ASCEND Podcast
Episodes
S3 - E4 - Featuring Patrick Tanner and Luis Caloca - One Student at a Time (Culture)
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the transformative journey of the College of Western Idaho’s Enrollment & Student Services division as it embraced a...
S3 - E2 - Featuring Dr. Amber Williams - Vol Success Teams (Support)
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features Dr. Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who shares how the university’...
S3 - E2 - Featuring Joel Spiess - Scholarships as Strategy: Redesigning Processes to Boost Recruitment, Retention, and Outcomes (Affordability)
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For episode 2, Jared talks with Joel Spiess of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee about his powerful contribution to Volume 3, “Scholarships as...
S3 - E1 - Introducing Season 3 of the ASCEND Podcast
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's great to be back for season 3 of the ASCEND Podcast! Thanks for listening!
S2 - E62 - Data (Data)
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk about the remaining ideas and strategies in the DATA chapter of the book. Tune in to learn about a number of strategies for...
S2 - E61 - Nudges (Nudges)
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk about the remaining ideas and strategies in the NUDGES chapter of the book. Tune in to learn about a number of strategies f...
S2 - E60 - Engagement (Engagement)
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk about the remaining ideas and strategies in the ENGAGEMENT chapter of the book. Tune in to learn about a number of strategi...
S2 - E59 - Culture chapter (Culture)
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk about the remaining ideas and strategies in the Culture chapter of the book. Tune in to learn about a number of strategies ...
S2 - E58 - Support chapter (Support)
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk about the remaining ideas and strategies in the Support chapter of the book. Tune in to learn about a number of strategies ...
S2 - E57 - Common Bond Dance (Culture)
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore how a simple dance became a powerful tradition that unites first-year students and fosters a sense of belonging from the m...
S2 - E56 - Free career assessments (Affordability)
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into the shifting priorities of Gen Z when it comes to higher education—focusing on value, relevance, and career outcomes. ...
S2 - E55 - Midterm Grade Policy (Data)
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Midterm Grades: A Policy That Drives Student Success"In this episode, we discuss how a student-led initiative transformed our campus by introduci...
S2 - E54 - Expert Session - Dr. Lara Lomicka Anderson (University of South Carolina)
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Co-hosts Jared Tippets & Eric Kirby sit down with Dr. Dr. Lara Lomicka Anderson from the University of South Carolina to talk about a retention st...
S2 - E53 - Texting System about Key Issues (Nudges)
19 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into how a simple, homegrown texting system became a powerful tool for supporting students. While third-party solutions offer...
S2 - E52 - Expert Session - Dr. Sharon Rea and Dr. Mike Freel (Bellevue University)
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sit down with Dr. Sharon Rea and Dr. Mike Freel from Bellevue University to talk about retention...
S2 - E51 - Thanksgiving dinner on campus.community (Engagement)
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore an engagement initiative that we've implemented on our campus to ensure that college students who can’t travel home...
S2 - E50 - Expert Session - Leslie Tod (University of South Florida)
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sit down with Leslie Tod from the University of South Florida to talk about retention strategies...
S2 - E49 - Registration Outreach Campaigns (Culture)
05 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Registration can be a stressful time for students, but a well-timed and personalized outreach campaign can make all the difference. In this episode, w...
S2 - E48 - Expert Session - Dr. Ann Van Der Karr (Rutgers University - Newark)
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sit down with Dr. Anne Van Der Karr from Rutgers University - Newark to talk about retention str...
S2 - E47 - Supporting First-Generation Students (Support)
29 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
First-generation college students make up about one-third of all college enrollments in the U.S., yet they often face unique challenges that can impac...
S2 - E46 - Expert Session - Rusty Pettus (University of Alabama)
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Eric Kirby sits down with Rusty Pettus from the University of Alabama to talk about retention strategies on his campus. This episod...
S2 - E45 - T-Bird Strong Campaign (Affordability)
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The COVID-19 pandemic created immense financial challenges for college students, from job loss and housing instability to increased expenses for food ...
S2 - E44 - Expert Session - Stephanie Merritt and Susan Goldsmith (Tulsa Community College)
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sit down with Stephanie Merritt and Susan Goldsmith from Tulsa Community College to talk about r...
S2 - E43 - Signs of Life (Data)
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we tackle a growing challenge in higher education: student "ghosting." Just as the term applies to dating, it’s showing u...
S2 - E42 - Expert Session - Monika Rohde & Mohammed Moizuddin (New York Institute of Technology)
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Co-hosts Jared Tippets & Eric Kirby sit down with Monika Rohde and Mohammed Moizuddin from New York Institute of Technology to talk about retentio...
