schulykill. They discuss in depth the transformative Co-op Program, which is an elective series of core courses complemented by immersive work experiences. With insights from 76 employer partners, students gain access to invaluable resources, from dynamic career cha...

John Duggan, Chief Operating Officer of The Concord Group, shares valuable considerations for educational institutions pondering between renovating older buildings and constructing new ones with Sarah Holtan, PhD in this episode. He stresses the importance of evaluating the building's present condition, comparing renovation costs to new construction expenses, and factoring in emotional attachments...

Sarah Holtan, PhD sits down with Mike Neiduski, a seasoned professional with a unique approach to higher education fundraising. With a background in both student affairs units and major gift fundraising, Mike brings a multifaceted approach to the table. They explore parallels between higher education and conservation development, both requiring substantial funding. Mike highlights external challen...

Join host Sarah Holtan, PhD, in a riveting discussion with Gary Stocker, the Founder of College Viability, LLC. As the looming specter of private college closures grows due to the winding down of COVID relief, Gary unpacks crucial insights. Leading indicators of an institution in jeopardy, including dwindling enrollment and tuition revenue, are demystified, along with lagging indicators like gradu...

Get ready to be inspired by Lora Strigens, Vice-President for Planning and Facilities and University Architect at Marquette University, as she shares her expertise in leading over $300 million in capital projects in under a decade. Discover how campus planning at Marquette University follows a strategic approach, encompassing broad themes to ensure the best outcomes for stakeholders. Lora emphasiz...

Curious about how colleges can effectively navigate budgeting challenges while achieving excellence in mission delivery? Join Sarah Holtan, PhD for an insightful conversation with Bradley Andrews, PhD, who shares his wisdom and expertise in college budgeting as the President of Brevard College. Discover the key imperatives to financial success as Dr. Andrews emphasizes the significance of strategi...

In this enlightening episode, host Sarah Holtan, PhD chats with David C. Wiers, President & Founder of Satori Energy and Board Member at Carthage College. They delve into the complex world of energy deregulation, explaining its impact on both consumers and institutions, and discuss the shifting landscape of energy costs and price volatility. Their conversation further touches on ESG compliance...

Join Sarah Holtan, PhD in this episode as she dives into the complex world of rising food prices and their impact on college campuses with Kevin Gilligan, the District Manager at Sodexo. Discover why food prices are on the rise, with factors such as labor, transportation, and supply chain expenses contributing to the challenge. While East Coast schools have faced more difficulties, students everyw...

The United States is facing the largest nursing shortage of all time, causing significant challenges for colleges and universities offering nursing programs. In this episode, Sarah Holtan, PhD sits down with Teri Kaul, PhD, APRN-BC, the Endowed Chairperson of Nursing at Carroll University, to explore practical strategies for higher ed institutions to address this critical issue. Teri has a rich ba...

Did you know that colleges and universities can tap into untapped revenue streams to fund capital projects and support their mission-oriented goals? Join Sarah Holtan, PhD as she explores innovative strategies to monetize existing assets for higher education institutions with John Duggan, Chief Operating Officer at The Concord Group. John is an expert in monetizing assets for colleges and universi...

Join Sarah Holtan, PhD in a compelling conversation with Candice Cole, MBA, CNAP, and CFO at Progressive Community Health Centers, as they discuss effective financial management strategies to save higher education institutions facing similar financial strains as nonprofit healthcare organizations. Discover valuable insights on maintaining quality, reducing costs, leveraging technology, and fosteri...

What does it take to plan, design, and build or renovate campus facilities? In this episode, Sarah Holtan, PhD, interviews Scott Lindvall, the Chief Operating Officer of HGA (Hammel, Green, and Abrahamson). HGA is an award-winning architectural-engineering firm. They discuss the ins and outs of designing and building for universities, including the importance of strategic planning, engaging all st...

Are Christian universities effectively promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion on their campuses? In this thought-provoking episode, Sarah Holtan, PhD engages in a powerful discussion with Charnetta Gadling-Cole, PhD, who is the President & Founder of Just 4 Me Consultants and co-editor of the groundbreaking book, "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Christian Universities: An Ecological Per...

Sarah Holtan, PhD invites Darrell Bazzell, Senior VP and CFO at University of Texas at Austin, to discuss how universities can remain open and successful in the face of changing times. Darrell Bazzell is a higher education expert, having implemented cost share policies, technological tools, and training sessions to reduce research grant processing time. In this episode, they explore strategies for...

Sarah talks to Scott Converse, who is the Program Director for Continuous Improvement at UW Madison School of Business. Scott's approach to improving the workplace involves reducing frustration levels by utilizing continuous improvement tools and data analysis. This analysis is comprised of both qualitative interviews which collect stories from workers, as well as quantitative research from existi...

In this episode, Sarah interviews Dr. Suzy Siegle, the Chief Champion, President, and CEO of Walsh College. When looking at blending business and academia to run a successful college, Suzy focuses on her people first while also looking for ways to make sure there’s a margin so they can execute their mission. They dive into the importance of focusing on breakthroughs, not breakdowns when leadi...

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Holtan talks to Dr. Andy Luptak, who is a retired Title IX Coordinator and Vice-President of Student Life at Concordia University Wisconsin. He put in more than 50 years in student affairs and directed several Title IX overhauls. They talk about the proposed changes in Title IX regulations by the Biden administration. This episode is part graduate-level class, part...

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Holtan talks to Dr. Drumm McNaughton, who is a consultant at The Change Leader and podcast host of Changing Higher Ed. They talk about the benefits of potentially hiring a consultant for a college or institution. They discuss how it's about foresight, being able to see ahead, and help everyone navigate what's to come and get ready for that. Drumm advocates for the import...

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Holtan talks to Lawrence X. Taylor, who is the President of Taylor Strategy Group and Independent Board Member to many successful companies. Lawrence is an NACD Board Leadership Fellow and is recognized as a “Director to Watch 2020” by the Private Company Director Magazine. Sarah and Lawrence discuss about board governance for colleges. In his opinion, Lawrence believes...

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Holtan talks to Andre Logan, who is the Director of Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the Chancellor at University of Missouri, Kansas City. He used to be an engineer in the 2000s for Harley Davidson. He's in higher ed now, but his background as an industrial engineer gives a fresh perspective on how things are done in colleges. They discuss about centralizing certa...

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Holtan talks to Scott Flanagan, who is a senior consultant and senior executive coach at Academic Search, a leading search firm for higher ed. They talk about executive searches, particularly, the process of filling an executive position such as a president or provost, which has a price tag. They discussed how colleges can prepare to enter the executive search, how much...

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Holtan talks to Sarah Maio, who is the Vice President of Marketing and Communication for the Wisconsin Center District. The two Sarahs discuss how most colleges are seeing a decline in enrollment and how selective colleges with strong brands saw enrollment increases. The big questions they tackle today are: What is ROI of a strong college brand and what does it take to g...

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Holtan talks to Dr. Steve Taylor, who is the Vice President of Student Life at Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. They discussed how different students need different student services and how an a la carte model can benefit each type of student population. Moreover, during their conversation they touch on crucial points such as: How much does it cost to have a...