Credo & The Constructive Dialogue Institute Announce A New Partnership For Higher Education Leadership Development

March 7 2024

Credo is pleased to announce a partnership with the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) to support higher education leaders in fostering a culture of constructive dialogue on their campuses. The...

Celebrating Women And Gender-Diverse Learners & Leaders

February 28 2024

March is WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH! We invite you to celebrate Women's History Month and International Women's Day with us by amplifying voices and acting in service with women and gender-diverse people.

Radical Self-Care For Higher Education Leaders

February 21 2024

by Narketta Sparkman-Key, Ph.D. Dr. Narketta Sparkman-Key is Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Global Affairs and Professor of Learning, Technology & Leadership Education at James Madison...

FAFSA Strategy To Support Student Success

February 19 2024

Delays in the release of the FAFSA and the distribution of information necessary for financial aid awarding are a hot topic across higher education currently. Concerns about how this will impact...

ACA & Credo Launch National Rural Higher Education Leadership Development Partnership

February 14 2024

Credo and the Appalachian College Association (ACA) are pleased to announce a strategic partnership to help build the leadership bench within rural higher education across the country. This...

2024 Black History Month Resources For Continued Learning

January 31 2024

February is Black History Month, and as a team, Credo has been sharing some of our favorite resources that we utilize personally and professionally for Black History Month. The theme for 2024 is...

Leading With Hope: Celebrating Leadership In Higher Education

January 29 2024

Each year during the Council of Independent Colleges Presidents Institute, Credo hosts a dinner to celebrate the work being done across the campuses we work with throughout the year. This year, Credo...

3 Steps To Building A “Triple Threat” Intercollegiate Athletics Program

January 5 2024

By Travis Feezell, Ed.D. It can be said that athletics are the “front porch” of the university: a visible expression of institutional excellence so unlike what happens in the classrooms or labs or...

Dr. Barbara Farley, Illinois College President, to Receive Credo’s 2024 Courageous Leadership Award

December 14 2023

Illinois College President, Dr. Barbara Farley, to Receive Credo’s 2024 Courageous Leadership Award

The APCU & Credo Form Strategic Partnership To Improve Student Success Outcomes

December 12 2023

4 Student Success Tips to Inclusively Increase Fall-to-Spring Persistence

October 23 2023

By Destiny Harper-Lane, DBA How is your institution generating intensity around understanding strategies that can drive fall-to-spring persistence and ultimately, retention?

Credo Welcomes the 2023 Moving The Needle Class

October 12 2023

Credo is pleased to announce the 2023 Moving the Needle class! Congratulations to these institutions for their commitment to building an inclusive, student-centric culture through our 5-year Moving...

Moving The Needle On Tuition Revenue

August 31 2023

Transforming Institutional Viability Through Student Success MTN drives participant tuition revenue by cultivating a thriving student success culture. Credo’s Moving the Needle MTN partner...

Catalyzing A Culture of Belonging: Student Success & Retention Case Studies

August 7 2023

Moving The Needle Impacts Culture & Retention Together with our partners, the Moving the Needle (MTN) project invests deeply in the development of leaders across the campus, in the integration of...

Celebrate Credo's 2023 Core Values Awards Recipients With Us

June 19 2023

Every year to celebrate our team, we present the Credo Values Awards recognizing individuals who live deeply in the corevalues of the firm.

Moving The Needle on Retention: The Pathways Student Success Report

June 6 2023

"My Experience Wasn't What I Expected" Findings from the 2022 Moving The Needle Pathways To Student Success Survey highlight that meeting student expectations is a critical factor in determining...

Major Campus Construction: Project Management Podcast Now Available

April 20 2023

"Major Campus Construction: Project Management" Podcast Now Available The next podcast in a series about higher education construction is now streaming! Credo's Dawn Rolling, Architect and Director...

Major Campus Construction: Planning Podcast Now Available to Stream

April 14 2023

"Major Campus Construction: Planning" Podcast Now Available to Stream Credo's Dawn Rolling, Architect and Director of Design, and Dean Rodeheaver, Senior Campus Planner, recently joined the Business...

AAC&U and Credo Partner to Support Women Leaders in Higher Education

January 3 2023

The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and Credo are thrilled to announce the expansion of the long-running Credo Women in Leadership Initiative (CWLI) to leaders across the...

5 Tips To Ensure Your Strategic Plan Stays On Track 

December 1 2022

The hardest thing about strategic planning isn’t creating the plan, it’s implementing it. But we’ve got good news: there are steps you can take during the planning process to ensure that your...

Measuring Your Strategic Plan With Key Performance Indicators

November 3 2022

Measurement is an essential element of strategic planning because it offers a declaration of intent: This is where we’re going as an organization, and here’s how we’ll know when we get there.

Dr. Burton Webb To Receive 10th Annual Courageous Leadership Award

November 2 2022

Credo is excited to announce Dr. Burton Webb, president of the University of Pikeville, as the 10th Annual Courageous Leadership Award recipient. Awarded at Credo's annual appreciation dinner at the...

Improving Board Engagement with Strategic Planning

October 20 2022

The central purpose of today’s boards doesn’t differ much from what it’s been in the past. Board members are stewards of an organization’s mission and vision, tasked with ensuring that the college,...