S2 - E41 - New Student Checklists (Nudges)
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Transitioning to college can be overwhelming, but well-crafted new student checklists can make all the difference. In this episode, we discuss how ins...
S2 - E40 - Expert Session - Dr. Danae Romrell (BYU-Idaho)
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Co-hosts Jared Tippets & Eric Kirby sit down with Dr. Danae Romrell from Brigham Young University-Idaho to talk about retention strategies on her ...
S2 - E39 - Virtual Groups & Clubs (Engagement)
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore how virtual groups and clubs are reshaping student connections in the digital age. From Discord to Facebook, we’ve creat...
S2 - E38 - Expert Session - Sarah Jurden and Kim Brooks (Bowling Green State University)
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Co-hosts Jared Tippets & Eric Kirby sit down with Sarah Jurden and Kim Brooks from Bowling Green State University to talk about retention strategi...
S2 - E37 - Faculty Recognition (Culture)
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the transformative power of recognizing and appreciating faculty. From our ‘Campus Influencer’ awards to the Faculty W...
S2 - E36 - Expert Session - Dr. Shelley Dempsey and Dr. Lara Lomicka Anderson (University of South Carolina)
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Co-hosts Jared Tippets & Eric Kirby sit down with Shelley Dempsey and Lara Lomika Anderson from University of South Carolina to talk about retenti...
S2 - E35 - Faculty-Student Drink Program (Support)
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into the powerful impact of informal student-faculty interactions on student success. We explore how these connections boost ...
S2 - E34 - Expert Session - Dr. Joe Cuseo
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Joe Cuseo joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retention an...
S2 - E33 - Increasing Scholarship Awareness to Improve Student Retention (Affordability)
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Financial challenges are a primary cause of student attrition on college campuses. As Stancampiano (2022) notes, Gen Z is not opposed to earning four-...
S2 - E32 - Persistence Scorecards (Data)
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In volume one of ASCEND to Higher Retention Rates, we discussed the value and power of having all new students complete a pre-arrival questionnaire (T...
S2 - E31 - Automated introductory email (Nudges)
27 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Another simple way to nudge students to take care of the most important things first is to create an automated email that gets sent to the student imm...
S2 - E30 - Parent and Family Orientation (In English and Spanish) (Engagement)
20 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Offering parent and family orientations in both Spanish and English is a practical and inclusive approach that benefits students, families, and the in...
S2 - E29 - Meet students on their turf (Culture)
13 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have found in many instances, especially among Generation Z, that we have to find ways to ‘go to them’ instead of waiting for them to come to u...
S2 - E28 - The Perch (Support)
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Even though they are second-year students and in theory know their way around campus, sophomores and transfer students often still find themselves get...
S2 - E27 - Expert Session - Dr. Bryce Bunting (Brigham Young University)
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Bryce Bunting from Brigham Young University joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campus...
S2 - E26 - Professional Closet (Affordability)
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To help students who need professional clothes, our Career Center created a ‘Professional Closet’ to ensure they have access to professional cloth...
S2 - E25 - Transfer student focus groups (Data)
22 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Transfer students can face a variety of challenges when transitioning to a new institution or college. These challenges can impact their academic and ...
S2 - E24 - Associate degree pushes (Nudges)
15 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we all know, many students start school to get a bachelor’s degree. However, as life happens, that dream can get interrupted for many students. W...
S2 - E23 - Parent and Family social media (Engagement)
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In many regards, parents are often considered the front line of defense for the retention of college students due to their significant influence and r...
S2 - E22 - Normalizing the ‘Sophomore Slump’ (Culture)
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
‘Sophomore slump’ is a term often used to describe a decrease in excitement, engagement, and overall drive that can occur after the initial excite...
S2 - E21 - Sophomore specific events and initiatives (Support)
25 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We created a variety of unique initiatives and programming specific to our second-year students. By specifically addressing the sophomore slump and it...
S2 - E20 - Community coupons, deals, and discounts (Affordability)
18 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Students are always looking for discounts and deals to save money. Additionally, community businesses are always looking for ways to attract more cust...
S2 - E19 - Surveying students to find out why they came back (Data)
11 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most institutions explore why students have left the institution, which is indeed extremely important data to have. But how often do we explore why st...
S2 - E18 - Expert Session - Aaron Basko (University of Lynchburg)
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron Basko from the University of Lynchburg joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how camp...
