In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Emily Chase Coleman, CEO and co-founder of HAI Analytics, to explore how data is reshaping higher education strategy.
With over two decades of experience blending social psychology and statistics, Emily shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and how HAI’s AI-powered platform helps colleges predict enrollment, optimize financial aid, and improve retention—without overwhelming internal resources.
From challenging outdated tuition models to advocating for test-optional admissions, Emily offers a candid look at the equity gaps in data, the pitfalls of "gut instinct" leadership, and why real-time metrics are non-negotiable in today’s volatile landscape.
Tune in for a conversation that’s equal parts analytical and actionable, and discover how to turn campus data into a competitive advantage.
Key Takeaways:
Data Over Gut Instinct:
Leadership often relies on intuition, but data reveals hidden patterns (e.g., dorm placement impacting retention, course selection signaling struggle).
Combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights prevents bias and creates a fuller picture of student behavior.
The High-Discount Model is Unsustainable:
Rising discount rates are squeezing out middle-income families and straining institutional budgets.
Schools must articulate their value proposition clearly to justify costs and reduce reliance on discounts to aid enrollment.
Test-Optional Isn’t a Silver Bullet for Equity:
While test-optional policies reduce bias, holistic reviews can still favor affluent students (e.g., via extracurriculars).
True equity requires deeper scrutiny of all admissions factors and their socioeconomic implications.
Predictive Modeling Demands Transparency:
HAI prioritizes open algorithms and explainable results to build trust with presidents and boards.
AI and machine learning can process vast datasets but require human oversight to avoid flawed conclusions.
Real-Time Data is Non-Negotiable:
Pandemics and shifting demographics make historical data unreliable.
Presidents should track enrollment, financial aid, and retention metrics in real time to adapt quickly.
Founding Challenges for Women in EdTech:
Female founders face disproportionate funding barriers.
Supporting women-led startups is critical for diversifying innovation in higher ed.
From Consultancy to Self-Sufficiency:
HAI helps schools build internal data capabilities but remains a partner for ongoing strategy and context.
The goal is empowerment, not dependency.
Ready to rethink your data strategy? Learn more at https://haianalytics.com/ and follow Emily’s work at the intersection of human intuition and artificial intelligence.
Find Emily here:
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-chase-coleman-95062779/
HAI Analytics
https://haianalytics.com/
And find EdTech Connect here:
Web: https://edtechconnect.com/
Chapters
(00:00:00) - AI models have allowed us to take huge data sets(00:00:42) - Emily Chase Coleman(00:02:00) - What Inspired You to Start HAI Analytics?(00:03:03) - Advisers to Colleges and Universities Turn Campus Data Into Stories(00:06:00) - Enrollment Dashboards: Should Colleges Buy Them?(00:07:53) - Have we Found the Secret to Predicting Student Retention?(00:11:34) - Private schools' high-price tuition model(00:13:16) - Predicting Future Student Behavior with the Pandemic(00:15:06) - Race and Equity in College Admissions(00:16:34) - Can HAIS Forecasts Affect Financial Aid Awards?(00:18:49) - How do you keep institutions from becoming dependent on your analysts?(00:20:17) - WSJDLive: The Use of AI in Business(00:22:05) - What Measures Should Colleges Track to Prepare Students?(00:24:27) - EdTech Connect
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25:15
The Biggest Disconnect on Campus? What Students Want vs. What Colleges Think They Want
In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon talks to Jarrett Smith, Senior VP of Strategy at Echo Delta and co-author of the groundbreaking Designing for Decisions report. Fresh from his eduWeb conference presentation, Jarrett dives into the eye-opening findings from their survey of over 1,000 prospective students, revealing what students actually want from college websites—and where institutions are missing the mark.
From the overwhelming demand for cost transparency to the surprising similarities across student segments, Jarrett challenges common assumptions and shares actionable fixes for enrollment and marketing teams.
Tune in to learn why payment plans are a hidden gem, how to avoid "institutionally centric" pitfalls, and why less personalization might be more effective than you think.
Key Takeaways:
Cost Transparency is King:
Total cost of attendance emerged as the #1 priority across all student segments (traditional, non-traditional, graduate, and international).
Only 17% of students said they can always find what they need on college websites, with 55% admitting they’ve abandoned a site due to frustration.