Credo Announces 2022 ACCU Moving The Needle Cohort

October 13 2022

Credo and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities are pleased to announce the Fall 2022 Moving the Needle cohort. Building on the momentum of the inaugural cohort of four ACCU...

4 Ingredients for Seeding Sustainable Change in Your Organization

October 5 2022

Wherever there’s smoke, there’s fire—and whenever an organization embarks on a strategic plan, there’s bound to be change. In many cases, organizational change is approached in a heavy-handed way,...

Five Ways to Authentically Engage Your Community in Strategic Planning

September 14 2022

A president once told our planning team during a strategic planning kickoff meeting, “We all know that we can sit here and in a half-day come up with our top strategic goals—but that would do no...

Credo Announces 2022 Moving The Needle Class

August 15 2022

Credo is pleased to announce the Fall 2022 Moving the Needle class. Congratulations to these institutions for their commitment to building an inclusive, student-centric culture through Moving The...

Credo & Pharos Resources Partner to Impact Student Success & Retention

August 8 2022

Student Success Through Intelligent Partnerships Two recognized higher education industry leaders—Credo LLC and Pharos Resources—have joined forces to deliver an even more powerful, data-driven, and...

Credo Celebrates 2022 Values Award Recipients

June 7 2022

Credo Values Award Recipients (left to right): Lesley Brumfield, Sue Pick, Ryan Gay, Sarah Reese, Allison Ash. To celebrate our extraordinary team, each year we present the Credo Values Awards to...

Sharing Strategy: Internal Communication & Strategic Planning

December 13 2021

What Does Your Community Know About Your Strategic Plan? If you asked any member of your campus community about your strategic plan, would they know your vision and the things that are most important...

Dr. Tiffany Franks Awarded 9th Annual Courageous Leadership Award

December 6 2021

With great excitement and joy, Credo announces Dr. Tiffany McKillip Franks, President of Averett University, as the recipient of the 2022 Courageous Leadership Award. Awarded each year to a higher...

Equipping Leadership At All Levels For Student Success

November 18 2021

Who Are Middle Talent & How Do They Drive Student Success and Retention? In our last blog, we highlighted the importance of culture change when working to improve and enhance the student experience...

Campus Culture As The Key to Sustainable Student Success 

October 28 2021

Many institutions carefully monitor statistics like retention and graduation rates. Colleges and universities that are struggling in these metrics—or those that want to avoid those struggles—tend to...

How Can You Move The Needle on Student Success & Retention?

August 27 2021

Students enrolling for the first time or transferring to a new institution have a wealth of options to choose from on their higher education journeys. They begin building their commitment to the...

Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities & Credo Announce 1st Cohort For Student Success

May 13 2021

Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) and Credo are pleased to announce the launch of a first Moving the Needle Cohort in Fall 2021 to improve student outcomes across ACCU member...

Appalachian College Association & Credo Announce 2nd Cohort For Student Success

May 12 2021

Appalachian College Association (ACA) and Credo are pleased to announce the launch of a second Moving the Needle Cohort in Fall 2021 to improve student outcomes across ACA member and guest...

20 Questions for Strategic Planning Readiness

May 11 2021

BY MATTHEW TRENT TRAINUM, ED.D. When is the right time to undergo a new strategic planning process? In the past, this was a (deceptively) straightforward question, even if it didn't always feel that...

An Admissions Team's Guide to Minimizing Melt With Admitted Student Research

April 22 2021

Do your campus partners have an understanding of melt and that losing students between committing in the spring and the start of classes in the fall is a real challenge for admissions offices across...

3 Enrollment Practices To Support Prospective Students from Recruitment to Yield

March 25 2021

Enrollment Leaders Respond

Celebrating Innovative Women Leaders on International Women's Day & Beyond

March 8 2021

Women's History Month & International Women's Day We invite you to celebrate Women's History Month and International Women's Day with us by reading, watching, learning, and commemorating the...

Recruitment to Yield: Rethink the Campus Guest Experience

March 2 2021

Enrollment Leaders Respond

Strategic Enrollment Planning to Recruit for Fall 2021 & Beyond

February 15 2021

Enrollment Leaders Respond

Building the Future of Higher Education: A Letter from Tom Gavic, Chairman

February 5 2021

Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Higher Ed Family, In 1995 when I started the company that has evolved into Credo, I could never have dreamed that the reach and impact of our work would be as broad and...

Surrender To Your Calling: Remarks from Courageous Leader Dr. Mary Hinton

January 11 2021

February 2020, prior to the beginning of the pandemic, then-President-elect Hinton was officially introduced to the campus community. On January 5, 2021, Dr. Mary Dana Hinton, President of Hollins...

NCICU & Credo Form Partnership for Student Success

December 9 2020

Photo Credit: NCICU.org. North Carolina Independent College and Universities (NCICU) and Credo are pleased to announce a partnership to improve student outcomes across the North Carolina independent...

Dr. Mary Dana Hinton Honored as Winner of 8th Annual Courageous Leadership Award

December 4 2020

Credo is thrilled to announce Dr. Mary Dana Hinton, President of Hollins University, as the recipient of our eighth annual Courageous Leadership Award.