S2 - E17 - President outreach to students not registered (Nudges)
04 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Another nudge we have utilized, primarily to help get students registered for the next semester, is to have the university president send an email to ...
S2 - E16 - Campus connections (Engagement)
28 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have found in many instances that many students often struggle to go to an event, activity, or program on their own. If they have to go on their ow...
S2 - E15 - Expert Session - Dr. Glenn Davis (Bowling Green State University)
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Glenn Davis from Bowling Green State University joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on h...
S2 - E14 - ‘Every Job Counts’ Campaign (Culture)
21 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are often two competing realities we face when dealing with Generation Z and their view of the workforce. First, they often complain about not h...
S2 - E13 - Leads: Sophomore peer mentors (Support)
14 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While peer mentoring programs have become all the rage in higher education, not many peer mentoring programs focus on second-year students. At our ins...
S2 - E12 - Expert Session - Nii Abrahams (Butler University)
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nii Abrahams from Butler University joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can ...
S2 - E11 - FAFSA Nights (Affordability)
07 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Completing a FAFSA has many financial benefits. So, our Financial Wellness Office created regular and ongoing ‘FAFSA Nights’. During our FAFSA N...
S2 - E10 - Triggers for those withdrawing (Data)
30 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
At our institution we began to see higher levels of withdrawals after certain messages from the institution went out to students. While it is true tha...
S2 - E9 - Expert Session - Dr. Gill Hunter (Eastern Kentucky University)
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Gill Hunter from Eastern Kentucky University joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how ...
S2 - E8 - Countdown banners (Nudges)
23 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One way to help nudge students is to have a banner (or several banners) hung across campus that has interchangeable signs for particular events (i.e. ...
S2 - E7 - Adulting 101 seminars (Engagement)
16 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have found that some Gen Z students may lack essential life skills such as cooking, cleaning, basic home maintenance, and financial literacy due to...
S2 - E6 - Strategies for shifting the culture on campus (Culture)
09 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In season one of the ASCEN D Podcast we outlined strategies for how leaders, managers, and supervisors might go about shifting the organizational cul...
S2 - E5 - Third-week apartment walks (Support)
02 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The first few weeks of each semester can be hard for many students. During these first few weeks, new students may feel homesick after they leave thei...
S2 - E4 - Financial February (Affordability)
26 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
At our institution, our Financial Wellness Office hosts a wide array of events and initiatives throughout the year, but during February, there is a co...
S2 - E3 - Why the ASCEND Model and does it work?
19 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we discuss the different aspects of the ASCEND Model -- Affordability, Support, Culture, Engagement, Nudges, and Data. As a result of ...
S2 - E2 - Why the focus on retention and student success?
12 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we discuss the following 8 reasons why colleges and universities should focus on retention and student success:a declining national po...
S2 - E1 - Introducing Season 2 of the ASCEND Podcast
05 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's great to be back for season 2 of the ASCEND Podcast! Thanks for listening!
S1 - E104 - Wrap up episode for Season 1
04 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, ASCEND Podcast co-hosts Eric Kirby and Jared Tippets wrap up Season 1 and talk about themes and takeaways from the first season.
S1 - E103 - Helping students better understand campus culture before arriving on campus (Culture)
28 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For years we have lost students after a semester or two because they said that our campus, or living in our community, was not what they expected. It ...
S1 - E102 - Shifting the culture on campus in the eyes of the students (Culture)
21 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In addition to helping shift the culture on campus in the eyes of our staff and faculty, we also found it important to shift the campus culture in the...
S1 - E101 - Creating a culture of accountability (Culture)
14 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Dr. Jared Tippets and Dr. Eric Kirby talk about the importance of creating a culture of accountability.
S1 - E100 - Happy Holidays!
24 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy holidays from Jared and Eric. Thanks for your support of the ASCEND Podcast. We're going to take a break for a few weeks and then we&ap...
S1 - E99 - The Nest: A student help center (Support)
17 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Students often get the runaround, being bounced from office to office and center to center until they find what they actually need. To stop this night...
S1 - E98 - Expert Session: Dr. Steven Girardot (Georgia Tech)
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Steven Girardot from Georgia Institute of Technology joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights...
S1 - E97 - Unit Effectiveness Plans (Culture)
10 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A key to creating a campus culture around student success, retention, and completion is making sure that everyone knows these are priorities for campu...
S1 - E96 - Expert Session: Dr. Jim Spain (University of Missouri-Columbia)
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Jim Spain from the University of Missouri-Columbia joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights o...
