What if a campus job could be more than a paycheck? In this episode, we explore how the University of Wisconsin-Madison transformed student employment into an intentional vehicle for belonging, leadership, career development, and retention. From reflective supervisor conversations to leadership development and communities of practice, discover how rethinking the student employment experience can turn thousands of campus jobs into thousands of opportunities for student success.

Sometimes the difference between staying in college and stopping out is just $100. In this episode, I visit with Dr. Gill Hunter to explore Eastern Kentucky University’s innovative retention grant strategy, using data to identify students with registration holds and providing targeted, just-in-time financial support. Discover how EKU moved from students having to ask for help to proactively putting the right amount of support in front of the right student at the right time, and how a small investment can create a big return in student persistence.

What if the key to student-athlete success isn’t just what happens in the classroom or on the field, but the culture surrounding them? In this episode, we explore practical, cost-effective strategies for creating a student-first athletics culture—from peer mentorship and strong coach-athlete relationships to mental health support, international student services, and navigating the Transfer Portal and NIL. Discover how collaboration, belonging, and intentional support can help student-athletes stay, thrive, and graduate.

What happens when financial support is paired with intentional community, mentorship, and a clear path to success? In this episode, we explore St. Francis College’s Robert J. McGuire Scholarship Program and its holistic approach to supporting first-generation students. From substantial tuition assistance to peer mentorship, career preparation, and a personalized co-curricular roadmap, discover how investing in the whole student can transform opportunity into belonging, success, and lifelong impact.

What if a relatively small financial intervention could keep a student enrolled and on track to graduate? In this episode, we explore the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s innovative retention grants program, which helps students clear financial holds and register for the next term before a temporary setback becomes a reason to stop out. With more than 3,500 students supported and an average persistence/graduation rate of 82%, this is a powerful story of how targeted financial support can turn a financial hold into a pathway forward.

What if the students who aren’t making it back to campus are the ones we should be studying most closely? In this episode, we explore how Idaho State University used a “survivorship bias” lens, institutional data, and a strategic restructuring of academic advising to better support students during their critical first semester. Discover how earlier connections, intentional advising, and data-informed interventions helped ISU increase first-semester academic success and boost first-time student retention.

What if data could help you see every student who needs help, and help you act sooner? In this episode, I sat down with Kimberly Williams and Dr. Sarah Wray Marshall to explore the University of South Florida’s innovative academic advocacy model and SMART data platforms, showing how proactive, holistic support and real-time analytics can move student success from reactive to intentional. Tune in to hear how USF transformed data into action, empowered advocates and advisors, and helped drive meaningful gains in retention and graduation.

College isn't just about tuition; It's about experiences. In this episode, we explore how the University of Wisconsin–Madison's innovative No Fees Project is removing hidden financial barriers that keep students from fully participating in campus life. Learn how eliminating the "cost of experience" is increasing belonging, boosting engagement, and helping more students thrive from orientation to graduation. Discover why affordability isn't just about paying for college, it's about making the college experience accessible to everyone.