A Collision of Two Pandemics in Higher Education

October 29 2020

The COVID-19 world pandemic has created academic, social, and financial crises on our campuses and has quickly and dramatically changed the landscape of higher education. Educational leaders across...

Questions & Metrics for College & University Boards Leading Through Disruption

October 13 2020

Current times present many challenges to leaders of higher education, not the least of which may be the exposure of boards of trustees ill prepared for timely and well-informed decision-making....

New Video: How Can Students Solve Fall 2020 Challenges?

September 8 2020

Our team recently wrapped up a Leading Through Disruption interview and survey series with college presidents across the country. Collectively, these leaders serve nearly 70,000 students in 19 states...

Leading Through Disruption Video: Building Community & Engaging Campus

September 1 2020

Our team recently wrapped up a Leading Through Disruption interview and survey series with college presidents across the country. Collectively, these leaders serve nearly 70,000 students in 19 states...

Building Community Through Environments that Re-Engage Campus Life

August 13 2020

In recent weeks, our team wrapped up a Leading Through Disruption interview and survey series with college presidents across the country. Collectively, these leaders serve nearly 70,000 students in...

Three Guiding Principles for Fall Decision Making

August 5 2020

In recent weeks, our team wrapped up a Leading Through Disruption interview and survey series with college presidents across the country. Collectively, these leaders serve nearly 70,000 students in...

Fall 2020 Reopening Guidance

July 27 2020

Credo Design Architects and Campus Planners have compiled guidance and recommendations collected from industry peers and partners, professional associations, and government resources that we hope can...

Credo Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the ADA

July 24 2020

Credo joins with our client campuses to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990. A long legal and political struggle arose, in part,...

Positioning Students as Experts on the Fall 2020 Student Experience

July 23 2020

As educational leaders, many of you are preparing to begin the new academic year and are seeking safe, creative, and effective solutions to a host of challenges. In addition to the unique needs of...

Appalachian College Association & Credo Launch Student Success Partnership

July 20 2020

The Appalachian College Association (ACA) and Credo are pleased to announce the launch of a partnership to improve student outcomes across ACA member institutions. Building on the rich collaborative...

Best Wishes to Tim Fuller!

July 14 2020

This week, Credo is celebrating Tim Fuller, a 13-year Credo team member, owner, and senior vice president, who is leaving Credo to serve Christian higher education through his new company Fuller...

The Emerging Role of Institutional Identity in Partnerships & Mergers

July 2 2020

“We’re coming to the table holding nothing sacred,” said one president, sharing that their institution was deep in a merger conversation with another college in their region. “Not the mascots, not...

Strategy in the summer of COVID

June 9 2020

While stuck at home these many weeks, board games have come out of the closet to give our family a bit of comfort and whimsy. On the table at my house, we’ve had a few different games rotating...

Resources to Support Student Success Through COVID-19 Disruption

March 23 2020

The information below reflects practical, implementable strategies to assist real-time with immediate needs that may be arising on your campuses, specifically targeting areas of academic support and...

A 25th Anniversary Reflection on Courageous & Collaborative Leadership

February 24 2020

A Reflection on Courageous & Collaborative Leadership When Dr. William Craft, President of Concordia College at Moorhead, spoke of the leadership of his friend Dr. Thomas (Tom) Flynn, President...

Download The Updated "Thriving Institutions: New Lessons in Research and Practice" Case Studies

February 14 2020

How are you at spotting trends?

How Will Autonomous Vehicles Impact Higher Education?

February 13 2020

What will be the impact of autonomous vehicles on higher education? With all the changes happening and predicted for colleges, our team at Credo decided to take one specific change coming to our...

Partnerships & Placebuilding In Rural Higher Education

January 29 2020

One of the most obvious distinctions of rural colleges is that they are distant from an urban center, and with this comes smaller populations, economic challenges, and, oftentimes, financial distress.

Three Kinds of Rural: Debunking the Myth of Desolation in Rural America

January 8 2020

Often in conversations or interviews about rural areas, we continue to hear people, usually those not from rural areas, talking in general terms, painting with broad strokes, and creating an overall...

Credo To Honor Dr. Thomas J. Flynn as 7th Annual Courageous Leadership Award Winner

November 12 2019

Credo is excited to announce Dr. Thomas J. Flynn, President Emeritus of Alvernia University, as the recipient of our seventh annual Courageous Leadership Award.

5 Tips To Building Your Best Enrollment Funnel

September 26 2019

The admissions entrance in the renovated gymnasium at Dunwoody College of Technology, Minneapolis, MN. The enrollment funnel as a pure indicator of institutional growth is a misnomer. Many...

Emma Jones & Joretta Nelson Featured in New 31 Minutes Podcast

September 25 2019

We are so excited to share the H·A ThirtyOne podcast, 31Minutes, as they share “Creating a Culture of Planning and Strategic Risk,” an interview with Emma Jones, Chief Brand Officer/Owner, and...