S1 - E95 - Early alerts and report a student concern webpage (Support)
03 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are two broad groups of individuals that can often serve as the ‘canaries in the coal mine’ when it comes to a student’s well-being: facul...
S1 - E94 - Expert Session: Dr. Mark Milliron, Dr. Angela Baldasare, Sarah Ball (National University)
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For this expert session co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sat down with leaders from National University to capture their knowledge, wisdom, and i...
S1 - E93 - Survey in Housing to help pair roommates based on interests (Data)
26 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Students often struggle getting along with their roommates, which sometimes leads to a desire to return back home. To increase the likelihood of roo...
S1 - E92 - Happy Thanksgiving!
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy thanksgiving to all our ASCEND Podcast friends and listeners!
S1 - E91 - Involving faculty with small groups during Fall Welcome Week to start creating connections (Culture)
19 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A fun way to include faculty in creating a culture of care and concern is to involve them in our retention efforts from the very beginning of the seme...
S1 - E90 - Expert Session: Dr. Ed Cabellon (Curry College)
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Ed Cabellon from Curry College joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can i...
S1 - E89 - Online Orientation and Personalized Visits (Support)
12 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We eliminated our old mandatory on-campus orientation and shifted to online modules and a voluntary system where any student who wants can come to cam...
S1 - E88 - Expert Session: Dr. Kal Srinivas (Syracuse University)
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Kal Srinivas from Syracuse University joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuse...
S1 - E87 - Retention grants (Affordability)
05 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many students face unforeseen financial challenges such as a car repair, medical procedure, job loss, family issues, etc. Such surprises can prevent a...
S1 - E86 - Expert Session: National Symposium for Student Retention (NSSR) Conference Attendees
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, we sat down with conference attendees at the National Symposium for Student Retention (NSSR) which is hosted by the Consortiu...
S1 - E85 - Create “Retention Dashboards” by cohorts and caseloads so staff know who they are accountable for (Data)
29 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We have found over the years that it is important for staff to know exactly which students they are responsible for retaining. Otherwise, if they feel...
S1 - E84 - Expert Session: Dr. Michelle Ashcraft (Indiana Commission for Higher Education)
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Michelle Ashcraft from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her deep knowledge, wisdom...
S1 - E83 - Campus Rovers (Nudges)
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When dealing with today’s generation of students, we cannot expect them to approach us when they have questions. Instead, we believe that we need to...
S1 - E82 - Expert Session: Dr. KayDee Perry (The University of Olivet)
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. KayDee Perry from The University of Olivet joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how ca...
S1 - E81 - Hand-registering every incoming student (Culture)
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every campus handles the course registration of new students very differently. The most common practices are either that campuses allow students to re...
S1 - E80 - Expert Session: The Southern Utah University (SUU) Student Success Team
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby sit down with the Southern Utah University Student Success Team to talk about the ASCEND model.Featured ...
S1 - E79 - Visit classes with high DFW rates or high number of first-year students (Support)
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Too often we wish students would reach out to us for help. However, we know that this is rarely the case, especially during their first year. So we ha...
S1 - E78 - Expert Session - Dr. Bridget Burns (University Innovation Alliance (UIA))
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Bridget Burns joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her deep knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their ret...
S1 - E77 - Free Food App (Affordability)
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years there seems to be an increase in food insecurity among college students. And even if students do have access to an adequate amount o...
S1 - E76 - Expert Session - Dr. James Winfield (Southern New Hampshire University)
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. James Winfield joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share his knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retenti...
S1 - E75 - Understanding the students you serve (Generation X’ers, millennials, Generation Z’ers, etc.) (Data)
24 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It is important for college campuses to study their students, collect data on them so they better understand their unique qualities, and then determin...
S1 - E74 - Expert Session - Dr. Christine Salvesen (University of Arizona)
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Christine Salvesen joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their ret...
S1 - E73 - Faculty office hours (Nudges)
17 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
FACULTY OFFICE HOURS - WHO ARE THEY FOR?One of the things that has always surprised us was the unwillingness of first-year students to visit faculty d...
S1 - E72 - Expert Session - Dr. Amber Williams (University of Tennessee, Knoxville)
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Amber Williams joins co-hosts Jared Tippets and Eric Kirby to share her knowledge, wisdom, and insights on how campuses can increase their retenti...
S1 - E71 - Finding faculty “Campus Influencers” who support the retention effort (Culture)
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Campuses that have great success in increasing their retention and completion rates have faculty who are actively engaged in this student success effo...