A highlight of Capture Higher Ed’s INNOVATE 2024 virtual conference was the panel discussion, “Enrollment Leaders Unfiltered: Insights into Today’s Complex Landscape.” This session brought together enrollment leaders for an honest conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing their teams today.
Moderated by Capture Senior Enrollment Advisor Anna Miner, the discussion offered both real-world insights and actionable strategies for recruitment professionals. If you missed it, now is the perfect time to catch up.
The panelists included:
- Chevy Freiburger, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission, Central College
- Stacy Ledermann, Assistant Vice President of Admissions, St. John Fisher University
- Leah Beth Hubbard, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Lenior-Rhyne University
Miner set the tone by acknowledging that higher education recruitment has always been complex — constant flux often defines enrollment management.
“For enrollment leaders who’ve been in this for quite a while, I think that we mark each year not by the year itself but by what was happening that year,” Miner said. “Like, that was the year of Prior Prior. Or that was Covid year. Or that’s the year we went back to campus after Covid. And last year was the FAFSA year. It seems like there’s always something that marks what’s happening or what challenge we’re facing in enrollment.”
Miner then posed the question to the panelists: What’s the top-of-mind challenge facing enrollment leaders today and in the coming year?
Freiburger was quick to highlight a significant issue: retaining and attracting staff.
“Lately, as we’ve gotten farther from the pandemic, you’re getting into a pattern of counselors not staying,” Freiburger explained. He noted that this turnover sometimes happens mid-cycle, creating disruptions during crucial recruitment periods. To address this, he emphasized the importance of patience and a back-to-basics approach in training younger, less experienced staff.
Hubbard echoed this sentiment, adding that admissions teams play a critical role as “the front door of the institution.” She noted that, while some aspects of admissions work never change, it’s challenging to entrust an institution’s brand to newer, less experienced counselors. That’s why effective training and mentorship are more important than ever.
The panel also explored broader trends shaping enrollment strategies, including the impact of evolving student expectations, emerging technologies, and economic uncertainty. The conversation revealed a shared commitment to not only adapting but thriving — to finding creative solutions and building more resilient teams and strategies. Watch the recording now.