Pivoting Toward What’s Possible: Author & Credo Co-founder Joanne Soliday Featured in 31 Minutes Podcast

September 3 2019

"Colleges and universities aren’t typically known for being nimble or change-embracing, but intense and rapid changes in technology, demographics, and culture are demanding that higher ed innovate...

New Credo Research Brief: Conditions That Promote The Thriving Student

September 3 2019

How does the residential experience influence student success? That is the key question our latest research brief seeks to answer. The answer is multifaceted and compelling.

Credo hosts second annual rural higher education institute

August 22 2019

Credo is excited to be on the campus of Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tennessee, September 24-26, 2019, to host the second annual Rural Higher Education Institute. The theme of this year's...

Stacking Up For a Great Year

August 21 2019

The beginning of the school year is arguably the most exhilarating time of year on a college or university campus. New students, faculty, and staff join returning students, faculty, and staff to form...

Four Approaches to Data

August 15 2019

During my time at Credo I’ve been on several hundred campuses and many of those visits have involved working with institutional data about enrollment, programs, retention, finance, and market...

The Top 6 Characteristics of Institutions Ready To Pivot

August 6 2019

The final installation of our "PIVOT" blog series is this list of common characteristics among pivoting institutions. Colleges or universities ready to make major changes will have many, if not all,...

New Poll Captures Recent Grads' Reflections on Their Educations

August 1 2019

As we travel the country working with colleges and universities, the topic of the value of higher education remains one of our more frequent and most compelling discussions. Research continues to...

Positioning To Pivot

July 30 2019

Inherent in a pivot at any institution is an extraordinary amount of change.

Leading Through Diversity and Inclusion

July 16 2019

Diversity and inclusion work is ongoing, and it can be difficult and eye-opening. It takes leadership, patience, discipline, engagement, and self-awareness from all constituents: students, staff,...

Creating Conversations Around Bias and Inclusivity

July 10 2019

Universities should serve as places where diverse thought can be explored, analyzed, and understood in terms of its origin and impact. Within this exploration rests a profound commitment to open,...

Diversity & Inclusion: Adopting a Framework to Ground Efforts

June 25 2019

With important but disparate diversity resources spread across our campuses—from human resources to student affairs to the enrollment office to academic affairs—true culture change can only be...

Opportunity and Inclusion: Diversifying the Campus Culture

June 18 2019

The powerful alchemy of issues of access combined with the still-profound realities around diversity and inclusion in our country today presents higher education with one of the most compelling...

Agility, Relevance & Learning Design

June 4 2019

Curriculum development must use speed-to-market as a key success measure. The new university cannot spend two years thinking about a program and another year developing it for delivery. In the new...

The Explosion of Adult Education: Meeting Learners Where They Are

May 21 2019

Almost thirty million working adults in the United States aspire to complete a college degree they began years ago, and more than forty million others could enhance their career prospects, but have...

Embracing a Zero-Based Budgeting Philosophy

May 14 2019

In order for leadership to most appropriately weigh the funding of strategic initiatives and all other budget inputs, the institutional budget should be built each year on a zero-based budget...

Bigger Than Efficiency: Managing Cost Across the Academic Unit

April 30 2019

Student learning is our enterprise; it’s why our institutions exist. The heart of our business is the development and execution of learning that results in transformed students who are prepared for...

Placebuilding: What impact does your campus have on your neighbors, community & region?

April 26 2019

The following text is an excerpt from C. C. Strange & J. H. Banning's 2015 work, "Designing For Learning: Creating Campus Environments for Student Success," in which the authors describe four types...

The Growth of Partnerships

April 23 2019

One of the most significant ways in which we are watching institutions shift their business model is through a vast expansion in both the definition and depth of partnerships across their communities...

The Faculty Factor: Maximizing Faculty Impact on Student Recruitment

April 17 2019

ABSTRACT: Faculty are the crux of successful student experiences at an independent college or university. They play a key role in and out of the classroom as they influence student thinking and...

Spelman College: The Metacognitive Study

April 17 2019

With research and data-informed strategies, Spelman College looks deeply at the identity, cultural background, and learning strengths of its students. They deliberately dig into the issues of...

What does it mean to be "Rural" in higher education?

April 17 2019

What does it mean to be a rural institution? Is there a difference between being a rural institution and a rural-serving institution? What is a rural student? Do rural students do better at rural...

Case Study: Marian University's Medical College Transformation

April 17 2019

Marian defines a great Catholic university as one that educates transformational leaders for service to the world. The power of mission, faith, and sense of service to humanity is felt on campus. The...

Nine Ways Life Coaches Contribute to Student Success

April 17 2019

In the new university, faculty will no longer be advisors across the spectrum of the collegiate experience, but rather mentors about what they know best: i.e., their field of study and a student’s...

No Margin, No Mission

April 16 2019

We bear a responsibility to the families and students investing money in their hope for the future to steward their dollars with care. College and university leaders must explicitly, unequivocally...

Dakota Wesleyan University Case Study: Learn Strong Program and High-Relevance Core

March 21 2019

DWU took a different approach to shaping the learning journey of its students, developing a general-education curriculum focused on preparing students for twenty-first century leadership and digital...

Maryville University: an Active-Learning Ecosystem

March 12 2019

Maryville’s Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Communications Marcia Sullivan characterizes their approach to students in the following way: “We are loyal to our students above all history,...