Fix: Make cost information unmissable—avoid burying it under financial aid links or forcing students to manually calculate totals.
Students Want Clarity, Not Jargon:
Institutional language (e.g., "bursar," "baccalaureate") and org-structure navigation create barriers.
Fix: Audit content for student-friendly terms and prioritize intuitive wayfinding (e.g., Missouri S&T’s program-specific cost breakdowns).
Overestimated vs. Underestimated Priorities:
Overestimated: Program rankings, application deadlines, and "prestige" content.
Underestimated: Payment plans (a "hidden gem"), acceptance rates (critical for traditional undergrads), and student satisfaction metrics.
Segment Similarities > Differences:
Despite assumptions, most student groups prioritize the same core tasks (e.g., cost, academic fit).
Exception: Traditional undergrads care significantly more about debt stats and confidence-building content (e.g., grad success stories).
Simple Fixes for Immediate Impact:
Wayfinding: Ensure cost and program info is easy to find (e.g., UND.edu’s "Find Your Program Cost" form).
Content Hierarchy: Replace institutional jargon with student-centric language.
Research Shortcuts: Watching 5 students navigate your site reveals more than waiting for "perfect" data.
AI’s Role in Future Research:
Synthetic user research (AI-generated personas) shows promise but isn’t yet reliable due to cultural biases in training data.
Heuristic analysis (e.g., usability audits) may benefit from AI—but human insight remains irreplaceable.
Dig deeper: Download the full Designing for Decisions report at https://echodelta.co/designing-for-decisions/ and rethink how your website serves today’s students!
Find Jarrett Smith here:
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithjarrett/
Echo Delta
https://echodelta.co/
And find EdTech Connect here:
Web: https://edtechconnect.com/
Chapters
(00:00:00) - What Students Really Want From Their Campus Websites(00:02:04) - The Need for User Research on Website Design(00:03:35) - Interviewing 1,000 Prospective Students(00:05:35) - The College Website Sprawl(00:09:57) - Top Tasks: How to Personalize the Student Survey(00:12:00) - A Word from Our Sponsor(00:13:15) - Total Cost of Attendance(00:17:28) - 3 Ways to Enhance Student Financial Aid(00:21:10) - Surprising Differences between What Higher Ed Pros Think Students Want and What(00:22:44) - What Do Traditional Students Care About Most?(00:24:47) - What's your advice to schools paralyzed by internal debates over content hierarchy(00:27:11) - What's one simple fix any school could make to its financial aid(00:28:11) - Beyond Synthetic Research: Future of AI in the Learning Industry
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31:59
Making Small Colleges Love Their Student Information Systems
Host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jennifer Beyer, VP of Product at Thesis, to explore the evolving landscape of student information systems (SIS) and the unique challenges faced by small to mid-sized colleges. With over two decades of experience spanning campus administration and EdTech leadership, Jennifer shares her mission to simplify higher education processes through cloud-based solutions.
From her beginnings as a first-generation student and campus tour guide to her current role driving product strategy, Jennifer offers insights into how institutions can reduce friction, leverage technology, and prioritize the student experience. Tune in to learn how Thesis Elements is redefining the SIS space and why smaller schools are leading the charge in innovation.
Key Takeaways:
Access and Student-Centric Design:
Jennifer emphasizes the importance of creating technology that helps students find the right fit and enables staff to focus on meaningful work. Her firsthand experience as a first-generation student informs her approach to solving institutional challenges at scale.
The Shift to Cloud-Based SIS:
Smaller institutions are moving faster to adopt cloud solutions for scalability, security, and resource efficiency. Thesis Elements focuses on delivering purpose-built, modern SIS solutions that can be implemented in about a year—a fraction of the time required by legacy systems.
Frictionless Processes:
Jennifer highlights the need for integrations, automation, and usability to reduce administrative burdens. For example, streamlining tasks like mass registrations or billing for student housing can significantly improve efficiency for understaffed offices.
Lessons from Campus to EdTech:
Transitioning from frontline roles in admissions and student success to EdTech taught Jennifer the value of understanding user journeys. She advocates for "purpose-driven design" and engaging directly with campus teams to build solutions that address real pain points.