Navigating the Changing Role of Faculty & Learners: Transitioning Physical Spaces & Places

March 5 2019

Consider the incredible explosion of information that the internet and digital technology has wrought. Everyone with a smartphone now carries a library in his or her pocket. We collectively perform...

The Student at the Center: Transforming Learning for the Future

February 26 2019

Photo of Wilson College's Complex for Science, Mathematics, and Technology. Architecture & renovation designs by Credo Design Architects. Full project details here. Think of family members, friends,...

Abandoning Consensus and Reimagining Committees

February 18 2019

In the new university, consensus across stakeholder groups does not precede action, but follows it.

Breaking Down Faculty Barriers

February 11 2019

We believe firmly that everyone, no matter their age or longevity in the academy, can be on the cutting edge of change.

Credo Celebrates Values Award Winners

February 6 2019

Most of us would probably say that one of the best things about working with Credo is the group of colleagues we have the pleasure to know and work with. To celebrate our extraordinary team, in 2019...

Succession Planning and Leadership Development

February 5 2019

We have observed two trends in virtually every institution from a leadership perspective.

Creating a Shared Vision Part 2: The President and the Board

January 29 2019

Excerpt from "PIVOT: A Vision for the New University"

Creating a Shared Vision: The President and the Board

January 24 2019

Excerpt from "PIVOT: A Vision for the New University"

Why Pivot? An Introduction from Co-Author Joanne Soliday

January 15 2019

From Joanne Soliday, "PIVOT" co-author and higher education veteran

Why Pivot? An Introduction from Co-Author Mark Lombardi, Ph.D.

January 7 2019

From Mark Lombardi, "PIVOT" co-author and President of Maryville University.

THE 5 QUALITIES THAT TURN A CONSULTANT INTO A CATALYST

December 31 2018

The decision to bring in an outside consultant is a big one. After all, an institution is most likely to consider a consultant when they are facing a great challenge or on the precipice of a great...

5 Areas for Pivoting in the New University

December 28 2018

We believe—and have seen in action—key areas around which pivots happen. We believe these pivot points offer the most significant opportunities for institutional transformation and carry the greatest...

Pivot: A vision for the New University

December 26 2018

The news sure looks bad: rapidly shifting student demographics, the ever-increasing speed of technological innovation, and extreme legislative and public pressure are squeezing colleges and...

Research Summary from the 2018 Rural Higher Education Institute

December 5 2018

Credo was honored to be a part of the inaugural Rural Higher Education Institute, an event focused on the value of, and challenge to, rural colleges and universities across the country.The inaugural...

DWU's Dr. Amy Novak Wins the 2019 Courageous Leadership Award

November 26 2018

Credo is thrilled to announce President Amy Novak from Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, SD, as the winner of the upcoming 2019 Courageous Leadership Award, given during Credo's annual dinner at...

Chief Brand Officer Emma Jones Joins Ownership Team

November 6 2018

Dear Credo Friends and Colleagues, I'm pleased to share that Emma Jones, our Chief Brand Officer, has become a member of the ownership team at Credo. For nearly 25 years, Credo has been helping...

A Conversation about Higher Education Mergers: Part One

September 7 2018

Dr. Eileen Hulme, Professor in the Department of Higher Education at Azusa Pacific University and Credo Affiliate, has over twenty years' experience in higher education and adaptive change research....

Portia R. Mount Announced as Keynote Speaker for the 2018 Credo Women in Leadership Institute

September 6 2018

Credo is excited to announce Portia R. Mount as the Keynote Speaker for the 2018 Credo Women in Leadership Institute, taking place November 6-8, 2018, at the O.Henry Hotel in Greensboro, North...

Four Ways to Combat Summer Melt and Increase Fall Enrollment

August 7 2018

Contributors: Steve Morley, Michelle Samuels-Jones, and Joe Henry-Penrose This blog is based off the authors’ responses to this Hidden Brain podcast episode.

Dakota Wesleyan University Partners with Credo to Put On Inaugural Rural Higher Education Institute

August 2 2018

On behalf of Dr. Amy Novak, President of Dakota Wesleyan University (SD) and Dr. Mark LaBranche, President of Martin Methodist College (TN), Credo is pleased to extend an invitation to the presidents...

The Growing Influence of Social Media in Student Recruitment

July 3 2018

Social media is a highly influential source of information for international students thinking about studying abroad. While platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube lead the pack, there is...

8 More Tips To Motivate Admissions Teams for Enrollment Success

May 31 2018

We published a blog called 3 Ways To Motivate Your Admissions Team For Enrollment Success, and we learned from many of our readers that you appreciated the content—and wanted more tips! So without...

How to Write an Annual Recruitment Plan: 4 Foolproof Tips

May 21 2018

You’ve got a strategic enrollment plan in place that looks three to five years into the future, so your job as an enrollment advisor is done, right? Not quite. In order to grow, shape and sustain...

5 Ways to Activate Leadership

May 8 2018

Contributors: EMMA JONES, MICHELLE SAMUELS-JONES & Matthew Trent Trainum, Ed.D. We know that leaders in today’s higher education landscape must be comfortable with disruption, adaption, and “failing...

Value Proposition: What Makes You Different?

May 1 2018

BY MATTHEW TRENT TRAINUM, ED.D. What sets you apart? What makes you different?

Higher Ed Mergers: First Option or Last Resort?

April 25 2018

By Tim Fuller " Colleges are like newspapers , brick-and-mortar retail stores or manufacturers of internal combustion engines . The disruption that defines our era threatens us all. " Credo's work...

Seven Predictors of Student Success and Retention

April 19 2018

While postsecondary institutions invest significant effort and resources in understanding why students leave, a more important but often ignored question is why students choose to stay. We know...

Campus Master Planning: How To Make The Most of Your "And" Spaces

April 3 2018

By Steve Morley “From 2007 to 2016, higher ed campuses grew by more than 10 percent in building space, outpacing the 8 percent growth in enrollment during the same period...

20 Questions for Strategic Planning Readiness

March 26 2018

BY MATTHEW TRENT TRAINUM, ED.D. When is the right time to undergo a new strategic planning process? Is it when the old plan expires? Or perhaps when a new president arrives? Or should it be when the...

Thriving Institutions: New Lessons in Research and Practice

March 8 2018

How are you at spotting trends?

Daniel Elsener, Marian University President, Receives Fifth Annual Courageous Leadership Award

January 11 2018

Credo humbly acknowledges President Daniel J. Elsener of Marian University as the recipient of our fifth annual Courageous Leadership Award.

Resource Guide: How To Plan College & University Spaces for the Future

October 11 2017

We often encounter (some variation of) the question: how can college and university campuses plan for and prepare the spaces they will need 10 years from now?

Take a Photo Tour of Impact 360's Brand New Living and Learning Spaces

August 7 2017

Our Campus Planning & Architecture team has been thrilled to work with Impact 360 in Pine Mountain, Georgia, completing a commons building, maintenance facility, new residence hall, artful...

How Can Community Buy-In Facilitate Innovative Change?

July 11 2017

The recent edition of the Chronicle of Higher Educations's “Presidents Share What Works” surfaces several themes, which we see daily in our strategic planning work—e.g., faculty involvement,...

18 Lessons from the Most Successful University Marketing Departments

April 24 2017

In the current higher education landscape, colleges and universities are facing an increasing amount of competition as well as a declining pool of applicants. For most institutions, the marketing...

Avoiding the Presidential Spin Cycle and the Pendulum Theory of Hiring

March 29 2017

A recent conversation with a board chair approaching the search for a new president prompted some reflection on presidential transitions. Our work with presidents, boards, higher education...

Checklist for Maximizing Fall Enrollment

March 13 2017

As the recruiting cycle reaches a frenzied pace during the spring semester, how are you preparing for fall enrollment?

Student Housing Renovation vs Reconstruction

January 18 2017

To compete in student enrollment, many colleges and universities need to evaluate whether their facilities and campus amenities are up to par. When it comes to attracting new students, residence hall...

Helping High-Risk Students Succeed

January 17 2017

College administrators and faculty want all students to thrive, but concern is greatest for those students who are most at risk to leave college before getting a degree. Such students are often...

Why Didn't They Choose Us? What Students Look For in a College

December 21 2016

For many colleges, the summer is “closing the deal” time with new students. I used to joke about the fist-sized dent in my wooden desk, created over time from the frustration following conversations...

Using Social Media as a Student Recruitment Tool

December 15 2016

The methods that university enrollment and marketing professionals use to communicate with audiences are continually changing. Gone are the days when direct mail brochures and postcards were the most...

Useful Research Tools for Strategic Enrollment Management

December 15 2016

How does your team use data strategically to plan for enrollment success?

Hardin-Simmons University: Campus Master Planning

November 8 2016

As a higher education campus grows, there are many opportunities for internal and external partnerships to leverage for success. From enrollment to retention to campus master planning, there is...

Marian University: Clearance Success with Project Day One

November 3 2016

As the Director of Business Services at Marian University, Alice Shelton's goal is to impact the bottom line and improve cash flow by getting students to pay earlier and on time.

Marian University: Moving the Retention Needle

October 19 2016

As a Franciscan institution, Marian University has a strong sense of calling – modeling courage, passion, and compassion to help all students succeed. Providing access is one thing. Improving...

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor: Campus Master Planning

October 12 2016

When the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor set a vision to become the university of choice for Christian higher education in the Southwest, they committed to a strategic plan and a campus master plan...

Enrollment Planning: Lenoir-Rhyne University

October 5 2016

When Lenoir-Rhyne began working with Credo, deposit and yield were not at the levels they wanted to see, and the cohesiveness of the staff was not where they wanted it to be.

Campus Master Planning: Beacon College

September 22 2016

Founded in 1989, Beacon College was the first and remains one of the few institutions exclusively devoted to the academic and career success of students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and other...

Strategic Planning in Higher Education: Avila University

September 14 2016

Credo consistently views an institution through the lens of student success, with a focus on setting strategic goals and measuring progress toward growth milestones. For Avila University, it was a...