The Future of Higher Ed Tech:
AI and partnerships with niche solutions present opportunities to enhance personalization and operational efficiency. However, Jennifer stresses the importance of balancing innovation with security and usability to avoid "shiny object" pitfalls.
Leadership Philosophy:
Jennifer’s leadership style centers on curiosity, empowerment, and aligning technology with institutional mission. She believes in getting out of her team’s way to let them solve problems creatively while staying focused on serving smaller colleges effectively.
Meaningful Change Takes Time:
For institutions driving transformation, Jennifer advises staying true to core goals and avoiding distractions. Incremental improvements—like reducing clicks in a workflow—can have an outsized impact on daily operations.
Listen to the full episode for more insights on how EdTech is reshaping higher education administration!
Find Jennifer Beyer here:
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbeyer/
Thesis
https://www.thesiscloud.com/elements
And find EdTech Connect here:
Web: https://edtechconnect.com/
Chapters
(00:00:00) - How AI is changing the way we learn about students(00:00:44) - Jennifer Beyer on Higher Ed Tech Connect Podcast(00:02:36) - How Ed Tech is reshaping the student experience(00:03:45) - In the Elevator With First-Generation Students(00:05:18) - CIO Network: The End-User Experience of Software(00:07:22) - EdTech Connect: Making higher education processes friction(00:10:11) - Small Colleges and Mid-Size Universities(00:12:40) - Thesis Elements' Product Development Process(00:18:17) - Post-Admissions: The Need for Personalization(00:20:37) - Jeff Smith: The Process of Building a Product Team(00:23:45) - President of Dean's School: Combining Business and Education(00:26:19) - AI and its impact on higher ed administration(00:27:18) - The move to the cloud and higher ed tech(00:28:29) - What's Driving Meaningful Change in Higher Ed?(00:29:36) - How to Write a Great Website for Students(00:30:56) - EdTech Connect
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31:42
The Creative Mind Behind Higher Ed’s Mobile Future
In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Eric Kim, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Modo Labs, to explore how mobile technology has reshaped higher ed—and where it’s headed next. From Modo’s origins at MIT (inspired by Kabuki stagehands!) to its global impact today, Eric shares how universities can break down silos, leverage AI, and design experiences students actually love.
Hear how early adopters like Sacramento State pioneered mobile registration and food insecurity alerts, why personalization is no longer optional, and how TikTok-era expectations are forcing a rethink of campus apps. Eric also reveals why higher ed’s collaborative spirit hooked him for life, the surprising industries borrowing from campus tech, and his bold vision for AI-powered “conversational” interfaces.
Key Takeaways:
The “Kurogo” Philosophy
Modo’s original name and ethos come from Kabuki theater’s unseen stagehands—making the impossible seamless for users.
Mobile’s Unfinished Revolution
Early wins (like Sac State’s parking heat maps) solved real pain points, but many schools still duct-tape siloed systems instead of unifying experiences.
Personalization is Non-Negotiable
Students expect apps to adapt like TikTok: “They assume systems know everything—so they demand value in return.”
AI’s Campus Potential
Modo’s AI chatbot drove 235% app usage spikes at Arkansas Pulaski by answering questions in natural language.
What Higher Ed Can Learn from Banks
Major financial firms copied campus apps for employee experience—proof universities pioneered workplace tech.
Hackathons = Hidden Insights
Student-built Modo tools (food truck trackers, mental health aids) reveal unmet needs.
Digital Governance Paradox
Jeff’s confession: “Sometimes progress happens before policies catch up.”
Advice for Leaders
“Measure engagement with life, not clicks. Did your app help someone’s day?”
Listen Now for a masterclass in designing campus tech that students actually use!