Grow Enrollment the Right Way

September 7 2016

How can you grow enrollment on your campus when today’s students have so many options in higher education? The foundation of strategic enrollment planning is an innovative campus culture that...

Boost Enrollment through Proactive Academic and Co-curricular Programming

September 1 2016

Is your campus struggling to boost enrollment? Take a critical look at your academic and co-curricular program offerings. Prospective students may fall in love with a beautiful campus or other...

How Has the Traditional Enrollment Funnel Changed?

August 26 2016

Traditionally, the steps of the enrollment funnel were simple, straightforward and consistent across the higher education industry. You may recognize the steps of the funnel as “Prospects > Inquiries...

How Understanding Financial Aid Can Drive Student Enrollment

August 3 2016

On the surface, financial aid is often seen as a huge benefit for students — and that’s because it is. Financial aid makes attending college possible for so many students who otherwise may have been...

5 Communication Plan Strategies to Enhance Student Enrollment

July 27 2016

What is your institution’s current plan for enhancing student enrollment? For many college campuses, communicating a unified vision to prospective students may seem difficult but should not be...

Student Enrollment: Turn Research Data into Action

July 14 2016

Colleges and universities are bursting with valuable student data at every corner. How this data is collected and in what ways it is applied is critical for success at any institution. But is there...

How Can a Higher Education Consultant Help Your Enrollment Efforts?

June 22 2016

What are the benefits of a consulting partner? We’re often posed this question in one form or another by prospective clients. Some institutions know they need help, but aren’t sure which piece of the...

5 Reasons to Consider Strategic Enrollment Planning

June 15 2016

How do you measure enrollment success? That's one of the questions that colleges and universities are trying to answer every day. As it is in other facets of life, planning for success is the single...

3 Ways to Motivate Your Admissions Team for Enrollment Success

June 8 2016

Could your enrollment team benefit from a higher level of motivation, focus, and success?

Appreciative Assessment in Academic Advising

December 17 2015

Introduced by Joretta Nelson, Ph.D. As we continue to explore how academic advising influences the student experience, our team continually hears your feedback about challenges in assessment.

Credo Advising Institute: Advisor Inventory

December 8 2015

I’ve been thinking about many of the questions asked by our 70+ guests at the 2015 Credo Advising Institute last week, particularly about providing support for the actual conversations between...

Reflections upon NPR's "On Campus, Older Faculty Keep On Keepin' On"

October 12 2015

More and more faculty ponder the eternal question: "should I stay or should I go?"

Educating Educators On Highly Effective Teaching Practices

September 29 2015

Joretta Nelson, Ph.D. reflects on "high-leverage practices" in education.

Why Us? The importance of your value proposition

July 31 2015

“It shouldn’t be surprising that while women’s college graduates make up only 2 percent of the total college graduate population, they comprise more than 20 percent of women in Congress and 33...

The Real Value Proposition: Purpose in Higher Education

May 5 2015

In our work with over 300 college and universities across the country, we find ourselves coming back to and reflecting upon a resounding question: “Why this college?”

So Just What Does a Chief Enrollment Officer Do Anyway?

March 26 2015

By Tim Fuller, Senior Vice President / Owner.

Leaps and Lifelines: Success options for private institutions in uncertain times

March 5 2015

10 Lessons About Implementing a Strategic Plan

February 27 2015

Balancing Access and Success: Community college for all?

February 17 2015

Intro by Joretta Nelson, Ph.D.

Promoting Learning for All Students through Faculty Collaboration

February 6 2015

By Joretta Nelson, Ph.D.

Your What is YOUR Vision for the Future of Learning?

November 20 2014

Intro by Joretta Nelson, Ph.D., Vice President / Owner at Credo

Net Revenue: two pieces of data you really should know (Part One of Two)

September 11 2014

This post, written by Credo Affiliate Jeff Spear, is part one (of two) in the Thriving series focusing on “Net Revenue: two pieces of data you really should know.” Today’s entry covers the first set...

Strategic Thinking

August 13 2014

Strategic thinking is at the heart of the “Surviving to Thriving” (Soliday & Mann, 2014) chapter on Planning and Innovation. John Bryson (2011), foremost expert on strategic planning for nonprofits,...

Dashboards vs. Scorecards for Data Tracking

June 30 2014

As we address the Surviving to Thriving chapter on “Habit of Reflection and Intentionality,” one of the most frequent questions I am asked is about the difference between dashboards and scorecards....

"Surviving to Thriving" Webinar Series

May 8 2014

This year, we are hosting a three-part webinar series highlighting chapters from “Surviving to Thriving: A Planning Framework for Leaders of Private College and Universities,” authored byCredo...

Leadership Conversation: Michael Lindsay, President, Gordon College

March 1 2014

This February, we are going deeper in the Courageous and Collaborative Leadership chapter in the book Surviving to Thriving: A Planning Framework for Leaders of Colleges and Universities. This...

Congratulations to Dr. Bryant Hutson, NCCPA's 2014 Distinguished Scholar Award Recipient

February 8 2014

Credo would like to congratulate our Director of Research, Dr. Bryant Hutson and his wife, Dr. Ye He as they will be honored today by the North Carolina College Personnel Association (NCCPA) as the...