Find Eric Kim here:
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejkim/
Modo Labs
https://modolabs.com/
And find EdTech Connect here:
Web: https://edtechconnect.com/
Chapters
(00:00:00) - What's the value of the App?(00:00:35) - Interview: Eric Kim(00:01:50) - Moto Labs: The Way of Mobile(00:03:34) - In the Elevator With Facebook's Andrew Yu(00:04:11) - Moto: Make Mobile Awesome for Everyone(00:07:29) - What Can Tech Companies Learn From Serving Other Industries?(00:08:56) - The Common Mistake in the Digital Experience(00:10:08) - Moto Learning: The Creative Uses of the Platform(00:13:30) - How to Build a Connected Future(00:15:27) - University Apps for Personalization(00:19:54) - What trends are you watching closely(00:21:35) - What's Keeps You Connected to Higher Ed?(00:25:07) - How to Design for Students, Faculty and Staff(00:26:49) - How Modo Labs is enabling multi-platform IT(00:28:32) - How to Upgrade Your Digital Campus Experience(00:29:54) - EdTech Connect
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30:41
Beyond the Funnel: How EMU is Rethinking Student Success
In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Katie Condon, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Eastern Michigan University, to unpack the urgent challenges and innovative strategies shaping higher ed’s future. With over a decade of experience spanning West Virginia University and EMU, Katie offers a candid look at how regional publics can compete amid shrinking demographics, financial aid upheavals, and rising student demands for ROI.
From her viral 4,000-handwritten-note campaign (yes, even the rowing team pitched in) to rethinking transfer student pathways, Katie shares how she balances data-driven decisions with human-centric approaches. Discover why “many” and “a lot” are her least favorite words, how AI could revolutionize financial aid transparency, and why teaching freshman communication classes made her a better leader. Tune in for actionable insights on turning enrollment crises into opportunities—without losing your authenticity.
Regional vs. Flagship Realities
Smaller schools face higher stakes with fewer resources: “At a flagship, risks feel small. At a regional, every risk could be existential.”
Data ≠ Panic
Avoid reactive decisions: “One negative food review out of 2,000 doesn’t mean overhaul the menu.” Context matters more than raw numbers.
Transparency Wins
Students demand clarity: “They’re asking, ‘What will my degree cost the day I start?’” EMU’s career-focused messaging highlights short-term ROI (e.g., young alumni on Wall Street).
AI’s Next Frontier: Financial Aid
Personalized video walkthroughs of aid packages (via tools like Notebook LM) could bridge gaps for first-gen students—but data security is non-negotiable.
The Power of “All Are Welcome”
EMU’s campus-wide note-card campaign (even athletes wrote 700+ cards) boosted belonging by making recruitment everyone’s job.
Transfer Students Need Segmentation
Articulation agreements are outdated: “Today’s transfers might have dual enrollment, a failed semester elsewhere, or 100 scattered credits—they’re not a monolith.”
Leadership Hack: Teach Freshmen
Katie’s 7 years teaching intro comms revealed how recruitment impacts classroom success—and vice versa. “Emailing an A student praise works like a yield campaign.”
Advice for New Leaders
“Ask ‘why’ relentlessly early on. Later, questions seem suspicious.” Curiosity builds trust and uncovers institutional blind spots.
Listen Now to learn how to turn enrollment challenges into student-centered victories! ✨
Find Katie Condon here:
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie--condon/
Eastern Michigan University
http://emu.edu/
And find EdTech Connect here:
Web: https://edtechconnect.com/
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Meet Katie Condon(00:01:59) - Enrollment Management: Small Institutions vs. Bigger Schools(00:05:07) - Enrollment Management: Data-driven Decisions(00:08:11) - What's one initiative you're most proud of?(00:10:36) - Financial aid strategies evolve to meet shifting student demographics(00:14:29) - Demographic cliff affecting schools(00:18:06) - How to Personalize Student Enrollment with AI(00:20:51) - How to Save Time by Reading Large Research Reports(00:21:55) - Have Student Ambassadors Changed Your Leadership?(00:26:26) - What's one area in enrollment or student success that feels broken?(00:28:20) - Onboarding to a Vice President's Role
The EdTech Connect Podcast is the leading podcast for higher education professionals who want to stay up-to-date on the latest and most innovative technologies shaping the future of Higher Education
Join host Jeff Dillon as he explores emerging trends, pioneering developments, and real-world applications of technology in academia.
Each episode features interviews with leading experts, educators, technologists and solution providers, who share their insights on how technology can be used to improve student engagement, enhance learning outcomes, and transform the educational experience.
Whether you're a marketer, faculty, IT Leader, enrollment director, or anyone interested in the future of higher education, the EdTech Connect Podcast is your source for the knowledge and inspiration you need to harness the power of technology and drive innovation on your campus.
Listeners of the EdTech Connect Podcast will learn about the latest trends, best practices, and challenges in the rapidly evolving field of educational technology.
Learn more at https://edtechconnect.com.
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