CIC CAO Institute – A Presentation about Credo's Moving the Needle Project

November 6 2013

by Joretta Nelson, Ph.D.

"Improving on the American Dream: Mathematics Pathways to Student Success"

November 4 2013

by Joretta Nelson, PhD

The “It’s Not Us, It’s Them” Myth

October 22 2013

Sometimes we hear, “Doesn’t our retention rate have more to do with the students in our incoming class than with how good our programs are? We’ve seen the research” (Astin, 2002). When we look at...

Positive Psychology and Appreciative Inquiry in Higher Education: New Directions for Student Services

October 21 2013

by Joretta Nelson, Ph.D.

Attracting and Keeping a Quality Team

July 2 2013

by Jeff Spear, Principal at CFO Colleague

To Build, or Not to Build (a blog by Michael Haggans)

June 11 2013

by Dean Rodeheaver

Piling on Higher Education: A Second Look

June 5 2013

by Tim Fuller, Vice President/Owner

Thriving Scorecard Index

May 18 2013

Thriving Scorecard Postings Index The following postings provide insight on the use of a balanced scorecard (BSC) within the context of higher education. Postings are typically 2-3 pages in length...

Thriving Scorecard: Monthly Strategy Meetings

May 11 2013

Leading effectively an organization at the strategic level requires several important ingredients. Some of these ingredients include:

Fall 2012 Enrollment Trends

November 1 2012

NACCAP Enrollment Research Project

Beset by Conflicting Priorities? One Powerful Idea...

October 24 2012

Every college president faces tough decisions daily, attempting to choose wisely among urgent - often conflicting – priorities. Ideally, each choice would strengthen the college brand, address...

Missed your enrollment target? Now what?

September 26 2012

On most campuses the turnstiles have stopped spinning and fall enrollment totals, both traditional and non-traditional, are now known. Early returns suggest a number of campuses have missed...

Shhh. We're Analyzing Secret Data

August 31 2012

First, a confession: My career involved a good deal of time in the manufacturing world before I entered higher education. As a result, I tend to draw parallels between the manufacture of electronic...

The Case for Consulting in Higher Education

April 4 2012

Many of the services we provide – assessments of operations and strategies, research, executive search assistance and strategic planning, just to name a few – represent tasks that colleges and...

Considering an Adult Education Program: Part 4

March 10 2012

This is a continuation and final post to my blog series about what every institution should consider to ensure that an adult education program fits with an institution’s past, present and future...

Considering an Adult Education Program: Part Three

February 28 2012

This is a continuation from my second blog post on adult education which discusses what every institution should consider to ensure that an adult education program fits with an institution’s past,...

Considering An Adult Education Program: Part Two

February 14 2012

This is a continuation from my first blog on considering an adult education that fits with an institution’s past, present and future goals.

Considering an Adult Education Program: Part One

December 2 2011

Institutions are increasingly serving learners of varying ages and employment backgrounds. In fact, three fourths of today’s college students are nontraditional and 38% work full-time. Adult...

Bethel University's Welcome Center

November 7 2011

Take a look at the great photos below of Bethel University's Welcome Center project. Read more about the project announcement and partnership with Credo, as well as the Welcome Experienceproject...

Bethel University's Lounge Renovations

October 26 2011

Take a look below at some before and after pictures of our renovations on Bethel University 's AC Lounge (click image below for full view):

Students who stay are socially integrated

August 30 2011

We’ve been talking about a different way of looking at the challenge of retention on our campuses by focusing on why students stay rather than why they leave. This alternative approach puts our...

Let’s talk about why students stay: academic integration

July 20 2011

Students stay when they are academically integrated. Here we are in the second installment of my summer series: Let’s Talk About Why Students Stay! As I mentioned in my first post, in our work here...

Why Students Stay

July 8 2011

Here at Credo, our work related to student success is focused on why students stay rather than why they leave. Why is that, you may ask?

The College Search: What Students Want

April 21 2011

Last year, Credo partnered with nine institutions that use our Admitted Student Research (ASR) service to gain a sense of why some students chose one institution over another; a student’s...

Scoping Out Your Competitors

April 6 2011

Knowing your competition for students is just one of the many critical things that campuses need to determine on a regular basis. Why is this important?

Four Approaches to Data

January 19 2011

During my time at Credo I’ve been on at least 200 different campuses and many of those visits have involved working with institutional data. As someone who grew up studying numbers, specifically...

Benefits of Comprehensive College and University Marketing

October 21 2010

When I first meet college and university leaders I’m often asked what the benefit of good marketing and branding is for a college or university. I could spend a lot of time describing all the reasons...

Memorable Campus Guest Experiences

October 19 2010

Here are some quick thoughts on memorable campus guest experiences for prospective students and their parents.

The Dysfunctional Funnel Analogy

October 13 2010

The admission funnel is a time-honored concept that has been taught to admission counselors for decades but is still often misunderstood, and the implications of misunderstanding it can be expensive...

Anderson University Cuts Energy Usage by 40 percent

October 8 2010

The University and town of Anderson recently piloted outdoor LED lighting by Holophane® luminaries, increasing sustainability and energy savings. Acuity Brands partnered with the University and the...